Contact: Bruce Conley, News Information Director
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
e-mail: bruce_conley@augie.edu
www.augie.edu

July 19, 2004

Augustana Academy Alumni & Friends Reunion July 23-25

SIOUX FALLS, SD - The 2004 Augustana Academy Alumni & Friends Reunion will be held on the campus of Augustana College July 23-25.

Highlighting the three-day celebration is the Augustana Academy Alumni & Friends Banquet on Saturday, July 24, in the Morrison Commons.

Harriet Hybertson from the class of 1941 and Donna Long Schafer from the class of 1954 will receive Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Harriet Hybertson taught more than 1,200 students during her 31 years as a faculty member in the Education Department at Augustana College. She completed the two-year elementary education program at Augustana College, and earned both her B.A. and M.A. at the University of Northern Colorado. She lives in Sioux Falls, where she is an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Donna Long Schafer taught elementary school for 24 years, and is currently a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives. She attended Yankton College, received her B.S. in elementary education in 1972, and a master's of elementary education in 1978 from the University of South Dakota. She taught at Jolley Elementary School in Vermillion from 1972 to 1995 and continues to substitute teach. She was elected to the State Legislature in 2002 and serves on the House Education and House Commerce Committees. She and her husband, Jerry, have five children and 16 grandchildren. They live in Vermillion, S.D.

The Moe Parish, which supported Augustana Academy throughout its life in Canton, S.D., will receive the Friend of the Academy Award. Members of the parish literally helped keep the Academy going several times. They provided food and helped clean classrooms and dormitories. Generations of families that attended the Academy were members of Moe Parish. The Moe Parish women started "Academy Day," which evolved into the current Academy Reunion Weekend.

Augustana Academy, located in Canton, S.D., has been closed since 1971.