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Augustana College Magazine

Summer 2024

The call she had to take
Lindsay Maess

Despite medical complications from a severe malaria infection she survived several years ago, Lindsay Maess '05 has returned to Nigeria to care for two chimpanzee infants and a gorilla infant that were rescued from traffickers.

Featured stories

President Andrea Talentino

President's message: Strategically looking to our graduates for inspiration

President Andrea Talentino discusses developments with Bold & Boundless, Augustana's new strategic plan, in this message published in the Summer 2024 issue of the Augustana College Magazine.

Augustana Commencement 2024

Congratulations, Class of 2024!

Family, friends and faculty celebrated the 500 Augustana graduates representing 19 states and 20 countries at the college’s 164th Commencement Convocation.

David Staples

First APEP student earns diploma

David Staples — the college’s first graduate to have benefited from the Augustana Prison Education Program (APEP)— was among the 500 graduates honored at Augustana's commencement ceremony in May.

Angela Boelens with Ukrainian family

Boelens relocating families from Ukraine to Iowa

When Augustana business administration faculty member Angela Boelens ran out of housing space to help Ukrainian families impacted by war, she started a not-for-profit, IA NICE. So far, IA NICE has moved 18 families to Iowa, and their communities welcome the impact.

Archival photo of the Augustana Band

Symphonic Band Sesquicentennial Celebration Nov. 22-24

Preliminary plans include a celebration concert with a premiere of a commissioned piece by American composer Kevin Walczyk, an alumni band performance, receptions and dinners.

Benjamin Payne '16

Where has your A taken you?

For Benjamin Payne '16, his Augie "A" paved the way for a career in radio journalism. He shares his post-Augustana journey.

Alumni stories

Janina Ehrlich

Alumnus premieres cello piece in honor of Dr. Ehrlich's 45 years

Grant Estes '21, commemorating Dr. Janina Ehrlich's 45 years of service at Augustana, premiered "The Quarrel Between Winter and Summer," composed by faculty member Dr. Jacob Bancks, on April 14.

Sarah Adam '13

Adam '13 becomes first woman named to the U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team

A longtime competitive athlete, Sarah Adam '13 is headed to Paris to make history. It's her hope that the United States falls in love with the Paralympics this summer.

Christian Elliott '20

Elliott '20 brings home Webby Awards for NASA

Christian Elliott '20 recently traveled to New York City for the 28th annual Webby Awards to accept honors for "Suiting up for Space," the April 2023 episode he wrote and produced as an intern for the podcast "NASA's Curious Universe."

See Class Notes

Campus news

Geography reunion

Geography alumni return to celebrate department's 75th anniversary

Eighty-five geography alumni returned to campus April 26-27 to celebrate the geography department's 75th anniversary. Professor Emeritus of Geography Dr. Norm Moline '64 kicked off the weekend’s public events by sharing the history of the department.

Dr. Gauri A. Pitale

Dr. Gauri A. Pitale selected as Augustana's vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion

Dr. Gauri A. Pitale, an accomplished educator with extensive experience in DEI programming and advising student clubs and organizations, joined the college Feb. 29 to lead Augustana's Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Dunk-A-President

Dunk-A-President (for a good cause)

President Andrea Talentino took a turn in the dunk tank for Phi Omega Phi's 2nd Annual Dunk-A-Poobah fundraiser to support Feeding America.

Athletics

Max Sellers

Max Sellers first Viking men's volleyball All-American

Max Sellers '25, from Edwardsville, Ill., is the first All-American in Augustana men's volleyball history. The libero was recently named to the 2024 AVCA Division III All-American Second Team.

Sellers also was recognized as CCIW Defensive Player of the Year and awarded First Team All-Conference accolades. In addition, he was named to the AVCA All-Region team — another first for the program. Sellers holds multiple Augustana records, including the record for most digs (29) in a single match.

Emma Odle '24, President Andrea Talentino and Aykeem Spivey '24

National championship qualifiers miss 'official' commencement

Seniors Emma Odle and Aykeem Spivey had to miss their "official" Commencement Convocation on May 25 — for a pretty good reason! They were competing at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C., that weekend.

Chad Gunnelson, director of track & field and cross country, arranged for a special commencement ceremony before the student-athletes left campus for nationals. Both received their diplomas from President Andrea Talentino in front of family and friends in Hanson Hall.

Arthur Hermange '25

Highlights

Men's tennis. Arthur Hermange '25 of Saclay, France, is the first Viking since 1987 to be selected for the singles field at the 2024 NCAA DIII Men’s Tennis Championships. (pictured)

Women’s swimming and diving. The Vikings blasted the competition for their second CCIW Championship in three years, winning the trophy by more than 200 points.

Men's swimming and diving. The Vikings won their second CCIW Championship in a row. Plus, it's the first time in Augustana history that both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams captured the CCIW Championship in the same season.


Congratulations, Vikings!

Aykeem Spivey '24, Emma Odle '24, Charlotte Frere '26

Aykeem Spivey '24 (left) of Gurnee, Ill., captured the first All-American honors since 2021 for the men’s track & field team, earning sixth place in the hammer throw at the DIII outdoor nationals.

On the first day of competition, Emma Odle '24 (center) of Inverness, Ill., qualified for the 3000-meter steeplechase with a 12th place finish and a time of 10:39.40 to secure a new personal best and beat her own program record.

Charlotte Frere '26 (right) of Preemption, Ill., conquered the discus throw event on the first day of the 2024 NCAA DIII National Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The sophomore is the first women’s track & field outdoor national champion since Meghan Voiland ’07 McMillan in the pole vault in 2007.

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