Augustana University

Augustana University presented several awards as part of Viking Days.

Alumni Achievement Award recipients:

The Rev. Dale Jamtgaard, class of 1954, is an ordained Lutheran pastor. After graduating from Augustana and obtaining his master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago, he moved to Oregon to work with Lutheran Family Services. There, he and his wife, Ricky, founded the Quest Fellowship, a program designed to help Lutheran couples better understand themselves and their marriages. Jamtgaard also was a driving force in a combined congregation between the Catholic and Lutheran churches in Beaverton, Ore. He is now retired and lives with his wife in Milwaukie, Ore.

Dale Hoiberg, class of 1971, is an accomplished scholar with an extensive career. After graduating from Augustana with a major in comparative literature and philosophy, he went on to pursue a doctorate in Chinese literature. He worked at Encyclopedia Britannica for 36 years, serving most recently as senior vice president and editor in chief. There, he used his knowledge of Chinese language and culture to assist in the first translation of the encyclopedia into simplified Chinese characters. Since 2015, Hoiberg has taught courses in Chinese language and literature at Loyola University of Chicago.

Joanne Warner, class of 1972, is a professor of nursing at the University of Portland School of Nursing in Portland, Ore., and has served as a professor and dean at several institutes of nursing around the country. After graduating from Augustana with a major in nursing, she decided to obtain a doctorate in health policy and health of the community from Indiana University. Her passion for nursing is evident through her hard work to promote health through public policy. She has worked to improve nursing curriculums, educate future nurses, and promote health on an international level. A well-respected and often-published academic, her students also have shown stellar work in the field of nursing.

Julie Ashworth, class of 1975, is a professor of education at Augustana and has received many accolades for her work as a public school teacher and a professor. She has presented her work in the field of education more than 20 times, including at five Nobel Peace Prize Forums. After obtaining both a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education, and a master’s degree in math, science and technology from Augustana, she went on to obtain a doctorate in adult and higher education from the University of South Dakota. Since returning to Sioux Falls and Augustana, Ashworth has co-founded and led Augie Access and FriendsLink. Both are organizations that give young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities access to higher education and opportunities for social growth.

Dr. Sam Milanovich, class of 2002, is a practicing pediatric oncologist and researcher at Sanford and the 2017 recipient of the Augustana Horizon Award, which recognizes early career achievement by graduates of the past 15 years. After graduating from Augustana with a major in biology, he obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of North Dakota and has been working in pediatrics and medical research ever since. In his current research project at Sanford, Milanovich is working to uncover the cause of pediatric leukemia.

Inductees to the Performing & Visual Arts Hall of Fame:

James Ode, class of 1957, for instrumental music. A music major and English minor, Ode sang in the choir, played in the band and orchestra, and directed the Northlanders jazz band during his time at Augustana. He went on to earn a master’s degree in music, a doctorate in musical arts and a Performer’s Certificate in Trumpet from the Eastman School of Music. Following his education, he taught trumpet and was director of graduate studies at the Ithaca College School of Music, served as chairman of the music department at Trinity University in San Antonio and led the music division of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. In 1994, he received the Augustana Alumni Achievement Award. Ode is the author of “Brass Instruments in Church Music” and has published more than 20 solo arias for voice, trumpet and organ.

Anna Hamre, class of 1975, for choral music. A music major at Augustana, Hamre went on to earn a master’s degree in choral music from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and a doctorate in musical arts in choral literature and performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Before moving to California in 1999, she worked in public schools and churches, and served community ensembles in Colorado. Hamre currently serves as artistic director of the Fresno Community Chorus, where she conducts the Master Chorale and Coro Piccolo. Hamre also serves as president of the American Choral Directors Association, western division. In demand as a conductor, adjudicator, presenter and clinician, Hamre has accumulated hundreds of guest engagements and has conducted at Carnegie Hall twice. She is the author of “The High-School/University Sight-Singer,” a music literacy method, and “The Weekly Sight-Singer: An Abbreviated and Accelerated Method.”

David Wolter, class of 2004, for art. An art major at Augustana, Wolter made a name for himself on campus as the creator of “The Back Alley,” the popular comic strip that ran each week from 2002-04 in The Mirror, Augustana’s student newspaper. A graduate of the animation and cartooning program at the California Institute of the Arts, Wolter now works as a story artist at DreamWorks Animation. His student film, “Eyrie,” won the Gold Medal for Animation at the 2012 Student Academy Awards and earned him a spot in the DreamWorks Story Training Program. Since then, he has worked on feature films including the third installments of “Kung Fu Panda” and “How To Train Your Dragon.” In 2014, he received the Horizon Award from Augustana, an honor recognizing the accomplishments of alumni within 15 years of their graduation. This year, he also received the Harold Spitznagel Medal for Achievement in Art, the highest award presented by the Augustana art department.

Ronald and Margaret Robinson, class of 1957 and class of 1962, for theater. The Robinsons have been married since 1963.

An English major, Ron Robinson also was an active member of Augustana theater during his four years as a student. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and worked as a sportswriter and news editor before joining Augustana in 1962 to teach English and journalism. He retired in 1997. Robinson counts playwriting, novel writing, nonfiction writing, editing and publishing as his greatest accomplishments. His first novel, “Thunder Dreamer,” won a New York Public Library Award for young adult fiction. He also edited, designed and produced the epic history of Minnehaha County, “Twelve Thousand Years of Human History,” by Bruce Blake. Today, he serves as president of the Minnehaha Century Fund, a group dedicated to regional history.

Margaret (Fjellestad) Robinson was an education major who also was active in theater during her time at Augustana. After graduation in 1962, she went on to teach English and direct theater at Brandon Valley High School. Throughout her career, she remained active in community theater. In recognition of her efforts to positively impact students, she was named to the Brandon Valley High School Hall of Fame.

Inductees to the Augustana Athletics Hall of Fame:

Tamera Oltmanns, class of 2002, for women’s basketball. Oltmanns is the 10th leading career scorer (1,389 points). She was named to the All-North Central Conference team in 2001 and 2002, and was a member of the 2000-01 All-NCC tournament team.

Andy Salmela, class of 2002, for baseball. Salmela’s achievements include eighth-highest career on-base percentage (.459) and ninth for most runs scored in a career (132). He was an All-North Central Conference choice in 2001 and 2002.

Randy Leslie, class of 1989, for men’s basketball. He holds the record for most minutes played in a career (3,843) and is fourth in 3-point field goal percentage for a career (.435).  Leslie was a starter on the 1988-89 team that earned a share of the North Central Conference regular season title and advanced to the North Central Region playoffs. The team set a record for most wins in a season with 23. He scored 1,003 career points.

Kari Peterson, class of 2001, for volleyball. Peterson was named player of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2000. She was an All-North Central Conference choice in 2000 and 2001 and was named to the AVCA All-America first team in 2000 and the second team in 2001. She holds the school record for most assists per set (12.91) and is second in career assists (5,797).

Jim Clemens, class of 1977, for football. Clemens was a starter at center for two seasons and served as a co-captain of the 1976 team. He twice earned Academic All-America honors and was selected to the North Central Conference All-Academic team three times.

Augustana Athletics also presented four awards:

Mark Thorson, class of 1992, received the Ole Odney Award, which given to an Augustana alumnus who is involved in coaching and teaching. Thorson served as the head football coach at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla., before assuming the role of athletic director in January 2016.

Richard Bland, class of 1968, received the Milt and Clara Harvey Award, which is given to those who have provided outstanding and generous financial support for Augustana Athletics. Before his retirement, Bland practiced law at Meagher & Geer in Minneapolis for more than 35 years.

Jeff Fylling, class of 1978, received the Lefty Olson Award, which is given to an Augustana alumnus who has achieved lifetime service in athletics or athletic administration. Fylling has been the voice describing the game-winning plays and last minute shots of Augustana football and basketball for almost four decades. He serves as the director of public affairs for Sanford Sports Medicine.

The 1988-89 Men’s Basketball Team received the team recognition award. The Vikings set what at the time was a school record for wins. The overall mark of 23-7 included a 14-4 North Central Conference mark. The Vikings earned a share of the NCC regular-season championship and advanced twice to the North Central Region Tournament.

NAI Sioux Falls

Gregg Brown and Craig Hagen, brokers at NAI Sioux Falls, have received their Society of Industrial & Office Realtors  designations.