News Center
Augustana invites Quad Cities communities to partner in solving regional challenges
Augustana College invites local governments and nonprofits to share their biggest problems, and the college will bring the students, faculty and expertise to help solve them. Applications are due Nov. 15, 2025.
Symposium Day 2025 expresses voice and vision
This year’s Symposium Day theme, Voice and Vision, invited projects that explored how people speak and see, literally and metaphorically, across all disciplines. Speakers and participants illuminated what it means to speak boldly and see clearly.
Festival of Sankta Lucia set for Dec. 1
Augustana's annual celebration of the Festival of Sankta Lucia on Dec. 1, 2025, will commemorate the holiday with traditional Scandinavian Christmas carols, lessons and poetry.
Homecoming and Family Weekend 2025 in photos
About 2,500 alumni, friends of the college, students and families gathered on campus Sept. 26-28 for Homecoming and Family Weekend. Bingo was a hot ticket for alumni of the last 10 years, and QuadFest connected Vikings and guests of all ages.
Class Notes
Alumni share their latest news and photos!
Cooper partners with alumni to bring ‘Rag Doll’ to the stage
Shelley Cooper, an associate professor of musical theatre and two-time Off-Broadway award-winning solo actor/playwright, tapped into the skills of her former students to help create and produce her latest solo musical.
Augustana welcomes four sets of twins in the Class of 2029
Augustana’s Class of 2029 includes 744 students from 34 countries, speaking 23 languages — and unexpectedly, four sets of twins from other countries. The incoming siblings traveled from Pakistan, Ghana and Ethiopia to Rock Island to experience college together.
Haak's journey from crutches to all-conference competitor
A serious leg injury plus a concussion sidelined August Haak during his first semester on campus. It was tough going to be sure, but Haak stuck it out. His first year on campus tested his limits; his second revealed his potential. Find out how Haak doubled down to support his team's success, and his own.
Planetarium and geology museum to host Nov. 1 open house
Augustana's John Deere Planetarium and Fryxell Geology Museum will be open to the public on Saturday, Nov. 1, for the annual Fall Open House. The planetarium and geology museum will be open 7-8:30 p.m., with indoor and outdoor programs.
Authors, activists to speak at Symposium Day Oct. 8
Bestselling author Kaveh Akbar will speak at Augustana College Oct. 8 as part of Fall Symposium Day: Voice and Vision. Check out the full-day schedule to learn about all the guest speakers and student/faculty research presentations. All are free and open to the public.
U.S. News ranks Augustana No. 34 in innovation
U.S. News & World Report has named Augustana one of the most innovative liberal arts institutions, recognizing how the college is reshaping a classic liberal arts education to meet the needs of today’s students. Among the top-tier liberal arts colleges, Augustana is ranked #34 in the nation — and #1 in Illinois.
Razin ’26 earns national Rossing Scholarship for excellence in physics
Kazi Uzayr Razin ’26 of Dhaka, Bangladesh, is one of just 11 students nationwide to earn a $5,000 Rossing Physics Scholarship. An engineering major, Razin is the first international student from Augustana to earn this scholarship.
Augustana kinesiology students host fitness clinic for the campus and community
During Augustana's Symposium Day on Oct. 8, trained students from Augustana's kinesiology program will conduct BodPod (body composition) tests and VO2 Max (cardiovasculary fitness) tests. Registration is required.
Augustana College named a national ‘Dream School’ in new book by bestselling author
Augustana was one of 75 U.S. colleges and universities named as a "Dream School" from among 3,900 institutions Jeffrey Selingo researched for his latest book. Augustana is one of only three Illinois colleges/universities on the "Dream School" list.
The sounds of Sweden come to Rock Island
Korgossarna, one of Sweden’s premier male vocal ensembles, will perform on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. in Wallenberg Hall at Augustana College. The concert is free and open to the public.
