Augustana University News

Augustana students Onajite Taire ‘22 and Gedion Alemayehu ‘22 are part of a team that was named a global finalist for the 2021 Call for Code University Challenge. Taire and Alemayehu, along with two students from Ethiopia and India attending New York University and PSG College of Arts & Science, made up one of AU’s teams. Yeabsira Lemma ‘21, Gideon Kassa ‘21 and Fraol Dechasa ‘22 made up the other. Competing in the global competition was a chance for students to make a tangible contribution to solving the world’s issues. 

The School of Music invites the public to join the Augustana University community for its annual Christmas Vespers 2021 Concert “Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn,” a celebration of the birth of Christ featuring Augustana’s choirs, orchestra and brass choir.

Augustana is proud to have been recognized with the 2021 Call for Code University Engagement Award — recognizing organizations that have exhibited a deep commitment to Call for Code.

The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University opens “27 Years: Clay is the Way’ Ceramics by Tony Winchester, which will be on view from Thursday, Nov. 11, through Friday, Dec. 10.

Augustana conferred on Nov.11, 2021, an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree to Sgt. Gene Murphy. When Murphy enrolled at Augustana in 1972, he had already been a veteran for more than three years. In 1979, just 16 credits shy of meeting graduation requirements at the time, Murphy withdrew from AU to work with Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Dr. Russell Svenningsen, Augustana School of Music director of vocal studies and associate professor of music, is the first South Dakota professor to have conducted the 69th Annual South Dakota All-State Chorus, hosted by the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA).

A celebration of the Augustana Band’s 125th anniversary will take place on Thursday, Nov. 11. The concert at the Washington Pavilion entitled “A Prairie of Voices,” will feature the All City Middle School Honor Band, as well as a commissioned piece by Dr. James M. David, an internationally-recognized composer.

Through a series of events she calls her own "butterfly effect," Sara Waldner '19 landed her dream job at Lawrence & Schiller after receiving scholarships, support and internship opportunities from Augustana.

Augustana University is proud to announce that its School of Music (SoM) has teamed up with the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues (SFJB) Society to provide more outreach to middle and high school students in South Dakota through SFJB’s Jazz Diversity Project (JDP).

Augustana’s student-run publications, the Edda and The Augustana Mirror, placed in the top 10 of their respective categories in the 2021 Best of Show Competition at the National College Media Convention.