Augustana College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and located on a rolling 100-acre (400,000 m²) campus in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Augustana’s name is from the origin of the Lutheran Church in the Confessio Augustana, the Latin name for the Augsburg Confession of 1530. Students, alumni, friends, employees, and those who know the College casually refer to it as “Augie.”
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| Motto | Verbum Dei manet in aeternum (The Word of God endures forever) |
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| Type | Private |
| Established | 1860 |
| President | Mr. Robert C. Oliver |
| Students | 1,650 Full Time |
| Location | , , |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Nickname | Vikings |
| Affiliations | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Website | www.augie.edu |
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History
The institution was established in 1835 as Hillsboro Academy in Hillsboro, Illinois by Scandinavian immigrants. Its name was changed to “The Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church of the Far West.” The school was moved to Springfield, Illinois, where it was renamed Illinois State University. In 1860, Professor Lars Paul Esbjorn and a group of followers moved to Chicago because of differences over matters of doctrine. As the United States expanded westward, pioneers moved the school to Paxton, Illinois in 1863; Marshall, Wisconsin in 1869; Beloit, Iowa in 1881; and then to Canton, South Dakota in 1888. Three Lutheran synods united and merged with the Lutheran Normal School in Sioux Falls in 1918.
The Lutheran Normal School opened in 1889 with the purpose of educating teachers. In 1918, synod officials felt that having two institutions so close together was not fiscally prudent, and decided to merge the Lutheran Normal School and Augustana College in Sioux Falls under the name Augustana College. After the merger, the school site in Canton became the Augustana Academy. Despite the similarities in name, it was no longer affiliated with the college. The author O.E. Rølvaag attended the Augustana Academy.
Athletics
The Augustana Vikings participate in NCAA Division II athletics in the North Central Conference. In 2004-2005, Augie wrestlers finished second in the nation in NCAA Division II finals.
Arts
Augustana is well-known for its contributions to the arts. The Augustana Choir and Concert Band tour widely nationally and internationally, and the college is one of the few schools in America to house its own student-run improvisational theater groups, known as BNi, or Brand Name Improv.
Media
The college operates a radio station, 89.1 FM KAUR, which broadcasts 24 hours per day and specializes in alternative/college music but also offers a variety ranging from jazz and folk to rap and regional South Dakota musicians.
Notable alumni
- Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the United States Senate
- Myron Floren, accordionist
- Mary Hart, television host (Entertainment Tonight)
- Kevin Kaesviharn, defensive back, Cincinnati Bengals
- Corbin Lacina, former NFL offensive lineman
- Brett Szabo, former center, Boston Celtics
- Troy Westwood, placekicker, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
External links
- Augustana College, official website
- Satellite photo, Google maps
- Augustana Choir website
- Augustana Computer Organization
- KAUR FM website, Augie's on-campus independent music radio station.
- Augustana Pre-Med Club
- The Mirror, Augustana's student newspaper.
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