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.

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 student Juliana Pinheiro completed a presitigous research internship at the Baylor College of Medicine. She studied glioblastomas, the most common and aggressive adult brain tumor. The lab where she was interned is trying to develop a new neuroimmune language that will be used for characterization, diagnosis and clinical purposes. 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 Erin Cygan completed a presitigous research internship at the Baylor College of Medicine. Cygan's reserach focused on rheumatoid arthritis and identifying a potetential treatment to treat the disesase that otherwise has no definitive cure. 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 Justin Verlinden completed a presitigous research internship at the Baylor College of Medicine. He took part in testing novel brain imaging methods as part of a larger Alzheimer's Disease research project taking place in the lab. 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 Brittany Hatlestad completed an internship at the Baylor College of Medicine SMART Program where she spent time at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute. Hatlestad studied genetics, molecular analysis and behavioral outcomes. She validated the creation of an animal model that can be used to further research a rare genetic disorder. 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 Andrew Winkelman completed an internship with the Department of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. During the internship, Winkelman looked at different imaging methodologies such as MRI, PET and CT scans, and conturing the different glands and other tissues in the head. The goal of this research is to better predict dry mouth - a common side effect to radiation therapy. 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 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.

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.

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 1,000 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2018-19 winter 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.

Coach David Thompson's Augustana cross country squad has earned All-Academic team honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The USTFCCCA announced its All-Academic teams and individuals on Thursday. The Vikings were recognized for having a cumulative grade point average of 3.56 across their entire roster. To qualify for the award, a team must compile a minimum GPA of 3.1 on a scale of 4.0 across its entire roster, including all runners who used a season of eligibility. 2018 marks the 13th consecutive season that the Augustana women have been recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic team.

While turning in solid performances in the pool this winter, both the Augustana men's and women's swimming and diving teams have also proven worthy in the classroom during the 2018-19 season. Head coach Dan Lloyd's program landed Scholar All-America Team recognition for both the men and the women by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. The CSCAA named a total of 713 teams to its Scholar All-America list for the fall 2018 semester. The teams represented 460 institutions from across the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA associations. The CSCAA recognizes teams with Scholar All America Award for achieving a team GPA of 3.00 or higher. The Augustana men earned a 3.24 team GPA, while the women earned a 3.57 team GPA

While turning in solid performances in the pool this winter, both the Augustana men's and women's swimming and diving teams have also proven worthy in the classroom during the 2018-19 season. Head coach Dan Lloyd's program landed Scholar All-America Team recognition for both the men and the women by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America.

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.

Augustana College announced more than 1,000 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2018 fall 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.

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 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.

For three days, five Augustana College women joined students from Swarthmore, Smith, Tulane, Penn State and Yale to meet and learn from female leaders making and influencing public policy at the highest levels in Congress, the courts, the private sector, policy research and advocacy organizations, and the media.

Augustana College announced more than 1,000 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2017-18 winter 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.

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.

Augustana College announced more than 1,000 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2018 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.

Augustana College announced 1,138 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2017 fall 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.

Augustana College is pleased to share four students have been nominated by faculty to attend the National Character and Leadership Symposium in February 2018. The annual National Character and Leadership Symposium, one of the premier national symposia in the field of character and leadership, brings together distinguished scholars, military leaders, corporate leaders, world-class athletes, and others to explore a character-related theme based on the United States Air Forces Academy Outcomes. This two-day symposium provides an opportunity for all Academy personnel, visiting university students and faculty, and community members to experience dynamic speakers and take part in group discussions to enhance their own understanding of the importance of sound moral character and good leadership.

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.

Augustana College announced 977 students were named to the Dean's List for the 2017 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.

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.

The winners of the Augustana College's Center for the Study of Ethics Essay Contest were recently selected. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three essays judged by an outside evaluator who judged essays on their appropriate use of ethical theories and principles used in clarifying the student's ethical topic of choice.