Contact: Bruce Conley, Associate Director of College Relations
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
www.augie.edu

June 23, 2005

Four Students Receive Fund for Theological Education Fellowships

SIOUX FALLS – Four current and former Augustana students are among 170 outstanding young people nationwide who have been named Fund for Theological Education (FTE) Fellows.

The fellowships were established to encourage a new generation of gifted young people to consider vocations in ministry and theological scholarship. This year FTE is awarding $1.2 million in fellowships.

Recipients from Augustana are Ryan Otto, Pierce, Neb., Matthew Kruse, Jackson, Minn., Kara Wiechmann, Parkston, S.D., and Kate Holmquest, Watertown, S.D.

Otto, who graduated from Augustana in May, is the recipient of a Ministry Fellowship. Each of students entering Master of Divinity programs will receive $5,000 for self-designed ministry projects, expenses to attend the 2005 FTE Summer Conference on Excellence in Ministry, and other vocational enrichment opportunities.

Kruse and Wiechmann enter their junior years at Augustana this fall and are recipients of Undergraduate Fellowships. They are among 70 juniors and seniors to receive $1,500 stipends for educational expenses, funds to support a mentoring relationship, and expenses to attend the 2005 FTE Summer Conference on Excellence in Ministry.

Holmquest graduated from Augustana in 2002 and recently stepped down as director of Church Relations at Augustana. She is the recipient of a Congregational Fellowship. The award provides matching funds toward tuition and living expenses for the first year of seminary for students age 30 and younger. The 23 Congregational Fellows also receive funds to attend FTE’s 2005 Congregational Fellows Retreat.