News Archives - 2005
Rochester Program hosts official celebration and dedication service
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Augsburg College’s Rochester Program held an official celebration and dedication service for its new location at Bethel Lutheran Church on Tuesday, Jan. 25 in the church sanctuary.
The event, which included a message from Rochester Mayor Ardelle Brede and remarks from college and church officials, including Augsburg President William Frame and Provost Christopher Kimball, marked the sixth anniversary of the program. The program moved to Bethel this past fall from Rochester Central Lutheran School where it was headquartered for five years before outgrowing that facility.
Current students and alumni were joined by staff and faculty, both those currently teaching and others who helped start the program, in the celebration. Among the speakers were Rev. Gary Benson of Zumbro Lutheran Church and a member of the Augsburg Board of Regents, and the Rev. Norman Wahl, executive pastor of Bethel and an Augsburg alumnus. Pat Engstrom, a M.A. in Nursing student who earlier earned her bachelor’s degree through the Rochester program, gave remarks on behalf of the students.
Entertainment was provided by “Gospel Praise,” an Augsburg student musical group that annually performs across the nation. Robert Stacke, director of the group and chair of the Augsburg’s Music Department, also used the occasion to note that the College would begin offering music courses in Rochester next year.
More that 700 students have taken courses in the Augsburg Rochester Program and nearly 230 are currently enrolled. The four-year liberal arts college offers programs in business, M.I.S., education, and nursing (BSN completion) leading to the bachelor’s degree as well as the Master’s of Arts degree in Nursing.