Together with their professors, Augustana's newest Vikings — the Class of 2023 — witnessed the official opening of the 2019-20 academic year on at the August 27 Opening Convocation ceremony. The event marked the beginning of the University's 159th academic year and was held on campus in the Elmen Center.
In addition to featured addresses by Dr. Daniel Gerling, associate professor of english and journalism, and the 2018-19 Augustana Student Association (ASA) Faculty Recognition Award recipient, and Luca Amayo, president of ASA, the ceremony also recognized the 2019 Sophomore Honors Award recipients.
The Sophomore Honors Award recognizes representatives of the preceding sophomore class who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at an early stage of their college career. Sophomore Honors are awarded to students who have earned a GPA of 3.9 or higher by the end of their sophomore year and are on their way to achieving summa cum laude status.
The 2019 Sophomore Honors Award recipients are:
- Morgan Anderson, Sartell, Minnesota
- Rachel Bachman, Omaha, Nebraska
- Maddisen Barness, Sioux Falls
- Samantha Barslou, Blue Earth, Minnesota
- Jenna Bartunek, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
- Taylor Beagle, Lead, South Dakota
- Mason Blue, Sioux Falls
- Claire Boersma, Lynd, Minnesota
- Gaven Bowman, Brandon, South Dakota
- Zachary Buchholtz, Spring Valley, Minnesota
- Audrey Cope. Rapid City, South Dakota
- Rachel Davis, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
- Emily Dilly, Lismore, Minnesota
- Grace Doeden, Beresford, South Dakota
- Madison Feist, Rapid City, South Dakota
- Isabelle Hedge, Sioux Falls
- Madalyn Heiling, Wabasso, Minnesota
- Brendan Huisman, Rock Rapids, Iowa
- Kyla Kasuske, Wentworth, South Dakota
- Camryn Keyeski, Albert Lea, Minnesota
- MaKenna Koble, Vermillion, South Dakota
- Emily Konz, Brandon, South Dakota
- Logan Lenz, Wilmont, Minnesota
- Shuhang Li, Bejing, China
- TJ Liggett, Rosemount, Minnesota
- Gloria McKenney, Belle Fourche, South Dakota
- Shannon McKnight, Farmington, Minnesota
- Julia Megazzini, Yorkville, Illinois
- Alyssa Meiners, Caledonia, Minnesota
- Joshua Morin-Baxter, Rapid City, South Dakota
- Alaina Mueller, Spicer, Minnesota
- Katie Osmanski, Brookings, South Dakota
- Madden Pikula, Gillette, Wyoming
- Eleanor Ronning, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Laura Schwartz, Le Sueur, Minnesota
- Alex Stone, Crosslake, Minnesota
- Cole Tessendorf, Columbus, Nebraska
- Claire Thompson, Saint Peter, Minnesota
- Michaela Udlock, Castle Rock, Colorado
- Anna VanRavenswaay, Montevideo, Minnesota
- McKenzie Volesky, Webster, South Dakota
- Abigail Willison, Sioux Falls
- Emily Worden, Sioux Falls
- Elizabeth Yoder, Dickinson, North Dakota