Mid-Year Update Recap 2025

The Augustana Student Association hosted the first Mid Year Update event in the Hamre Recital Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 18. 

The evening began with a dinner catered for invited student organizations, faculty and staff. Once members made their way into Hamre, two students began the ceremony with prayers. 

Senior Annie Johnston, the president, expressed gratitude for the support and attendance to all. 

“Prince and I planned this event as a way to share our accomplishments and progress with important stakeholders,” Johnston said. “Which includes all of you in this room, and the students that make our work even possible–as well as celebrating our student organizations and their hard work this year. So, thank you for everything that you do for Augustana and supporting the vibrant student life on campus.” 

Johnston provided an overview and progress report for the administration’s strategic plan while also introducing those in attendance to the awardees of the numerous fellowships ASA created. 

Following Johnston’s remarks, Prince Adhikari, the vice president, touched on his experience being an international student and what great opportunities studying in America had brought him. He lamented over the unactualized vision of Augustana students and highlighted the importance of supporting student extracurricular initiatives.

“Yet, far too often, when students have bold ideas to enhance our campus, they find themselves held back—not by a lack of vision, but by a lack of resources,” Adhikari said. 

The focus shifted to recognizing outstanding individuals and student organizations, as several awards were presented to those who have made significant contributions. Here are some of the notable awards and heartfelt quotes from the recipients.

Best Academic Organization - Augustana Nursing Student Association

Senior Madison Croshal, current club president and a nursing major, accepted the award on behalf of the entire organization. The club has been active in the community holding blood pressure screenings at churches, contributed to service projects and help panels at the local hospitals, to name a few. 

“It serves as a testament to our mission, vision, and the impact we have made within our academic and professional community,” Croshal said. “It validates the countless hours of effort put into fostering an environment of learning, collaboration, and innovation.”

Community Impact Award - ExploSTEM

ExploSTEM, a club that has prioritized extending its leadership beyond the campus, was awarded the community impact award. The club has hosted several STEM outreach events throughout the community, the most notable being the Harrisburg Science Night, where they invited children and adults to engage in experiments. 

Isha Hooda, senior and co-president alongside junior Schaler Starks, expressed their gratitude for the recognition. “This award holds great significance,” Hooda said. “It serves to highlight the team's dedicated efforts over the past three years, increase awareness of ExploSTEM's initiatives among students, and motivate future board members to continue and expand our community impact.”

Most Notable Organization Event - Ethiopian and Eritrean New Year 2024

The African Student Union (ASU) was founded by students who were passionate about creating a space for individuals of African descent to come together. Their pride in celebrating different African cultures was shown through their Ethiopian and Eritrean New Year Event. Ethiopia and Eritrea follow the Ethiopian (or Ge'ez) calendar, which is seven years behind the Gregorian calendar. The New Year event celebrated the year 2017 according to their calendar. 

The event received  a grand number of more than 108 students who enjoyed delicious food and danced to Ethiopian and Eritrean music.

Junior president Susana Gebrekidan ,being the only Eritrean on campus, exemplifies the importance of representation. Gebrekidan is pursuing a double major in government and international affairs with a minor in history. Her dedication to fostering inclusivity has led the organization to become a pivotal part of campus life.

“When talking about the importance of student organizations such as ASU,” Gebrekidan said. “I think it’s also important to know that diversity is never something that hinders a community but only ever uplifts teaches and created more wonderful things in a community and space”

Joining Gebrekidan in this mission is junior Chilotam Okafor, serving as the vice president. Okafor is a double major in sociology and government & international affairs, with an English minor. Okafor shares the vision for a community where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to embrace their identities.

“It gives people from a particular identity in any way whether it's La Unión [hispania] or GSA, a chance to be themselves and have community with people who are of the same background,” Okafor said. 

New Organization of the Year - Sociologist of Augustana (SAU)

Sociologist of Augustana University was established by Guadalupe Fernandez Aleman and Lyric Oslund in August 2024. Before becoming a senior majoring in sociology and social work, Oslund was originally a nursing major. However, after switching her focus, she realized there was something missing in the sociology field ,a strong sense of community. 

This realization led her to reach out to other sociology majors, hoping to create a club where students could connect, collaborate, and support each other.“I wanted to establish a community,amongst sociology majors,and minors and people interested in sociology, and hold events that could make a difference,” Osland said. 

Aleman, majoring in sociology and studies with a minor in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies, excitedly responded to the idea and quickly took on the role of vice president,seeing the importance of fostering sociology through the means of community.

“It's a form of reality check. It opens your mind to think outside the box, to be human, and to care for marginalized people. I think it mainly helps us break down our biases and mobilize people to become activists,” Aleman said. 

ASA’s Choice Award - Letters of Love

Chosen for their strong leadership and embodiment of the Augustana core values, Letters of Love received the choice award.

Letters of Love is a global nonprofit organization that collects handmade cards for young patients in Children’s Hospitals. The Augustana branch was started in January 2024. Initially, 15 people attended those meetings, creating around 50 cards. Fast forward to January 2025 and the club has made over 500 cards. They have partnered with numerous groups on campus, including UBG and Viking Days, to host events inviting students to write letters while enjoying treats. 

“This award from ASA means a ton to us,” sophomore and co-president Terin Block said.  “As a newer club on campus, it is amazing to see the impact that we are making on these children's lives and that students enjoy being a part of LOL.”

Dedicated Service to the Student Body - Heather Edmunds Reed

Sharing the passion for community and diversity is Heather Reed, the co-director of international programs. Reed is a passionate educator and internationalist who recognizes the transformative power of international experiences and the deep connections. 

Having lived in Japan for three years, where she taught English, Reed deeply understands the value of immersing oneself in a foreign culture. Her time there shaped her worldview. 

Now, working on a college campus, Reed continues to bring that open-hearted spirit to her work. She welcomes students from all over the world, acknowledging that there is an essential step to this job. 

“The thing that I brought to this job is an open heart,” Reed said. “And because I open my heart, I get so much more than I give to students.”

The "Spirited Away" poster from Japan, displayed in her office, serves as a cherished memento of her journey and a constant reminder of the time she spent there and the culture she holds dear.