Josh Malone '20 of Chenoa, Ill., never imagined his Senior Inquiry research would one day be featured in The New York Times. Malone theorizes that polished stones he found in Wyoming are gastroliths (stones that animals swallow to help digestion), and that dinosaurs carried them out west from Wisconsin. The theory needs further study, but the analytical technique Malone used in his research "swings the door open for paleontologists to date other gastroliths," according to The New York Times article.

The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program has announced the winners of the 2021 Audre Lorde Writing Prize. The awards are named in honor of Audre Lorde (1934-1992), an intersectional feminist writer and civil rights activist who wrote the foundational text "Sister Outsider" (1984). Awards are given annually.

Augustana College announced that junior Annelisa Burns is the winner of the Nils Hasselmo Award for Academic Pursuit for 2020-21. Burns is a triple major in Religion, English and German Studies. In their recommendation letter, the Religion Department notes, "Annelisa is well positioned in her knowledge, skills, work ethic and dispositions to take full advantage of this support, apply for and enter top-rated graduate schools in religious studies, continue to carry out her interdisciplinary research into humanist and social issues, and contribute to the common good." The Hasselmo Prize is funded by Dr. Nils Hasselmo ('57), who recently passed away, in recognition of the ways in which his Augustana education both informed and transformed his life and vocational calling. The significant monetary prize of $5,000 is awarded to enrich the experience of a student who has demonstrated academic excellence and who expresses an intent to pursue higher education teaching and/or research as a vocation.

The "Excellence in the Liberal Arts Award" has been generously gifted by Professor Dan Lee of the Religion Department, and his wife, Ruth Lee. The purpose of this award is to reward excellence in the liberal arts, including student academic achievement, amount of scholarly work done in the liberal arts including the humanities, achievement in co-curricular programs, and leadership and service both on and off-campus. Awards range from $400 to $4000 and may be used for international study or summer programs in the humanities.

Augustana College announced more than 1,100 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2020-21 fall semester. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

Augustana College announced more than 1,000 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2019-20 fall semester. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

Augustana College announced more than 1,000 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2019 spring term. Students who have earned this academic honor have maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a four-point scale for courses taken during the term.

Eight Augustana students are the recipients of the Excellence in the Liberal Arts Award, which provides students with $400-$4,000 for international study or summer programs in the humanities. The purpose of this award is to reward excellence in the liberal arts, including student academic achievement, amount of scholarly work done in the liberal arts including the humanities, achievement in co-curricular programs, and leadership and service both on and off-campus.

For an undergrad, declaring your major in college is a milestone event. For the first time ever, 10 Augustana students have officially declared majors in data analytics, along with 40 students declaring minors. Dr. Marty Coe, chair of the new data analytics department, along with President of the College Steve Bahls and 10 students, officially launched Augustana's new data analytics academic program-in a way that is typically reserved for athletes on National Signing Day.

Augustana senior Adam Gronewold was honored with the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award Nov. 17 in Springfield, making him a student laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. The awards are presented for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to seniors from each of the state's four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois. Each winner receives a Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Medallion, a certificate of achievement and $1,000.

Each year, Augustana College athletes are selected by their head coaches to attend an athletic leadership program during the fall semester. These athletes have demonstrated leadership qualities already in their respective sports, and have the ability to learn and refine their skills through the program. With a guest speaker each night of the program and different themed session, athletes learn more about their unique and different personalities, effective ways of communication, as well as different leadership styles and approaches, while connecting with athletes in different sports than their own. One of the many goals of the program is to better position student athletes as leaders within their teams, within the Augustana College campus community, as well as with post-graduation endeavors.

Augustana students completed internships across the nation this summer, ranging from working with big corproations to nonprofit organizations. Augustana College's CORE (careers, opportunities, research and exploration) is a one-stop shop to help prepare students for impactful internships, research and study away programs. Augustana firmly believes that experiences outside of the classroom create well-rounded graduates that are ready for the workforce. Augustana students are also eligible for Augie Choice, a $2000 grant that supports internships, research or study away programs. Students have used this to live in New York while interning for CBS, travel to Australia, conduct groundbreaking medical research in Texas and more.

Augustana College student Marisa Carioscia completed a presitigous research internship at the Baylor College of Medicine. Carioscia worked under a medical illustrator to gain knowledge and skills in the field of medical illustratoin, and how to use those skills to create illustrations that can be used to visually communicate the outcomes of a specific surgery. Medical illustration is an essential resource used in the medicinal world that takes confusing subject matter and communicates it visually, making things easier to comprehend. Carioscia is marjoing in biology and graphic design, and will be a senior this fall. The Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship Program is a full-time, 10 week research internship at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world. The heart of the program is located at two primary institutions: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine.

Augustana College student Natalie Hardy completed a presitigous research internship at the MD Anderson Center. Her research is centered around existential distress in oncology and she is writing a philosophical paper, case study and narrative piece to be published by end of summer. Natalie is in the process of applying to graduate programs in philosophy and health care ethics. The Texas Medical Center Summer Research Internship Program is a full-time, 10 week research internship at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world. The heart of the program is located at two primary institutions: University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine.

Augustana College senior, Lucas simon (Notre Dame, Chicago, Ill.), was named an inaugural recipient of the James A. Sikich Scholarship. Simon, a three year letter winner on the Vikings basketball team, was one of just two students to receive the award, which was established earlier this year with the Illinois CPA Society. Simon majors in accounting and business management information systems and serves on campus as a career mentor, peer mentor for incoming freshmen, and community advisor. He also was the winner of the ICPA's Mary T. Washington Wylie Scholarship earlier in his career. "It's definitely an honor to receive this scholarship," Simon said. "It really feels nice to have hard work pay off and this is just a testement to that. I'm truly grateful for it." The Sikich Scholarship supports students who apply to the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) Accounting Scholarship Program. Students are selected annually based upon key criteria as established in cooperation with the ICPAS. This includes accounting students who have demonstrated leadership on campus, as well as students who are minoring in computer science or technology. This scholarship is named after James A. Sikich and its stated goal is to support deserving students who apply to the ICPAS Accounting Scholarship Program. These scholarships help make an accounting education accessible and attainable to bright, promising college students.

Katie Syer has been selected to receive the Society of Physics Students Future Teacher Scholarship. SPS Scholarships recognize outstanding academic and personal achievements made by members of the SPS community. Katie was chosen not only due to her academic rigor but for her pursuit in a career in physics education. The SPS Future Teacher Scholarship values students who are well-rounded and passionate about teaching. The awards committee felt Katie embodied this sentiment.

Augustana College Theatre Arts Department will present The Three Musketeers by Ken Ludwig, adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas in the Brunner Mainstage Theatre Jan. 25-26 and Feb. 1-2 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 at 1:30 p.m. The cast includes Augustana students James Wheeler '22, Tristan Odenkirk '21, and Jarod Kovach '22 as the three musketeers, Elise Campbell '19 as Sabine, and Peter Alfano '21 as D'Artagnan, and MJ Mason '19 as Milady.

A student committee, including Augustana students Jessamine Burch, Lauren Clapp, Sydney Gilbert, Ashley Martin, and Elise Morgan, has curated an exhibit entitled, "Moments." The exhibit features the work of local artisits attempting to capture the artful moments of everyday life. The Augustana Teaching Museum of Art has partnered with the Silvis Public Library to display this student-curated exhibit from the museum's collection.

For the first time in its history, the Augustana Symphony Orchestra will take its act on the road, performing concerts in the Chicago area Nov. 3 and 4. "Both the band and choir programs here have a long history of touring," said Dr. Daniel Chetel, an assistant professor of music and Augustana's director of orchestral activities. "There's a really strong touring history going back 50, 60, 70 years, and I'm excited for the orchestra to join in on that." The orchestra's first tour also is an opportunity to share its work with Chicago-area prospective students and families, and with alumni. The first tour concert at Messiah Lutheran Church in Wauconda will be a joint performance with the Lake Zurich High School Orchestra and Palatine High School Orchestra - both of whose directors are Augustana alumni: Nathan Sackschewsky '06 at Lake Zurich, and Dung Pham '94 at Palatine. During the day, the Augustana Symphony Orchestra will work with the high school programs before all three combine for the evening's performance.

Senior Rob Williams had the distinction of being the only undergraduate accepted by the program committee to present his research at the annual meeting of the American Historical Association. Williams, who is majoring in history education, presented a paper titled "Must They Write?" at the meeting in Chicago on Jan. 6.

Augustana College held its spring commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21. Dr. Al Bowman, president emeritus of Illinois State University, delivered the commencement address. Around 480 students participated in the ceremony.