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As we expectantly watch outdoor temperatures climb this spring, the Augsburg community has seen the mercury rise on another attention-drawing gauge. The fundraising thermometer for the campaign for the Center for Science, Business, and Religion (CSBR) has surpassed its halfway mark, reaching nearly $27 million* thanks to donors who continue to demonstrate support for the largest building project in the College鈥檚 history.

An outgrowth of the campaign鈥檚 continued success is that we鈥檝e heard new stories about why Augsburg College means so much to so many. Augsburg is a place where faculty members connect with students, helping them to troubleshoot assignments and to work through life鈥檚 tough decisions. Augsburg is a place where coaches inspire teamwork, sparking an enduring dedication to collaboration and a passion for cooperation. Augsburg is a place where alumni are proud to call themselves Auggies, supporting current students and recent graduates who will carry the legacy forward. And, Augsburg is a place where people flourish, meeting some of their dearest friends and making some of their fondest memories. Here are a few such stories.

Class of 鈥�52 couple gives $250,000 to sponsor physics laboratory

Harvey 鈥�52 and Joanne Peterson 鈥�52 believe the CSBR demonstrates how Augsburg prepares students for the future with energy and vitality. Combined, these Auggie sweethearts were involved in activities ranging from athletics to the Augsburg Choir, and beyond their student years, they have maintained deep ties to the College.

Bill Anderson 鈥�56 sponsors new biology laboratory

Bill Anderson 鈥�56 found a creative way to make a big difference with his support for the CSBR. Currently president of the Minnesota Federation of Stamp Clubs, he is a lifelong collector who gives Augsburg valuable stamps each year and has named the College as a major beneficiary of his estate. Anderson taught high school biology for 34 years, and he said he enjoys seeing Augsburg鈥檚 plans for the CSBR move forward.

Marilyn 鈥�61 and Tom Breckenridge sponsor two faculty offices for CSBR

Rev.聽Marilyn Saure Breckenridge 鈥�61 is Augsburg鈥檚 first female graduate to be ordained as a Lutheran pastor. She and her husband, Tom, initially planned to sponsor one office in the Religion Department in gratitude for Marilyn鈥檚 undergraduate education and her Distinguished Alumna Award, but鈥攁s their excitement about the CSBR project grew鈥攖hey sponsored an additional office located in the Business Department to reflect an important aspect of Tom鈥檚 ministry.

Roommates from 鈥�45 sponsor adjacent rooms in CSBR

Beth (Buesing) Opgrand 鈥�45 and her college roommate, Genevieve (Larson) Hendrickson 鈥�45, reconnected after 50 years and both decided to give a naming gift for a faculty office in the CSBR. It seems only fitting that these faculty offices sit side by side.

Oliver Dahl 鈥�45 sponsors faculty office in CSBR

Oliver Dahl 鈥�45 has had an 80-year relationship with Augsburg College. From age 10 to 15, he went to campus to practice basketball while on a Trinity Lutheran Church youth team in Minneapolis. Dahl enrolled at Augsburg in 1941, and in 1942, served as the College鈥檚 first wrestling coach before leaving to join the U.S. Army during World War II. Dahl has named Augsburg鈥檚 athletics program and the CSBR project the major beneficiaries of his estate, and he says, 鈥淚鈥檝e been thinking about Augsburg College all of my life.鈥�

These stories鈥攁nd many others鈥攁re available in an extended format on the .

*Figure represents fundraising total as of February 28.