10 May 2010

Augustana students to showcase research at Celebration of Learning

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (05/07/2010)(readMedia)-- More than 75 Augustana students, including several from the local area, will share their advanced research projects on Saturday, May 8 at Augustana's 14th annual Celebration of Learning. This unique on-campus research symposium gives students an opportunity to show off their academic accomplishments to their families and friends and members of the Augustana community.

Celebration participants can choose to present their research through a poster display or an oral presentation. Many students present the results of their senior inquiry project, a multiple-term research project required for most academic programs. Other students share Honors capstone projects or student-faculty research. Because of the advanced level of research involved, most of the presenters are upperclassmen.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Daniel Meden, a senior from Davenport, IA who is majoring in biology. Meden will be presenting his project " Which Birds Die from Striking Windows?" in the biology sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Sam Alvarado, a senior from Davenport, IA who is majoring in chemistry. Alvarado will be presenting her project " Synthesis of New Phosphine-Functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene Ligands" in the chemistry sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Michael Seevers, a senior from Cordova, IL who is majoring in geography. Seevers will be presenting his project " A Study to Determine the Highway Culverts in Upper Rock Island County, Illinois" in the geography sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Sara Michaletti, a senior from Rock Island, IL who is majoring in classics. Michaletti will be presenting her project " Latin Pedagogy" in the classics and theatre sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Luke Osborne, a senior from Moline, IL who is majoring in classics with a Latin emphasis. Osborne will be presenting his project " Plato's Republic and Symposium and Homer's Iliad and Odyssey" in the classics and theatre sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Steven Ash, a senior from Moline, IL who is majoring in physics. Ash will be presenting his project " A Study of Neutron-Rick Nuclei" in the poster sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Jacob McDowell, a senior from Rock Island, IL who is majoring in psychology. McDowell will be presenting his project " Morality and Patriotism: Predictors of Responses to Terrorism?" in the poster sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

James Sales, a junior from Rock Island, IL who is majoring in biology. Sales will be presenting his project " Differences in Health Perceptions of Students" in the poster sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Alex Sieg, a senior from Bettendorf, IA who is majoring in biochemistry. Sieg will be presenting his project " The Annotation of N-acetyl-ornithine/N-acetyl-lysine deacetylase, AbpE Family Lipoprotein and 4F-4S Iron Sulfur Binding Domain pProtein from Meiothermus ruber" in the poster sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Henry Stauffenberg, a senior from Bettendorf, IA who is majoring in geology. Stauffenberg will be presenting his project " Another Step toward Answering the Dolomite Question" in the poster sector of the symposium.

Students from the local area who are participating in Celebration of Learning include :

Sam Anderson, a junior from Rock Island, IL who is majoring in mathematics and computer science. Anderson will be presenting his project " Tournaments" in the mathematics sector of the symposium.

Anne Earel and Stefanie Bleumle, Augustana reference librarians and the event's co-directors, are glad that the Celebration of Learning provides an outlet for students to show off their accomplishments. "Not every student will be able to go to a conference somewhere off-campus," Earel said. "This provides an on-campus opportunity to be part of a professional scholarship community."

Leah Mortenson, a junior from Manhattan, KS, will present her analysis of the media used in a current environmental advocacy campaign. She believes the Celebration of Learning will give her the chance to show how she has grown, academically and personally, through her project. "Celebration of Learning opens up doors for sharing knowledge about various fields of study with peers who may have different perspectives and experiences than you," she said.

The event will begin with a keynote address by Caroline Skaggs Sallee '02. She double majored in economics and history at Augustana. Ms. Sallee is currently the director of Anderson Economic Group's Chicago Office, where she manages economic and public policy projects. Her address is entitled, "The Augustana Difference: How a Liberal Arts Education Prepared Me for the Real World."

For more information on the Celebration of Learning, please visit www.augustana.edu/celebration.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

03 May 2010

Local Augustana seniors inducted to nation's highest honor society

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/29/2010)(readMedia)-- The academic achievements of forty-one Augustana students earned them election into the Phi Beta Kappa society this spring. Only about one in every one hundred college students nationwide is selected as a member of the oldest and most prestigious honor society in the nation.

Augustana students are selected for Phi Beta Kappa based on their academic standing and recommendations from faculty members. Members must be senior students who exhibit strong intellect and integrity and are committed to freedom of thought and expression. Augustana emphasizes that election to Phi Beta Kappa is more than an honor of past academic success. It is also recognition of a student's outstanding potential for growth and achievement.

For Dr. Jeff Abernathy, dean of the college, Phi Beta Kappa scholars exemplify the goals of an Augustana education-creative, critical thinking and the willingness to question conventional wisdom. Their leadership and service is as important as their high academic standing. "Phi Beta Kappa students contribute greatly to our college and to the Quad Cities. Even as they serve Augustana in many ways, most are deeply involved in service to the broader community," said Abernathy.

Phi Beta Kappa was established in 1776 to celebrate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. A select 10% of the nation's leading colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, and the chapters only elect about 10% of their most exceptional arts and sciences students for membership. Augustana's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, Zeta of Illinois, was officially established in 1949 to recognize students of high academics, leadership and service.

From your area, the inductees include :

Nicholas Borchert from Rock Island,IL, who is majoring in English and philosophy.

Kevin Carton from Moline,IL, who is majoring in speech communication, French, and Africana studies.

Luke Osborne from Moline,IL, who is majoring in classics Latin emphasis.

Alex Sieg from Bettendorf,IA, who is majoring in biochemistry.

Bret VanDeWoestyne from Silvis,IL, who is majoring in biology.

Nicholas Wilczynski from Moline,IL, who is majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it always has done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

29 Apr 2010

Local students honored with business scholarships

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/27/2010)(readMedia)-- In conjunction with Augustana's 34th annual Business Day, the Augustana Business Department is proud to recognize more than 40 business administration and economics majors as recipients of endowed departmental scholarships this year.

Students from the local area who were awarded scholarships include :

Peter Wessels, a sophomore from Bettendorf who is majoring in business administration-advising and accounting. Wessels received the Thomas C. Montgomery Memorial Scholarship.

Alyssa Harmon, a junior from Moline who is majoring in business administration-advising. Harmon received the Harold and Louise Lage Swanson Scholarship.

Adelle DeVolder, a junior from Moline who is majoring in business administration-finance. DeVolder received the Harold and Louise Lage Swanson Scholarship.

Deanna Zwicker, a junior from Orion who is majoring in economics and business administration-finance. Zwicker received the Bruce R. Milligan Scholarship.

Adam DeSimone, a sophomore from Bettendorf who is majoring in economics. DeSimone received the Bruce R. Milligan Scholarship.

The students were honored at the opening breakfast for Business Day, an annual job-shadowing opportunity at Augustana that connects students with business leaders throughout the Quad Cities. In addition to their recognition at Business Day, the scholarship recipients will also be celebrated at an annual Honors ceremony in May.

The keynote address at the awards breakfast was given by Augustana alumna Piper Mead '04, a marketing account executive for the Chicago Cubs. Mead shared advice she learned on her way from Augustana to Wrigley Field and encouraged students to take advantage of all the hands-on learning opportunities Augustana has to offer them.

"I give Augustana all the credit for turning me into the person I am today. I think even the word 'business' scared me when I started college. However, my experiences at Augustana really gave me self-confidence. Now my outgoing personality is my biggest asset in my job."

After the conclusion of the ceremony, the scholarship recipients had the opportunity to further their education by spending a day "on the job" with business professionals throughout the Quad Cities. The students were able to select from a list of more than 40 local companies they could shadow and explore a field that matched their career interests.

The Business Department is one of the largest departments at Augustana, which includes 11 full-time faculty members and offers five separate major concentrations. 90 percent of students in the program complete internships as a part of their study, compared to only 75 percent nationwide. In addition to connecting students with local internships, the department also offers several national and international opportunities, including an accredited eight-week business internship program in Sydney, Australia. For more information on the Augustana Business Department, please visit www.augustana.edu/business.

About the Scholarships:

The Harold and Louise Lage Swanson Scholarship is an endowed scholarship for students who have demonstrated academic excellence and career potential in business administration.

The Thomas C. Montgomery Memorial Scholarship is an endowed scholarship for students who have demonstrated academic excellence and disciplined effort in pursuing careers in business administration or economics.

The Bruce R. Milligan Scholarship is an endowed scholarship for students who have demonstrated academic excellence and career potential in economics.

The Outstanding Senior Business Administration Major Award is a scholarship awarded to a select number of senior students based on their exceptional academic achievements and career potential in business administration.

The Tallgrass Capital Award is a scholarship awarded to one senior economics major each year based on his or her outstanding academic performance and career potential in economics.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

20 Apr 2010

Local students named to Augustana College winter term Dean's List

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/19/2010)(readMedia)-- 827 students have been named to the Dean's List at Augustana College for the 2009-10 winter term. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

From your area, students who have earned this honor include :

Martha Ade from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in music and English.

Faria Ahmed from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in psychology pre-medicine and biology.

Drew Allen from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in international business.

Samuel Alvarado from Davenport, IA, a senior majoring in chemistry.

Courtney Anderson from Rock Island, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Samuel Anderson from Rock Island, IL, a junior majoring in math and computer science.

Nicholas Armstrong from Orion, IL, a junior majoring in psychology.

Angela Bahls from Rock Island, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Carrie Bestian from Taylor Ridge, IL, a senior majoring in elementary education.

Allie Bierhaus from Bettendorf, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Brandy Blakeney from East Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Adam Bohland from Orion, IL, a junior majoring in psychology.

Nicholas Borchert from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in English and philosophy.

Courtney Brown from Port Byron, IL, a sophomore majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Nicholas Camlin from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in political science.

Kevin Carton from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in speech communication, Africana studies and French.

Adam DeSimone from Bettendorf, IA, a sophomore majoring in economics.

Adelle DeVolder from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in business finance.

Brianna Dyer from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in teaching English.

Owen Engstrom from Sherrard, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Megan Ferris from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in elementary education.

Alyssa Harmon from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in business administration advising.

Thomas Harris from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Victoria Hays from Milan, IL, a senior majoring in accounting.

Kjerstin Hurty from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Olivia Husman from East Moline, IL, a senior majoring in speech communication.

Mohammed Hussain from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Lindsay Hutton from Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Gaetano Iaccarino from Davenport, IA, a junior majoring in music perfromance instrumental.

Regina Jarrell from Davenport, IA, a junior majoring in art.

Nicole Johnson from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in teaching English.

Manisha Kumar from Davenport, IA, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Paul Lambrecht from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in teaching history.

Mary Lambrecht from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Jasmin Landeros from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in elementary education.

Thomas Larrison from Davenport, IA, a senior majoring in religion and history.

Peter Marogil from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Crystina Mayfield from Coal Valley, IL, a sophomore majoring in French.

Nathaniel McDowell from Rock Island, IL, a junior majoring in English and philosophy.

Courtney Mitten from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in psychology.

Allison Mulherin from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in biology.

Rayna Narvaez from Bettendorf, IA, a junior majoring in psychology and Spanish.

Leart Neziroski from East Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Justine Nuguid from Moline, IL, a sophomore majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Luke Osborne from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in classics Latin emphasis.

Kayla Papish from East Moline, IL, a junior majoring in teaching math and math.

Douglas Peters from Port Byron, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Ividya Prabhu from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in biology and pre-medicine.

Andrew Randone from Davenport, IA, a senior majoring in political science.

Bridget Reich from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in psychology.

Jessica Scheckel from Taylor Ridge, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Alyssa Schroeder from Coal Valley, IL, a senior majoring in business finance and accounting.

Michael Seevers from Cordova, IL, a senior majoring in geography.

Andrew Shaffer from Rock Island, IL, a junior majoring in history.

Blythe Sharp from Milan, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Meghan Showers from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in Asian studies and political science.

Andrew Showers from Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Anna Smith from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in biology.

Darla Smith from Port Byron, IL, a senior majoring in elementary education.

Jonathan Smith from Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Henry Stauffenberg from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in geology.

Mark Stumphy from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in biology.

Astrid Tello-Rodriguez from Milan, IL, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Theodore Teros from Moline, IL, a junior majoring in philosophy.

Anna Tunnicliff from Bettendorf, IA, a sophomore majoring in liberal studies.

Katherine Vander Vennet from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in business marketing and speech communication.

Courtney Vandewiele from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in political science and accounting.

Calvin Vo from Moline, IL, a first year majoring in liberal studies.

Katherine Voigt from Bettendorf, IA, a junior majoring in biology.

Audrey Waner from Davenport, IA, a senior majoring in art.

Emily Weller from Rock Island, IL, a senior majoring in art education.

Peter Wessels from Bettendorf, IA, a sophomore majoring in business administration advising and accounting.

Nicholas Wilczynski from Moline, IL, a senior majoring in pre-medicine and biology.

Jennifer Youngs from Taylor Ridge, IL, a junior majoring in psychology.

Catherine Ziegler from Bettendorf, IA, a senior majoring in English.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

05 Apr 2010

Orchestra Hall to host Augustana ensembles for 150th anniversary concert

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Augustana's top choir, symphonic band and orchestra will perform in the renowned Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago on Sunday, April 18 at 3 p.m. Augustana musicians made their first appearance at Orchestra Hall in 1926. This return concert will be in honor of the college's sesquicentennial anniversary. For ticket information, please visit www.cso.org or call (312) 294-3000.

The concert will include David Manslanka's Symphony No. 8 performed by the Augustana Symphonic Band, Béla Bartók's Dance Suite performed by the Augustana Symphony Orchestra, and Eric Whitacre's Cloudburst performed by the Augustana Choir.

Student performers from your area include the following:

  • Audrey Taylor from Moline , IL. Taylor plays the horn in the Symphonic Band and is a junior majoring in biology education.
  • Grace Drenth from Davenport , IA. Drenth plays the flute in the Symphonic Band and is a first year majoring in elementary education.
  • Jennifer Youngs from Taylor Ridge , IL. Youngs plays the trumpet in the Symphonic Band and is a sophomore majoring in psychology.
  • Katie Lambrecht from Moline , IL. Lambrecht plays the oboe in the Symphonic Band and is a first year majoring in psychology.
  • Paul Lambrecht from Moline , IL. Lambrecht plays the trumpet in the Symphonic Band and is a senior majoring in political science, history, and secondary education.
  • Lauren Reid from Sherrard , IL. Reid sings Alto I in the Augustana Choir and is a sophomore majoring in business administration.
  • Luke Osborne from Moline , IL. Osborne sings Bass II in the Augustana Choir and is a senior majoring in classics.
  • Michael Kendall from Silvis , IL. Kendall sings Bass II in the Augustana Choir and is a senior majoring in biology and pre-dentistry.
  • Tom Larrison from Davenport , IA. Larrison plays the violin II in the Symphony Orchestra and is a senior majoring in religion.
  • Kelsey VanDyke from Davenport , IA. VanDyke plays the violin II in the Symphony Orchestra and is a juinor majoring in music education.
  • Kelli Schledewitz from Davenport , IA. Schledewitz plays the viola in the Symphony Orchestra and is a senior majoring in English education.
  • Samuel Alvarado from Davenport , IA. Alvarado plays the violoncello in the Symphony Orchestra and is a senior majoring in chemistry.
  • P. J. Wiese from Davenport , IA. Wiese plays the violoncello in the Symphony Orchestra and is a first year majoring in psychology.

All the ensembles are looking forward to the amazing acoustics in Orchestra Hall. "The experience of being in a world-class performance hall is just different," said Dr. Jon Hurty, choir director and co-chair of the music department.

Dr. James Lambrecht, symphonic band director, agrees with Hurty. "The privilege of performing in one of the world's greatest concert halls, steeped with all the history and memories of performances by one of the world's greatest performing ensembles, will leave the students with a 'once in a lifetime' sort of experience," he said.

Orchestra Hall was established in 1904 and is home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. "For the orchestra to have an opportunity to play in the hall which is the home of the Chicago Symphony is a rare pleasure," said Dr. Daniel Culver, symphony orchestra director and co-chair of the music department.

Students are also looking forward to performing for their friends and family, many of whom live in the Chicago area. "My family has had season tickets for Chicago Symphony Orchestra performances for as long as I can remember," said Dana Gustafson, a junior French horn player from Des Plaines, Ill. Read Gustafson's blog about the band's preparation at www.augustana.edu/blogs.

A charter coach will make a round trip from Augustana to Orchestra Hall on the day of the concert. Tickets for the coach are $35. For more information or to reserve a spot on the coach, please visit www.augustana.edu/hallbus.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

25 Mar 2010

Augustana creates Community Engagement Center

By Kamy Beattie

Rock Island, Ill.-Augustana College will expand its outreach to the Quad-City community this fall with the creation of the Community Engagement Center (CEC). The center will centralize current and new on-campus offices that help students engage in the local, national and international community and provide a center where community partners may access student and faculty expertise.

The CEC will be made up of five offices: the Center for Vocational Reflection, Internship Services, Career Development, Entrepreneurial Development and Off-Campus Programs. The goal of the offices is to prepare and connect students with jobs, internships, and international programs; help build an experiential portfolio through volunteering, service learning and community projects; and meet the needs identified by the Quad-City community and beyond.

Augustana President Steve Bahls sees this new center as a way for the college to continue developing relationships with the community and teaching Augustana students to give back. "By establishing the Community Engagement Center, we seek not only to improve the learning experience of our students through integrative learning, but also to strengthen our continuing efforts in helping students develop personal and social responsibility," said Bahls.

The center is an extension of Augie Choice, an established program which enables students to apply for up to $2,000 to fund an internship, one-on-one faculty-mentored research or international experience. For more information about Augie Choice visit www.augustana.edu/augiechoice.

"The opportunities this new center gives our students -- to be out in the real world and to bring their gifts to the world outside Augustana -- will be a huge benefit to them and to the community," said Dr. Bob Haak, associate dean and CEC director. "We want to offer the resources we have to the great community that we live in."

Community organizations interested in learning more about the Center for Community Engagement and how they can get involved may contact Bob Haak at bobhaak@augustana.edu.

For additional information or requests for interviews, contact Kamy Beattie, director of public relations at (309) 794-7721 or kamybeattie@augustana.edu

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

-end-

18 Feb 2010

Students from Augustana College to study in West Africa

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/17/2010)(readMedia)-- Four professors and nearly 40 Augustana students will leave in early March to spend 10 weeks studying in the West African countries of Ghana and Senegal. The two countries, both important regional and continental leaders, were chosen for the global learning experience because of their diverse culture, linguistic and topographical contrasts.

The term begins with six weeks in the country of Ghana, where the group will visit the capital city of Accra, as well as Kumasi and Cape Coast. The final four weeks will be in Dakar and St. Louis in Senegal. Classes will be held four days a week and cover the topics of African history, literature, music and art through reading, assignments, guest lectures and field trips. Students will also volunteer at a school and orphanage, spend a weekend with a host family and visit and attend classes at local universities.

From your area, this includes:

Kevin Carton, a senior from Moline, IL majoring in speech communication, French, and Africana studies.

Crystina Mayfield, a sophomore from Coal Valley, IL majoring in general studies.

Bret VanDeWoestyne, a senior from Silvis, IL majoring in biology.

History professor Dr. Todd Cleveland hopes students will embrace the African culture during the term. "I'd like to think that simple things like taking local transportation, sampling new food at an informal food stall...will ultimately offer more insight into local culture and day-to-day living than will our sensational experiences, such as sleeping out in tents in the desert or swimming in the warm waters off the West African coast," said Cleveland.

Junior biology major Amanda Van Daalen of Waverly, Iowa, agrees the experience is an opportunity for personal change. "I see myself too often taking advantage of things that some people could only dream of. I want to have my eyes open to a new culture and I want to live in a culture where simple things are valued."

Co-director Dr. John Tawiah-Boateng said students have been attending a seminar since fall to prepare for the term away. "I hope as they experience a different lifestyle and culture they will compare realities and stereotypes that they see in movies or television."

All four professors, Tawiah-Boateng, Cleveland, art professor Dr. Rowen Schussheim-Anderson and music professor Dr. John Pfautz will teach a class during the term. Tawiah-Boateng, a native of Ghana, and Schussheim-Anderson helped initiate the first Ghana international term at Augustana in 2006, and now serve as co-directors of this trip. Cleveland and Pfautz have also previously traveled or researched in Africa. The students and professors will return to the United States in mid-May.

Several of the students will keep a blog of their adventures on Augustana's Globablogs. To read more about their trip, go to www.augustana.edu/blogs/international.

For additional information, contact Kamy Beattie, Director of Public Relations at kamybeattie@augustana.edu or (309) 794-7721.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

11 Feb 2010

Augustana Choir tours eastern United States

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/11/2010)(readMedia)-- The 2010 Augustana Choir will perform throughout the Midwest and east coast from February 21-28. From your area, this includes:

Lauren Reid, a sophomore from Sherrard, IL majoring in business administration.

Michael Kendall, a senior from Silvis, IL majoring in biology and pre-dentistry.

Luke Osborne, a senior from Moline, IL majoring in classics.

The choir's tour will include performances in Taneytown, Maryland; Yorktown, Virginia; Blacksburg, Virginia; Parkersburg, West Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio; Champaign, Illinois; and Bloomington, Illinois. For specific performance times and locations, please visit www.augustana.edu/choirtour.

In addition to its usual performances, the choir will sing at the Central Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Cincinnati, Ohio. "There are very few choirs that are chosen to perform at the conference and we are honored to be one of the participating performing groups," said Dr. Jon Hurty, choir director and co-chair of the music department at Augustana.

The Augustana Choir was established in 1931 and has since continued a tradition of excellence in a capella performance. The choir gives nearly 20 off-campus performances a year, and in the past has appeared at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York, and The Ordway Theatre and Orchestra Hall in the Twin Cities. In April, the choir will perform at Orchestra Hall in Chicago's Symphony Center, along with the Augustana Symphonic Band and Augustana Symphony Orchestra. The grand multiple-ensemble performance will be one of several celebrations held throughout the year in honor of the college's 150th anniversary.

Sam Schlouch, a senior business management and accounting major, has been touring with the choir since his first year at Augustana. "The choir tour has definitely enhanced my time at Augustana by providing new cultural experiences and friendships. You become very close to the other people on tour," he said.

Erin O'Leary, a senior music education major, agrees. She explains that each night the choir members are hosted in different people's homes, which is her favorite part of the tour. "Every family I have ever stayed with has been so hospitable and generous. It makes me feel so thankful to have all of these people open up their homes to us," she said.

Dr. Hurty has been teaching at Augustana for 14 years and serves as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States. "Touring is one of the highlights of the year for me and the choir," Hurty said. "I look forward to making great music with talented singers who enjoy making music together. The tour gives us the opportunity to reach out to the larger community and make people aware of all that Augustana's music program has to offer."

11 Feb 2010

Augustana Symphonic Band tours Midwest

By Kamy Beattie

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/11/2010)(readMedia)-- The 2010 Augustana Symphonic Band will perform throughout the Midwest from February 19-28. From your area, this includes:

Grace Drenth, a first year from Davenport, IA majoring in elementary education.

Gaetano Iaccarino, a sophomore from Davenport, IL majoring in music.

Katie Lambrecht, a first year from Moline, IL majoring in psychology.

Paul Lambrecht, a senior from Moline, IL majoring in political science, history, and secondary education.

Audrey Taylor, a junior from Moline, IL majoring in biology education.

Jennifer Youngs, a sophomore from Taylor Ridge, IL majoring in psychology.

The band's tour will include performances in Valparaiso, Indiana; Michigan City, Indiana; Wabash, Indiana; Aurora, Illinois; Brookfield, Wisconsin; Cary, Illinois; and Rockford, Illinois. For specific performance times and locations, please visit www.augustana.edu/bandtour.

The Augustana Symphonic Band was established in 1874, making it the oldest musical organization at Augustana. The band took its first concert tour to central Iowa in the spring of 1883 and became one of the first American collegiate bands to tour in Europe in 1928.

The band is under the direction of Dr. James Lambrecht, professor of trumpet and director of bands at Augustana. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. of music from Indiana University and now serves as a guest conductor, clinician, and soloist throughout the country and abroad.

Lambrecht sees the tour as an important part of the band program. "Our students talk about the tour as the hallmark of their experience," he said. "As a private college, it is also an important part of our tradition. Large universities are not able to do this, so the tour distinguishes us as a college and lets us reach out to people through our music."

Dana Gustafson, a junior majoring in communication sciences and disorders, agrees with Lambrecht. "At a larger school there is no way I could play in the top touring ensemble without majoring in music and having that be my whole life. At Augustana I can tour with the band every year, which gives me the opportunity to pursue my passion for music, meet so many incredible people, and play amazing literature along the way."

In April, the band will perform at Orchestra Hall in Chicago's Symphony Center, along with the Augustana Choir and Augustana Symphony Orchestra. The grand multiple-ensemble performance will be one of several celebrations held throughout the year in honor of the college's 150th anniversary.

For more information, contact Kamy Beattie at kamybeattie@augustana.edu or 309-794-7721.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it always has done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

26 Jan 2010

Augustana's Historic Old Main to undergo multi-phase renovations

By Kamy Beattie

Rock Island, IL? Augustana College will begin a multi-phase restoration project to Old Main this year, the 150th anniversary of the college's founding. The historic academic building usually catches the eye of visitors and the Quad-Cities community because of the its dome located along Seventh Avenue and overlooking the Mississippi River.

The goal of the phased project will be to enhance the learning and teaching environment for students and faculty through renovations to both the exterior and interior of the building. The exterior work, which is expected to start in the spring of 2010, will include repairing the dome, replacing the roof, stone repair, tuckpointing and replacing windows.

"As we celebrate the college's sesquicentennial year, all of us have gained a deeper appreciation for the important work of our forerunners in building Augustana into the national liberal arts college it is today," said President Steven Bahls. "Old Main is a symbol of the vision and dedication not just of our founders, but also of generations of students, professors and all those who have maintained a stalwart devotion to the vital role of higher education in transforming lives."

The family of Dr. Peter Wallenberg, Sr., and Modern Woodmen of America fraternal benefit society?both devoted friends of the college?will provide their financial support. for the project.

The three Wallenberg family foundations?Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation and Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation?will together contribute approximately $1.1 million in support. The family is one of Sweden's leading industrialist families and among Augustana's oldest friends. Wallenberg recital and lecture hall in the Denkmann Memorial Building is named for the family.

Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal benefit society, granted $100,000 for the project. The organization provides life insurance, annuity, investment and banking products to its more than 75,000 members. It was established in Rock Island in 1897 and has since become a valuable corporate citizen, donating nearly $24 million back to the community each year through projects like the Old Main renovations. To honor its generosity, the first floor commons area will be named for Modern Woodmen.

"Augustana is a wonderful college with a long history of benefitting the Quad-Cities community," said W. Kenny Massey, President and CEO of Modern Woodmen of America. "Our financial support of the Old Main project is yet another way Modern Woodmen strives to improve the quality of life in the community and shows its commitment to the Quad Cities and its educational institutions."

Old Main was built from 1882-1889 and was modeled after the main building at Uppsala University, Sweden. A farmer on the building committee suggested adding a dome to give the building an American appearance and help establish it among the greatest structures built by first-generation Swedish immigrants in America. Today, the building houses many departments linked to the humanities, including classics, English, history, philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, anthropology, communication studies, and women's and gender studies.

For more information, contact Kamy Beattie at kamybeattie@augustana.edu or 309-794-7721.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls nearly 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 60 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 226 faculty and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it always has done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

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