In the spring of 2023, Augustana University established the Augustana Honorary Alumni Society, inducting 23 members into its inaugural class — all of whom were Augustana Trustees Society members, current board of trustees members, former presidents or first ladies.
The honorary alumni society was established to recognize individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to Augustana’s mission, along with its core values of Christian, liberal arts, excellence, community and service. Through sustained commitment to the university, honorary alumni have demonstrated the gold standard of engagement.
This year, Augustana inducted four members into the honorary alumni society — Paul & Paige Hanson and Bill & Ellen Rydell. The inductees were recognized on Oct. 4, at the Honor Guard Luncheon during Viking Days.
All nominations for induction into the society are reviewed by the AU Alumni Council, then recommended to and approved by the Augustana President’s Council.
The inductees met the following requirements:
- Exemplify one or more of Augustana’s core values; and
- act as an ongoing facilitator of connections for Augustana through one’s personal network — helping to open doors for internships, innovative partnerships, grants and fundraising; and/or
- demonstrate significant financial support for Augustana on an ongoing basis.
Members of the honorary alumni society enjoy special recognition, along with the rights and privileges pertaining to Augustana alumni.
🏅 Paige Hanson
Paige Hanson, of Sioux Falls, formerly worked in television, as well as marketing & public relations for Sioux Valley Hospital (now Sanford Health) and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, South Dakota. Hanson has invested her time, talent and financial resources in improving and strengthening both the Augustana and Sioux Falls communities.
🏅 Paul Hanson
Paul Hanson, of Sioux Falls, is the president & CEO of Sanford Health Sioux Falls — leading the organization’s Sioux Falls market and network operations for facilities in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. In addition to fostering the legacy partnership between Sanford Health and AU, Hanson has served on the Augustana President's Playmakers Executive Committee from 2021-23 to help launch Augustana Hockey and as a mentor for the Augustana Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program since 2022.
🏅 Bill Rydell
Bill Rydell, of Alexandria, Virginia, is a former cyber security architect for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and former director of enterprise services for the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics. Rydell has generously supported Augustana’s Edith Mortenson Center Theatre and Center for Western Studies (CWS), as well as impact and endowed scholarships for students and the naming of the Rydell School of Business.
🏅 Ellen Rydell
Ellen Rydell, of Alexandria, Virginia, managed day-to-day operations and bookkeeping for Alexandria Lighting & Supply — the family business — until 2019. Rydell is the daughter of the late Edith Mortenson Delman ‘41, for whom the Edith Mortenson Center on Augustana’s campus is named. Rydell has generously supported Augustana’s Edith Mortenson Center Theatre and Center for Western Studies (CWS), as well as impact and endowed scholarships for students and the naming of the Rydell School of Business.