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March 2, 2023

Finlandia University will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year

On Thursday, March 2, Finlandia University’s Board of Trustees announced that Finlandia will not enroll students for the 2023-2024 academic year. The decision follows months of continuous efforts to find pathways for the University to continue its mission.

“I am deeply saddened to announce that due to a combination of demographic changes, with fewer high school graduates available, a steep decrease in interest in going to college among those graduates, and an unbearable debt load, Finlandia’s Board of Trustees met and [...]

January 23, 2023

Franklin-Rahkonen named new chair of Finnish Council of America

Dr. Sharon Franklin-Rahkonen has been named the new leader of the Finnish Council of America at Finlandia University. Franklin-Rahkonen will serve as council chair, a position previously held by John Niska, who will now lead outreach on behalf of the organization.

After serving on the council’s board for many years and as secretary on its executive committee, Franklin-Rahkonen shared appreciation and insight into the council’s initiatives moving forward.

“I am very pleased to be asked to head the Finnish Council. We look [...]

July 15, 2022

Price of Freedom Museum summer 2022 schedule announced

HANCOCK — The Price of Freedom Museum, perhaps North America’s largest collection of Finnish war materials, memorabilia and artifacts, will be open to the public three days each week for the remainder of the summer.

The collection, which is housed on the sixth floor of Finlandia University’s Jutila Center, will be open Tuesdays 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursdays 1 to 3 p.m., beginning the week of July 18 until Labor Day. There is no [...]

Philip Johnson 125th Anniversary Banquet

June 28, 2022

‘Semper Reformanda’: Johnson makes final address at 125th Anniversary celebration

After 15 years in office, Dr. Philip Johnson made his final address as President of Finlandia University on June 23, 2022. In the celebratory conclusion of Finlandia’s 125th Anniversary, patrons gathered in Martha Wiljanen Hall to reflect on FinnU’s past while boldly imagining its future.

“Semper reformanda; always reforming,” Johnson said. “As I think about our 125 years, if there is a single thread that weaves its way through our story here at Suomi College, Finlandia University, it’s this idea of [...]

125th Anniversary Video of Martti Nisonen Music

June 21, 2022

125th Anniversary Performance by Kent Washburn and Meri Siirala | Music of Martti Nisonen

In 1922, Martti Nisonen began his career at Suomi College, now Finlandia University, quickly gaining popularity as a profound teacher of music and prolific composer. Before his passing in 1946, Nisonen amassed more than 10 linear feet of compositions and arrangements now safely stored at Finlandia’s Finnish American Heritage Center and Historical Archive.

Kicking off its year of 125th Anniversary celebrations in December 2021, Finlandia held a Sunday worship service and its annual commemoration of Finnish Independence Day. The day was [...]

June 3, 2022

Folk School announces Juhannus celebrations June 20-25

The Finnish American Folk School has released its May 2022 newsletter! Established by the Finnish American Heritage Center and led by Phyllis Fredendall and Clare Zuraw, the Finnish American Folk School exists to ensure that Finnish-American folk traditions exist for centuries to come.

Subscribe Today!

The month of June will be a busy one at the FAFS. We hope you’ll be able to join us to learn wheel throwing, sock knitting, or singing and to celebrate midsummer during our [...]

May 31, 2022

Finlandia to celebrate 125th Anniversary, Juhannus in June

A year of anniversary celebrations will culminate in late June at Finlandia University, as the 125-year-old institution celebrates Juhannus (Midsummer) in a one-of-a-kind experience.

For nearly a decade, Finlandia’s Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) has hosted public Juhannus celebrations, in recent years incorporating Finnish American Folk School (FAFS) workshops into a festival atmosphere.

“It’s always exciting and energizing to see all of the Finnish-American activities in this area around Juhannus,” said FAHC director Dave Maki. “It speaks to [...]

May 20, 2019

Finnish musical instrument maker Minna Hokka coming to area in June

The Finnish American Folk School welcomes Finnish musical instrument maker Minna Hokka to the Copper Country this June as part of Juhannus 2019. She’ll be offering a slate of programming that will provide attendees with a unique skill set – and at an unbelievable price!

Hokka, who’s invested much of her adult life into creating musical instruments from materials found in nature, will offer as many as nine unique courses during her two-week [...]

June 12, 2018

Finnish band to spice up Juhannus

Finland’s “spice girls” are bringing added flavor to the Copper Country this summer.

The Finnish folk band Jepokryddona (“Spice of Jeppo”) will headline the area’s 2018 Juhannus celebration, performing the upbeat, lively tunes that represent the heritage of their part of Finland, and offer workshops in their region’s music tradition. Jepokryddona is a folk group made up of Swedish-speaking Finns who, for the most part, play traditional wedding music from Jeppo. Led by [...]

April 11, 2017

Frank Eld and Greg Isola to present at Juhannus ‘17

“Sisu” the traveling sauna will be at Juhannus ‘17 in Michigan’s Copper Country, but it won’t be the only unique Finnish-American vehicle.

Frank Eld, famous for his Finnebago will be a presenter at Juhannus ‘17 in Michigan’s Copper Country.

That’s because Frank Eld, of “Finnebago” fame, has recently agreed to be a presenter at the festival, and will travel to the Copper Country for the June 23-25 event with his trusty — and highly recognizable — truck and [...]

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