Carl Rasmussen
Class of 2006

Hometown: Sisseton, SD

Major: Biology

Extracurricular Activities: The Augustana Choir, Outreach team leader, Lutheran Social Services student mentor, intramural sports.

How did you choose your biology major?
I had always had a genuine interest in the sciences, especially biology, throughout junior high and high school. So, it was the natural choice for me to make in some ways. Also, the biology deparment, as well as the chemistry department, has a reputation of providing the instruction and support necessary to successfully lead students into their desired graduate school programs. I have been very pleased with my experience as a bio major.

What is your favorite part about being in the choir?
My favorite part about being in the choir is being able to sing under a conductor the caliber of Dr. Johnson. He is an immensely talented person, and Augustana is lucky to have him on campus. Even though Dr. J is so qualified for his job, he doesn't show it. He leads the choir in a very humble, faith-based manner, which I am proud to be a part of.

You've also traveled quite a bit in your four years here. Tell us a little about that.
I have been fortunate to have had the chance to travel quite a bit internationally while at Augie. I toured with the choir to Ireland and Northern Ireland after my sophomore year, studied abroad in Australia and New Zealand the fall semeseter of my junior year, and went on a medical mission trip to Honduras this past summer. My international experiences have all been eye-opening and insightful in their own ways, not to mention a lot of fun.

What is the best class you've taken at Augustana?
I would probably have to say "Judaism, Christianity and Islam", taught by Dr. Haar. It was a very well-structured class based on some very appropriate and enlightening reading material. However, I think it was Dr. Haar as a lecturer that made this class so outstanding. He was so knowledgeable and engaging; he was able to really connect with students during lecture and convey the importance of the material we were discussing, especially in light of our current world relations with respect to religion.

Who is your favorite professor?
I had Dr. Earl for Organic Chemistry I and II. He is hands down the best prof I've had at Augie, and you would be hard-pressed to find a prof anywhere else so devoted to his teaching and his students. He pushes and challenges his students to "master" the material of Organic I and II, and with his constant support students are able to reach that level.

What is your favorite hangout spot on campus?
The new huddle is pretty sweet - nice leather furniture.

You enrolled at another private school and then transferred to Augustana your freshman year. Describe that process for us.
It had been a very close decision my senior year of high school between Augie and St. Olaf. Once I had started at St. Olaf, I realized that there were characteristics about Augie that made it a better overall fit for me. Augie is a very down-to-earth place, a setting in which I found I was most comfortable. There is a genuine respect for personal relationships here, greatly evident in faculty-student relations as well as student-student relations. It's a unique quality of this school that isn't easy to find elsewhere.

What advice would you give first year students at Augustana?
Be open, meet people, and get involved. Also, it's a lot easier to stay on top of the game academically than to try to play catch up right before mid-terms or finals. And, this is really important - have fun - you only get to be in college for 4 years of your life.

What is your favorite memory from your first year at Augie?
Second semester freshman year at Augie was a lot of fun. After I transferred from St. Olaf, I quickly found my place with a group of friends in Bergsaker 2 West. [Bergsaker is a residence hall on campus] It's funny to look back on that now because these are the guys I still hang out with the most at school. I'll have a lot of good memories from that year, whether it's crazy dorm stuff like the infamous Berg 2 W slip-and-slide, or building friendships that I would keep throughout college.

What will you miss most about Augustana after graduation this spring?
I think I will really miss the community of friends and profs that I have been surrounded by during my time here. From my conversations with people that have already graduated, it is this community that they really notice the importance of once it is absent in their life.

Do you have immediate plans after graduation?
After graduation, I am going to volunteer internationally for a year with ELCA Global Missions. I then hope to be admitted into medical school and start that very long process in the Fall of 2007.