October 1, 2020
Written by Public Relations & Communications Strategist Jill Wilson
Augustana is excited to announce the university’s 96th homecoming celebration, with the kickoff of Viking Days 2020 scheduled for the evening of Sunday, October 4.
A combination of in-person and virtual events for students will continue throughout the week of Viking Days, including a livestreamed coronation, a Reverse Parade of picture boards rather than floats, as well as a Lip Sync Battle. The week-long celebration will wrap up with AugieFest, an event for students at Kirkeby-Over Stadium, on Saturday, October 10.
Alumni and friends are invited to celebrate new and reimagined Viking Days traditions virtually by participating in Open House events hosted by the faculty of Augustana’s Sharon Lust School of Education and the School of Music; a Viking Views webinar with Dr. Sandra Looney, faculty emerita of English; and a special all alumni Zoom reunion, featuring President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. Alumni have also been invited to “check in” on their Augustana campus mailbox by sending a postcard to the Viking using the mailbox today and to take a virtual seat in an AU class
Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Joel Gackle said, “Each year, alumni look forward to returning home for Viking Days to reconnect with the friends and faculty who have had such a profound impact on their lives. Walking the campus always brings back so many special memories. Thanks to Zoom, they will still be able to return home virtually this year. Our students and faculty have created unique experiences to bring Viking Days into the homes of alumni all around the world!”
Adding to the festivities, the 2020 Augustana Athletics Auction will be held online throughout the week with more than 100 items up for bid. The auction will open at 5 p.m., on Sunday, October 4, and will close on Friday, October 9, at 6:30 p.m.
Through a campus-wide commitment to creative thinking and collaboration, Viking Days 2020 will bring us together in a way that honors the Viking Flex Plan and our commitment to health and safety, #ForAU. Above all, it will allow Augustana to celebrate what it values most, community.