Maggie Van Bockern (Sioux Falls) and Phil Mulder (Volga, SD) have been elected President and Vice President, respectively, of the Augustana Student Association (ASA). The Van Bockern-Mulder ticket received 58 percent of the vote.

Robert E. Wright, an economic historian, will start at Augustana in September holding the Nef Family Chair of Political Economy, provided through a gift from Rudy and Marilyn Nef of Milbank.

With a generous assist from Gay and George Kapplinger, Augustana’s New Student Seminar (NSS) achieved its goal of raising $12,000 for Pennies for Peace. The nine-month effort was a community project of Augustana’s class of 2012.

Rudy and Marilyn Nef of Milbank, have provided a leadership gift to create The Nef Family Chair of Political Economy. The position will advance the study of market economies and representative democracies, on campus and throughout the community.

Shelby Thompson is now a senior in the final days of her high school experience - and the future looks bright. Thompson will try to blaze new trails at Augustana, just like she did coming up through the Sioux Falls school system.

Rev. Larry Peterson will receive the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters and address the graduating class at Augustana’s 149th Commencement Service May 24 at the Sioux Falls Arena.

Amy Hulstein, a junior from Sioux Center, IA, is the recipient of the 2009 Augustana Library Associates Research Award. Her winning paper is entitled “In the Steps of a Soldier: Captured at the Bulge.”

Dr. Robert E. Wright, acclaimed writer and economic historian, has accepted the appointment as Nef Family Chair of Political Economy. Dr. Wright currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University.

On May 21, research work completed by current and former Augustana students will be delivered at an invited talk at the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (DAMOP) meeting in Charlottesville, VA.

Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson has proclaimed May 14, 2009, as Augustana College and Community Band Day. Twenty-five people attended the first rehearsal in the fall of 1989. Today, there are more than 100 members.