Kristian Evans, Senior News Editor

As part of last week’s homecoming celebration, Augsburg honored four recipients with the “First Decade Award” for significant accomplishments within 10 years of graduating from the University. The four honorees (Chris Stedman, Joshua Harris, Brain Krohn and Killa Marti) were all celebrated for their work across a variety of fields.

  Stedman, who joked about graduating from Augsburg as a religion major who identified as an atheist, is the author of “Faithiest: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious” and has worked to organize religious communities with the non-religious. Stedman, who acknowledged his role as both a former KAUG host and “Echo” writer, commended the welcoming Augsburg community for allowing his understanding of faith to grow. His growth was largely shaped apart from organized religion.

   Killa Marti works as an immigration attorney in the Atlanta area. An exchange student from Honduras, Marti felt great influence from her mother, also an attorney, in shaping how she saw her role in helping people. Working three jobs and supporting herself through the difficult logistics of college life, Marti noted how important it was to have a community that believed in her and her efforts.

   Joshua Harris, a basketball player while at Augsburg who is running for the State Assembly in Maryland, discussed how he was pushed out of his comfort zone to understand new cultures. He discussed the culture shock coming from Chicago to Minneapolis and encountering people different than himself. That idea is present through his work in politics as he is working to represent underserved communities in the Baltimore area

      Dr. Brian Krohn was not able to attend due to a scheduling conflict, but his presence was certainly felt. A film major who switched to chemistry and is Augsburg’s only Rhodes Scholar, Dr. Krohn has worked in the field of sustainability and developed an app designed to regulate snoring. Professor Bob Groven accepted Krohn’s award, which was accompanied by a video message and a gift from Dr. Krohn to President Pribbenow. The gift, in keeping with Dr. Krohn’s wide variety of involvements, was a device that doubled as a taser and flamethrower, complete with a demonstration by President Pribbenow.

   In the closing address, President Pribbenow noted the diversity in all four of the award recipients and commented how they all in some way were reflective of the Augsburg experience. Looking ahead to next year, Augsburg’s 150 year celebration, the President noted that now more than ever is a time to celebrate our differences.

This article was originally published in the Oct. 19, 2018 issue. 

Bob Groven and recipients of the “First Decade Award” discuss the recipients achievements over their first decade post Augsburg. Photo by Kristian Evans.