Five Augustana University students were named Covenant Award winners on Tuesday, April 25. Four students received their awards in a ceremony held in Hamre Recital Hall. The Covenant Award winner for Liberal Arts received hers via a surprise Zoom with President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on April 20, as she is completing the semester abroad in Costa Rica. The Covenant Awards lift up those who exemplify Augustana’s core values: Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community and Service.
The Covenant Awards, presented every academic year, were created by students to more clearly define these shared values and deepen the understanding of the rights and responsibilities that accompany membership in the Augustana community. The recipients are selected by committees of faculty and staff that seek nominations from all members of the AU community. A cast bronze medallion is given to each awardee, which may be worn during commencement festivities.
The 2023 Covenant Award recipients are:
🥇 Rachel Brendefur, Covenant Award for Christian
Nominees for the Covenant Award for the Christian core value are those who, during their time at Augustana, have searched for a calling that honors the Christian faith; who actively integrate faith and actions; who see their life journey as part of a bigger tapestry; who are growing in faith; and who are comfortable discussing their faith with others.
Rachel Brendefur ‘23 is a nursing major from Boise, Idaho. She is an active part of Campus Ministry and was a 2022-23 recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
“Rachel embodies a faith that is grace-filled and person-oriented,” one of Brendefur’s nominators wrote. “She genuinely seeks to better understand the lives of others, and feels drawn to different cultures and ways of life. Faith serves as a compassionate lens for Rachel, witnessing the world through God's loving perspective.”
“Rachel…goes to all of the Campus Ministry events. She talks to shy students and she opens herself up to them so they feel able to do the same,” Brendefur’s second nominator wrote. “She is a quiet but always present force at our events and listens to others’ opinions on faith with no judgment. She always tries to understand and be an effective listener.”
🥇 Julia Radtke, Covenant Award for Liberal Arts
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Liberal Arts are those who have demonstrated a love of learning for its own sake; acknowledged or forged connections between academic disciplines; connected curricular and co-curricular interests; related their studies to important issues of human existence; and whose commitment to the liberal arts has shaped their plans for the future.
Julia Radtke ‘24 is majoring in biology with an emphasis in ecology & environmental science. The Northfield, Minnesota, native is part of the Civitas Honors Program and has been an ACE ambassador. She is studying abroad in Costa Rica.
“(In a Civitas course on environmental justice), Julia created a triptych of a squid in three different artistic mediums and explained how she had ended up studying the same squid in my class, a philosophy class and her biology class,” Radtke’s nominator wrote. “Then, she showed how the triptych was a model of the liberal arts. The class, Dr. (Colin) Irvine (provost & executive vice president) and I were simply blown away by her intellectual humility and brilliance in one presentation.
“Not long afterward, (Irvine) invited Julia (along with two others) to give the same presentation for the December Board of Trustees meeting,” the nominator continued. “After her 10-minute presentation, Dr. Irvine said in front of everyone that if he had a job to offer her, he wondered which department she'd like to be in. Several of us were teary eyed after the presentation, including Dr. Irvine. In my 32 years of teaching at Augustana, this was the best demonstration of a liberal arts education that I have ever witnessed.”
🥇 Benjamin Limburg, Covenant Award for Excellence
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Excellence are those who commit themselves to high virtuous and ethical standards, personal integrity, human excellence, self-discipline and self-improvement. These nominees are known for bringing out excellence in others. Their commitment to excellence has shaped their plans for the future.
Benjamin Limburg ‘23 is a chemistry and philosophy double major from Rochester, Minnesota. He is on the Viking Football Team, was a member of the All-Academic Team of Excellence and earned an Academic All-America honor in 2022, and was named a 2023 Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award winner.
“Ben has been dedicated to becoming a well-rounded, deep thinker in order to be the best doctor possible,” Limburg’s nominator wrote. “Not only has Ben put in time working, interning and volunteering in medical positions because he hopes to be a physician in the future, but
Ben also has been writing a paper for publication with Dr. Sakpal at the Avera Health Transplant
Department about declaration of circulatory death organ procurement. Using that as a starting point, Ben opted to write a non-necessary thesis for his philosophy degree, exploring moral issues with different types of organ procurement. Ben holds himself to such high standards that he, as an undergraduate, is working on a research area for which he will likely be able to write a book in the near future.”
“What Ben decides to do, Ben does quickly, reflectively and well,” said the nominator. “A promise or commitment from Ben can be trusted unequivocally. This was true for Ben's thesis work, and it has been true for his work in independent study courses, as well as regularly scheduled courses. Ben is, without hesitation, the most disciplined student I have ever had in my many years of teaching.”
🥇 Laura Johnson, Covenant Award for Community
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Community are described as those who have demonstrated and fostered respect for others; who act as a leader, earning the respect of others; who have left a mark on the campus and broader communities; and whose commitment to community has shaped their plans for the future.
Laura Johnson ‘23 is an anthropology and journalism double major from Cannon Falls, Minnesota. She is the editor-in-chief of the Edda, Augustana’s yearbook, and part of the Anthropology Club.
“As editor-in-chief of the Edda, Laura has thought deeply about how she might best represent diversity at Augustana University,” said Johnson’s nominator. “She wanted to lift up Augustana's legacy while simultaneously giving attention to the ways in which Augustana has changed, particularly with regard to the way in which our becoming a more diverse university has made us a stronger university. She has reached out to our international students and to our Native American students in an effort to deepen the perspective of the book. The book's editors always strive to represent the diversity of the institution. Laura, however, has done so in ways that are more interesting: She wants to look at Augustana across the ages.
“She is smart, she is careful, she connects well with others, she cares deeply about the lives of others,” the nominator wrote. “At times, Laura's capacity for empathy simply takes my breath away.”
🥇 Kinzie Gullikson, Covenant Award for Service
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Service are described as those who have a commitment to service on campus and in the broader community; who inspire others to serve; who serve quietly without fanfare and with no desire for recognition; and whose future plans have been shaped by service.
Kinzie Gullikson ‘23 is from Warren, Minnesota, and is majoring in elementary education with minors in American Sign Language (ASL), English as a new language and reading. She is the president of Serving and Learning Together (SALT), student director of Augustana FRIENDSLink and a peer navigator with the Augie Access Program. Gullikson has also been part of the Viking Days Committee and was a 2022 Viking Days royalty candidate.
“Kinzie is one of the most committed, organized and exemplary pre-service students I have had the pleasure of mentoring,” Gullikson’s nominator wrote. “She is outgoing, personable and has a very positive outlook and stance as a leader. She relates easily and positively with others, and willingly and actively participates in a team or collaborative situation. She builds strong, enduring, positive relationships in every situation she participates in. She has a heart for individuals with differing abilities and for children who are marginalized in our schools and society.”
“Kinzie is always quietly meeting the needs of others and ensuring they feel like they belong and that they matter,” her nominator said. “She is humble and never seeks attention for her endeavors.”
To learn more and view the full list of 2023 Covenant Award nominees, visit augie.edu/verdier.