Bobby '10 and Dana Swanson '10 Olson: Grateful for their choir experience
2010 graduates Bobby Olson and Dana Swanson Olson
Generosity Matters is a series of spotlight stories about alumni who give back to Augustana College.
The power of music at Augustana doesn’t just provide students with bright futures. Sometimes it lives in the hearts of alumni and impacts many aspects of their lives.
“We probably wouldn’t have met if not for Augustana,” said Bobby Olson ’10, in regards to his wife, Dana Swanson '10 Olson.
Bobby and Dana are grateful for their Augustana experiences. They enjoy many lifelong relationships with friends they met through the Augustana Choir. That’s why giving to the Bergendoff Hall renovation project is a priority for the couple.
“While the music department has incredible faculty, the building no longer meets the needs of the students,” Bobby Olson said. “The new improvements will better prepare musicians and music educators in the future.”
"I hope our gift contributes to an effort to make the school an even better place to learn.”
He recalls that giving back was encouraged when he was still as student at Augustana: “Just before we graduated, Dr. Hurty encouraged seniors in the Augustana Choir to donate, even if it was just $5, because the percentage of alumni who give to the college is important.”
In fact, one of the criteria in U.S. News and World Report’s college rankings focuses on a college's percentage of alumni donors.
In addition to seeing the Bergendoff music building aesthetic match the caliber of the teaching that takes places there, the Swansons want to pay it forward to future generations of Augie musicians.
Bobby teaches choir at Round Lake (Illinois) High School and contributed to the recently published book Portraits of Music Education and Social Emotional Learning. He's proud to say some of his students have chosen to attend Augustana.
Dana is the communications manager for the City of Lake Forest, Ill. She earned a master’s in public administration from Northern Illinois University. Dana and Bobby have two young sons who have grown up listening to the Augustana Choir.
"One day, our boys may go to Augustana," Bobby said. "I hope our gift contributes to an effort to make the school an even better place to learn.”