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Augustana College Magazine

Winter 2023

Spivey’s memorial mural replaces tears with joy
Aykeem Spivey

Artist Aykeem Spivey '24 shares his time and talent to commemorate Rock Island teacher

Featured stories

President Andrea Talentino

President's message: Our mission in sharper focus

President Andrea Talentino discusses her recent visit to Uppsala University in Sweden in this message, published in the Winter 2023 issue of the Augustana College Magazine.

Old Main stained glass

Has it really been 10 years?

Augustana completed three major projects in 2013. Learn how the Old Main renovation; the reconceptualization of the Tredway Library; and a new stadium and supporting facilities for Viking football enhanced Augustana’s integrated student experience.

In the slough

Slough spirit

One of the most iconic places on campus, the Slough is stunning in all seasons and treasured for many reasons. The images submitted by alumni and friends of the college in the recent Slough Photo Contest render a place where memories are made. 

Janice Wu '18

Mentors, friends and professional connections do matter

The post-Augustana journeys of three graduates of the last decade — Andrew Brimeyer '15, Madison Williams '20 and Janice Wu '18 — are quite different, yet similar in one way that has been quite impactful.

Brenda Barnes

Alumnae mentor first-year students in new academy

Twenty-nine students of Augustana’s Class of 2027 make up the inaugural cohort of the Brenda Barnes Leadership Academy. Alumnae will help these students develop leadership skills, inspired by the life of Brenda Czajka '75 Barnes.

Rehearsal room

Take a look! Bergendoff Hall transformed

The three-phase renovation of Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts, home to Augustana’s music and art history programs and the Center for Visual Art, is complete. 

Alumni stories

Alyssa Motzel

'16 grad combats newborn mortality in rural Kenya

Dr. Alyssa Nelson '16 Motzel developed a curriculum to not only teach neonatal resuscitation protocol to her medical peers in Mutomo, Kenya, but also help them continue to train others.

Six new trustees

Augustana’s Board of Trustees names six new members

The new trustees, including five alumni, were elected Oct. 6. Each will serve a term of four years.

Norman Lefstein, Phillip Hubbart in 1957

Tribute to Augustana debater Norman Lefstein '59

Phillip Hubbart '58 remembers the day 66 years ago when he and Norman Lefstein '59 won the National Debate Tournament for Augustana College.

See Class Notes

Campus news

Peter Xiao

Professor celebrates first solo art show on campus

More than 30 of Peter Xiao’s paintings are featured in his “Sighting at Augie” exhibition in Wallenberg Hall, inside Denkmann Memorial Building, through March.

Football players in water line survey project

Augustana partners with Rock Island for water lines survey

Students, faculty and staff took to the streets this summer as part of a partnership with the City of Rock Island. A 2021 Illinois law requires cities to inventory lead service lines, implement replacements and coordinate financing strategies to fund the work.

Dr. Lina Zhou and students at Lindberg Center

New York Times names Augustana top college for economic diversity

Augustana ranked in the top 21% of The New York Times' list of U.S. schools with the greatest economic diversity, indicating that Augustana is accessible to students from a broad range of income levels.

Athletics

Vikings Football

Football Vikings celebrate 8 wins plus bowl bid

Augustana’s football team broke loose for an 8-2 run in regular season play and a 7-2 third-place finish in the CCIW, thanks in part to the return of 10 fifth-year players this season. The 10 athletes took advantage of their extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID pandemic.

Emily Schipper '24

Women's volleyball

Women’s volleyball finished 23-8 this season — the Vikings' best record since 2016. Four players were named to the CCIW All-Conference teams: Emily Schipper '24 (pictured) and Grace Vranicar '24 – first team; and Amelie Baehr-Ross '24 and Syd Krueger '24 – second team.

Joe Langridge '25

Cross country

Two cross country runners qualified for nationals after the Midwest Regional Championships. On the women's side, Emma Odle '24 advanced after earning a 24th place finish. For the men, Joe Langridge '25 (pictured) qualified after placing 18th at regionals. This season marked the first time in 26 years that a male and female runner represented Augustana at nationals.


Old Main campus sphere

A bird’s-eye view to share

Augustana videographer Anthony Panicucci stitched together 35 of his drone photos in Lightroom, and then manipulated the images in Photoshop to create a sphere of Old Main and campus. Graphic designer Zach O’Connell smoothed out the edges and adjusted colors to make it worthy of Augustana alumni to enjoy and share. Use it as a screensaver or however you want.

→ Download full size