SIOUX FALLS – Coronation of Augustana’s Homecoming King and Queen on Sunday, September 28, at 4:00 p.m. in the Elmen Center officially launches the 2008 Viking Days activities.

“The Year of the Viking” is the theme for this year’s homecoming celebration.

Greg Mortenson, co-author of the best seller “Three Cups of Tea,” speaks at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Elmen Center. Both the coronation and Mortenson’s talk are free and open to the public.

The second in Augustana’s Thought Leader Forum series begins Monday, September 29, at 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn City Centre. Nancy Erickson, Augustana Class of 1984, the Secretary of the United States Senate, is the featured speaker.

The Thought Leader series continues on Friday, October 3. Dr. John Hamre, Augustana class of 1972, the President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is the featured speaker. Lunch will be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn City Centre.
“Politics in America: Domestic and Global Issues” is the theme of the Thought Leader Forum. For tickets, call the Augustana Office of Marketing & Communication at 274-4404, or go to www.augietickets.com.

Augustana’s Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday with a social hour at the Holiday Inn City Centre. Joining the Athletic Hall of Fame are Hiedi Reed Johnson, class of 1998, track and cross country; Tom Dow, class of 1997, track; Doug Clark, class of 1976, football; Jason Reitmeier, class of 1997, wrestling; Ann Sieckert Seppelt, class of 1998, volleyball; and Dan Conrad, class of 1998, baseball. Paul Kendle, Augustana’s head wrestling coach for 18 seasons, will receive the Lefty Olson Award, and Tim Holman, class of 1981, will receive the Ole Odney Award. Augustana’s North Central Conference championship men’s basketball team from 1977-78 will also be recognized.

The Viking Days Parade on Saturday, October 4, begins at 9:00 a.m. at the intersection of 14th Street and Main Avenue and proceeds north to Sixth Street. The parade once again is being held in conjunction with the Festival of Bands.

Also on Saturday, Alumni Achievement Awards will be presented to Emil Her Many Horses, class of 1979; Roger Haugo, class of 1958; Jenee Woodard, class of 1980; and Erik Jensen, class of 1977. Kyle Pederson, class of 1993, will receive the Horizon Award. The recipients will be honored during a social hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn City Centre.

Four performances of Viking Varieties are scheduled at the Orpheum Theatre, 315 N. Phillips Avenue. They are Friday at 9:00 p.m., Saturday at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Emcees for the 10-act event are Molly Buyske (Helena, MT), Leigh Hooks (Blomkest, MN), and Jon Josten (Carson City, NV).

Anniversary reunions are being held for the classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008.
Go to www.augie.edu/alumni for the complete Viking Days schedule. Tickets to all events are available by calling 274-5320, at the Augustana Box Office in the Humanities Center, or online at www.augietickets.com.
 

Bruce Conley
Director of News Information
Phone: 605.274.5526
Fax: 605.274.4903