Five Augustana University students received Covenant Awards on Thursday, April 30, during a celebration in Hamre Recital Hall. The Covenant Awards lift up those who exemplify Augustana’s core values: Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community and Service.
Meet the 2026 Covenant Award winners.
The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana opens “Surface: The Augustana Senior Show,” which will be on view Thursday, April 30, through Saturday, May 23 — Augustana’s commencement. A gallery reception will take place on Friday, May 1, from 7-9 p.m., with awards and graduating artist talks at 7:30 p.m.
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin will continue serving Augustana University as president into 2032. With her second 6-year contract set to expire on July 31, 2029, Herseth Sandlin agreed to a 3-year extension ending on July 31, 2032 — approved by the Augustana Board of Trustees (BOT) on Friday, April 24.
The Center for Western Studies (CWS) at Augustana University has published its latest book titled “The Missouri, America’s Longest River: A Cultural and Environmental History,” edited by Drs. Jon K. Lauck and Harry F. Thompson. The official launch of “The Missouri” will take place at the 58th annual Dakota Conference on the Northern Plains on Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24.
Augustana University has selected Maya Madson ‘27 and Ayden Calvert ‘27 to take part in the 2026 Peace Scholars Program — designed to inspire and engage “students to become full participants in peacemaking efforts around the world.”
Augustana University student Adam Brachman ‘28 has received the 2026 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program Award, which provides American college and university students with the opportunity to study cultures and languages essential to U.S. global engagement. The media production & entrepreneurship and music double major will spend eight weeks in Okayama, Japan, intensively studying the Japanese language and culture.
The Augustana University School of Music will soon be home to a Bachelor of Music (B.M.). The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) approved the B.M. in November 2025 — the final step needed to begin full implementation of the degree with a concentration in (instrumental or vocal) performance in Fall 2026.