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Categories for Alumni Relations

Ryan Bessolo
February 21, 2023

Ryan Bessolo, 1989-2022: Memorial scholarship created in honor of alum

Article originally shared in the Bridge Magazine 2022, Volume 75.

Created by his parents, Laurel and Michael Bessolo, and sister, Amy Kemppainen, Finlandia University alumnus and former nursing clinical instructor Ryan Bessolo (’11) will be remembered for years to come through the formation of an endowed scholarship in his name.

Bessolo, a Calumet High School graduate, chose to continue his education at Finlandia University and attained his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May 2011. He was known for his driven nature, [...]

Kalevalathon 2023 Facebook Cover
February 13, 2023

5th annual Kalevalathon to be held Feb. 28

The 5th annual reading marathon of The Kalevala will kick off at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, and will continue until the last rune has been read. Led by Finlandia University’s Finnish & Nordic Studies professor Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen, patrons can attend the event in person, via Zoom or by livestream.

“Often people think of epic poetry as difficult, hard to understand, and maybe even boring to read. The Kalevala Reading Marathon, Kalevalathon, lets [...]

Finlandia University Management Team
January 19, 2023

Bridge Feature: Finlandia University Management Team

Curtis Wittenberg, Cyril FoxPetrov, Dr. Luke Morrill,Anthony Schwass, Dr. Fredi de Yampert, President Tim Pinnow, Teresa Hill, Kailee Laplander

The president’s Executive Management Team provides collaborative and strategic leadership to ensure the fulfillment of the university’s mission, uphold its core values and vision, and manage its operations. Governed by the Board of Trustees, Finlandia is led by President Timothy Pinnow and directed by a team of academic and administrative leaders, including: Curtis Wittenberg, Director of Athletics; Cyril FoxPetrov, Director [...]

Heikinpaiva 2023 Poster
January 12, 2023

Heikinpäivä 2023 Festival Schedule

A Finnish-American Mid-Winter Festival Until February 14

Snowflake Challenge with Ginger Alberti |1:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Sew Cranky Heikinpäivä Snowflake Challenge project, for everyone, beginners too! Learn to quickly sew a pattern on a black felt square (with an antique hand crank sewing machine), which is then entered into the contest with cash and gift certificate prizes! $3 to enter. All ages. Winners in all skill levels. If bringing a group, or with general questions please call (818) 606-0065.

January 11 & [...]

Photo of Students Raising Their Hands Together In The Air
January 10, 2023

FinnU removes barriers to free tuition scholarship

University relaxes requirements, extends deadline and opens Rise Together Scholarship to bachelor degree-seeking students

Finlandia University will build on its boldest expression of affordability by easing eligibility requirements for the Rise Together Free Full Tuition Scholarship. 

Now applicable to all four years of tuition at Finlandia, the Rise Together Scholarship will allow bachelor’s degree-seeking students with a minimum GPA of 2.25 to apply. Other significant changes include a May 1 deadline extension for filing the FAFSA and the removal of the Tuition [...]

Police Cap and Mask
January 6, 2023

Revamped & Refocused: Broadening the scope of a criminal justice program

Finlandia Fridays kicks off 2023 in two-part criminal justice series with Dr. Richard Gee

Graduates of the Finlandia University Criminal Justice program are sprinkled throughout all layers of the criminal justice system, pursuing careers in safety and security, social work, law, federal service and the police force.

Ahead of next week’s video release of FinnU’s 2022 Comparative Criminal Justice course trip to Europe, in this episode, Dr. Richard Gee sits down with Finlandia Fridays podcast for part one of [...]

Scholarship Table for Campus News
January 4, 2023

Tuition made simple: Streamlining affordability

Finlandia announces scholarship overhaul ahead of spring 2023 semester

Finlandia University will build on its commitment to providing affordable higher education by awarding newly introduced scholarship packages to incoming spring 2023 students. Taking steps to simplify the cost of attendance further, Finlandia’s new Scholarship Calculator acts as a fast and easy-to-use tool for all.

Within two to six questions, the calculator provides students with the minimum scholarship amount they will receive from Finlandia University. Minimum scholarships are then stackable [...]

Bonnie Peterson, Upper Peninsula, 50" H x 48" W, Embroidery and heat transfers of upper Michigan and Lake Superior maps, painted and embroidered with stories from ski and kayak trips, photographs on silk, satin, velvet and brocade, stitched.
December 27, 2022

Gallery to return in January with Bonnie Peterson exhibit

Fiber artist Bonnie Peterson’s exhibit, Word Count, will open on January 9 as the Finlandia University Gallery returns to operations. The exhibit will run until February 15, 2023.

“I couldn’t be more excited to begin our new gallery season with Houghton artist Bonnie Peterson,” Gallery Director Carrie Flaspohler said. “The Copper Country is a stronghold of art and culture and Finlandia University Gallery is honored to display the work of an incredibly talented local artist as it relaunches operations.”

Peterson is a [...]

Voices on Vocation w Ross Rinkinen & Travis Hanson
December 22, 2022

Voices on Vocation features alumni Ross Rinkinen (’04) and Travis Hanson (’08)

Take time this holiday season to reflect on vocation and meaning with the Seaton Center’s Voices on Vocation podcast!

Finlandia’s Seaton Center for Vocation & Career guides students through the discovery of self and meaning, bringing unison to both vocation and career. Voices on Vocation, produced by Dr. René Johnson and Emma Dorst of the Seaton Center, is a program that holds in-person discussions as well as podcast segments that share stories from Finlandia learning community members.

These stories [...]

Kalevalathon
December 21, 2022

Explore the Finnish epic Kalevala at Finlandia University

Finlandia’s Finnish & Nordic Studies program invites students and auditors to explore the history of Kalevala.

Immortalized as Finland’s national epic, the Kalevala encapsulates ancient Finnish folk traditions. The course details the historical development of the Kalevala poetry tradition, its development and structure as a literary work, its use as an anthropological text, and its use as a political and cultural icon of Finnish identity.

Teaching the class will be Finlandia’s Associate Professor of Finnish & Nordic Studies, Dr. Hilary-Joy [...]

FinnU will not enroll students for 2023-2024Learn More
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