The Augie Pride Award Winner is nominated by other Augustana University employees and given annually to an employee who goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Mary Toso '90, the 2024 Augie Pride Award Winner, was recognized with the award on Wednesday, April 17, at the university’s annual Service Awards & Retirement Recognition Ceremony in the Ordal Dining Hall in the Morrison Commons.
Along with the Augie Pride Award, Augustana University recognizes its employees who are celebrating milestone service anniversaries and retirements annually.
Milestone anniversaries are recognized in increments of five years. In 2023-24, Augustana celebrated 77 employees with milestone anniversaries — totaling 1,005 years served.
2025 Service Awards
Wednesday, April 30 | 2:30 p.m. | Ceremony Begins at 3 p.m. | Ordal Dining Hall (ODH)
Retirees Joining the Golden Vikings in 2025
To mark the end of each academic year and a job well done, the Augustana University Office of Human Resources hosts a year-end picnic for employees, retirees and their families.
In 2024, the celebration was held at Midco Arena, where the AU community enjoyed food, fun and one another on Monday, May 13 — complete with Ace the Augie Doggie, of course!
Presented by the Augustana University Office of Human Resources in partnership with the Office of the President, the university's favorite holiday tradition is known as Yuletide, where faculty, staff, retirees and their family gather for worship, cookie decorating and dinner together.
In 2023, Yuletide took place on Monday, Dec. 18, with worship in the Chapel of Reconciliation and a buffet-style dinner in the Ordal Dining Hall in the Morrison Commons.
Ole and the Sioux Falls Santa often make an appearance to help celebrate the magic of the Christmas season.
