Alumni Honored During Homecoming

Sep 30, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
KAREN CARLSON, Alumni Relations director
(218) 299-3734
AMY KELLY, Media Relations director
(218) 299-3642

CONCORDIA HONORS ALUMNI WITH AWARDS
DURING HOMECOMING 2010

      Alumni Achievement Awards will be presented to Virgil Syverson ’41, David M. Anderson ’67, Carol Ann Olson ’74 and Kelby Krabbenhoft ’80, at the Homecoming Banquet, Friday, Oct. 1. The Rev. Ernie Mancini will also be presented a Special Recognition Award at the banquet.
      Syverson is widely known as “Mr. Music” in western North Dakota. He has been a positive influence for thousands of students and an inspiring role model for countless music educators. Syverson, band director at Williston Public Schools for 39 years, has been recognized nationally for his contributions to the music world, receiving the Legion of Honor medal from the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the lifetime achievement award from the Phi Beta Mu music fraternity.
      Anderson followed a distinguished career in the Air Force, flying international routes for United Airlines as a Boeing 767 First Officer. He is the founder of the Second Sight for Sore Eyes charity, leading efforts to gather used eyeglasses for free distribution in Thailand. A 23-year Air Force veteran, Anderson served two tours of duty in Vietnam and is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, the USAF Commendation medal and two Meritorious Service medals.
      Olson is currently a pharmaceutical development consultant in her and her husband’s company and previously was senior vice president for Pharmaceutical Development and chief medical officer at Immtech Pharmaceuticals. She is one of few women in top management positions in the medical and scientific field.
      Krabbenhoft is president and CEO of Sanford Health, a $2.1 billion organization that is the nation’s largest nonprofit, integrated rural health care system. His vision sets direction for 18,000 employees, 27 hospitals, 174 clinics, 33 long-term care facilities and 65,000 health plan members in 120 communities across the Upper Midwest. He previously served as president and CEO of Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, S.D., and in leadership roles at several other health organizations. He received the Modern Healthcare Up and Comers Award in 1994.

Special Recognition Award
      Mancini was campus pastor and counselor at Concordia from 1975 to 1983 and executive director of Alumni Relations from 1986 until his retirement in 2006 after 28 years of distinguished service to the college and the Moorhead community. His love of connecting with the college's alumni and sharing heartfelt demonstrations of Cobber spirit has not diminished. For his dedicated service to students and alumni of the college, the National Alumni Board will present Mancini with the Special Recognition Award.
     
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