News Archives - 2007

On Thursday, Augsburg celebrated 25 years of providing a liberal arts education to working adults through Weekend College. It also celebrated the 35-year career of WEC's founder, Rick Thoni, and established an award in his name.

President Paul Pribbenow noted three themes that make Augsburg's Weekend College distinctive:

• WEC has grown organically, from students who sought help from faculty and staff to get an education, not from the top down.
• WEC has always been a "high-touch" program, with staff and faculty focused and committed to students’ individual needs.
• WEC is not just about weekend or evening classes, but is about vocation, service, and the kind of education Augsburg provides. 

Current and former WEC students, faculty, and others described the transformations that have occurred in their own lives, as well as the impact that WEC students have made in life at Augsburg.

To honor the career of Thoni , the establishment of a Richard J. Thoni Award was announced. It will be given annually at the WEC Commencement, beginning on June 24, to a graduating WEC student whose "actions, commitments, and future aspirations most profoundly demonstrate a commitment to Augsburg’s motto of 'Education for Service.'"