The Department of Music at Augustana University announced today that the 2019 “Friend of Augustana Music” award recipient is Brad Heegel '76, of Sioux Falls. The award will be presented during the Viking Days “Command Performance” on Friday, Oct. 11, at the Washington Pavilion.
Brad Heegel graduated from Augustana in 1976 and began working for his alma mater in 1977. He has served the University in a variety of positions including admissions, public events, special projects, marketing and advancement.
For ten years, he coordinated an AU contract with USGS EROS that provided support for conferences and educational programs throughout the world. In 2011, Heegel became the Administrative Director of the Performing and Visual Arts, a position he held until his retirement in 2019. Throughout those years, he oversaw the arts budgets; designed and implemented strategies to raise annual, operational and deferred support; worked with the faculty in planning and promoting artistic seasons and performances; managed spaces, ticketing, and calendars; and he organized and led music tours and J-Term courses abroad.
Heegel’s passion for students is unmatched, and he was a “go-to” for students with concerns, personal problems, or just the need to talk. Through his leadership, financial support for the Arts at Augustana and ticket sales greatly increased.
He led Augustana students safely around the world. To the joy of the Band who, in 2011, experienced the Egyptian Revolution together, Heegel was honored with a cartoon showing him parting a 5-star hotel swimming pool in Cairo as he “led his people home from Egypt.”
We are pleased to honor Brad Heegel for his dedication and service to the Arts at Augustana with the "Friend of Augustana Music" Award.
Learn more about the “Command Performance." See the full schedule of the 2019 Viking Days celebrations at augie.edu/vikingdays.