The 1920's  was a time of exponential growth in student activities.  The Augustana Choir, football and baseball teams were formed; the Augustana Student Association is founded, blue and gold are the school colors and "Vikings" is the College nickname. The EDDA and Viking Days are given birth. 

Enrollment reaches an all-time high of 508 students and graduates a record number of students. In a decade full of financial upheaval, the College actually fared reasonably well.  The College's first Rhodes Scholar was named and the gymnasium was completed.

A new football stadium was built and enrollment reached another record level at 587 students.  WWII provided its share of challenges to the campus, but its end also created new opportunities as former Air Base facilities were moved to campus to accommodate another surge in enrollment in the post-war years.

Under the leadership of President Lawrence Stavig in the 1950's, Augustana rolled into the future on a wave of outstanding student academic achievement, including its second Rhodes Scholar. The College was hitting its stride and being recognized as a first-rate liberal arts college on the northern plains.

Academic program enhancements, the first international choir tour, new buildings on campus, tensions created by the Vietnam War and a fatal plane crash were the highlights of a decade that ushered in the modern era of the 1970's.

Nationally, the 1970's brought the end of the Vietnam War and the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. At Augustana, the Humanities Center was built, Michelangelo's Moses statue is brought to campus, and a new academic calendar is adopted.

Three presidents served terms during the 1980's at Augustana: Dr. Bill Nelsen, Dr. Sidney Rand, and Dr. Lloyd Svendsbye. The Chapel of Reconciliation and Elmen Center are new buildings on campus, and Augustana celebrates its 125th anniversary in 1985.

The 1990's began with a national championship in softball and ended with a dedication of the Madsen Center. In between, Dr. Ralph Wagoner was installed as president, Mikhail Gorbachev spoke at the Boe Forum, and The Augustana Band was the first collegiate band to perform in the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea.

After surviving the Y2K scare, Augustana thrived during the decade, constructing numerous campus facilities, hosting many notable speakers, introducing a new Viking logo and creating a vision under President Oliver to be "one of America's premier church-related colleges."

Even though Augustana is 150 years old, it is unusual that so many have served as president.  Due to the uncertainty of the times and the movement from one location to another, it was difficult to establish a routine or rhythym from year to year. However, once the College moved to Sioux Falls, particularly at the beginning of the Solberg administration in 1920, some stability was established in the earlier part of the 20th century.

From a humble beginning in the basement of a Norwegian Lutheran church in Chicago, to the construction of the administration building in Sioux Falls in 1920, and culminating with the construction of Kirkeby-Over Stadium, the physical enhancements to the campus have been dramatic.

Throughout the twentieth century, there existed a constant desire to upgrade the quality of the faculty in order to gain accreditation and recognition as a first-rate academic institution on the northern plains.  To this day, central to the Augustana experience is the delivery of a rigorous academic program that is delivered by an exceptionally talented faculty. For more information about current faculty, see our Great Professors album.

In 1922, the College joined the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference and became known as the "Vikings." Through various athletic affiliations in the North Central Conference and currently in the Northern Sun Conference, Viking pride has become a staple to the Augustana experience.

Augustana was founded in Chicago, Illinois in the last half of the 19th century.  By the time the twentieth century rolled around, the College moved four times--to Paxton, Illinois 1863; Marshall, Wisconsin 1869; Beloit, Iowa (1881) and then to Canton, Dakota Territory (1884).