fbpx
Students in field

Tag Archive: Alumni

Hirvonen Hall
March 15, 2022

Finlandia College of Health Sciences announces plans for Towsley Foundation Grant

Since 1998, the Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation has partnered with Finlandia University in providing instrumental funding toward technology and equipment. The Foundation’s most recent expression came as a five-year $220,000 grant to provide a robust, state-of-the-art healthcare education for FinnU College of Health Sciences students at their new facility.

The project started with renovations made to the former Hancock Public Schools building, now named Hirvonen Hall in recognition of the lifetime legacy of leadership and generosity [...]

Oren Tikkanen and Matthew Durocher perform with Finnish American band Laulu Aika at the Toivola Juhannus Festival 2019
March 10, 2022

Virtanen’s research to be featured in three PBS world premieres this weekend

On Sunday, March 13, the world premiere of three documentary films featuring the research and production-related work of Finnish & Nordic Studies Professor Hilary-Joy Virtanen will take place on PBS station WNMU-TV Marquette as part of their Festival! 22 pledge programming.

These three films result from a collaboration between Virtanen, film director and sociology professor Michael Loukinen (NMU), and videographers Kristin Ojaniemi and Alex Maier. Funded by a generous grant from the American Scandinavian Foundation in New York City, [...]

Alumni Exhibition Poster
February 17, 2022

Twenty-one alumni from around the world reunite in an exhibit marked by diversity and excellence

“I’m blown away,” says Carrie Flaspohler, Gallery Director of the Finlandia University Gallery as she reflects on the bi-annual alumni exhibit that opened to the public on February 10, 2022. “The high quality and the diverse forms of artistic expression exhibited makes me so proud of the International School of Art & Design alumni. There is something for every viewer to enjoy in this year’s exhibit, including tailor-made hats, sculpture, photography, mixed media, painting, ceramics, fashion design and even [...]

125th Anniversary video thumbnail
February 2, 2022

Experience the 125th Anniversary

In December, Finlandia welcomed students, faculty and staff along with alumni, friends and family to a series of events in commemoration of the institution’s 125th anniversary. In honor of its Finnish and Lutheran heritage, Finlandia celebrated Finnish Independence Day for the 104th time at the Finnish American Heritage Center following a Sunday worship service at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock.

The anniversary celebrations didn’t stop on Sunday. In the week following, the Finlandia University Gallery held the 31st Annual Contemporary [...]

Participating artists in the 2020 ISAD Alumni Exhibit
January 27, 2022

Gallery announce dates for upcoming exhibit receptions, Feb. 3 & 24

Finlandia University Gallery is hosting two upcoming events on Feb. 3 and 24. Experience the 31st Annual Contemporary Finnish American Artist Series Exhibition live at the Gallery on Thursday, Feb. 3 from 7 to 8 p.m. The free, open to the public reception for the artist Natalie Salminen Rude will be featuring her exhibit, “in·ter·stice: (noun) a small intervening space”.

On Thursday, Feb. 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., alumni will discuss their artwork at a live reception of the Internation [...]

Hirvonen College of Health Sciences in the winter with clue skies in the background.
January 4, 2022

Campus & Community: Together for Good

It is not taking long at all for the new name to catch on: Hirvonen Hall.

Named for Peg and Ray Hirvonen in recognition of the family’s legacy of extraordinary leadership and generosity, the iconic former Hancock Central High School building now delivers Finlandia’s gold-star accredited health sciences programs. Additional funding for the renovation of interior spaces and state-of-the-art technology was provided by many other friends and alumni whose support is recognized with named classrooms, labs and offices. Two foundations, the [...]

Sami Dowling
December 3, 2021

Finlandia Fridays meet up with instructor Sami Dowling (’10) to discuss PTA Program and Club

This week, Finlandia Fridays welcome to the show PTA Program Instructor Sami Dowling (’10) to talk about Finlandia’s PTA Program and the newly revitalized PTA Club for students. Dowling shares her journey as a FinnU student, what inspired her to become a PTA as well as her journey back to Finlandia as an instructor.

“The beautiful thing about Finlandia is that it’s like a family. I’m still in touch with my instructors from when I was in the program. [...]

December 1, 2021

Voices on Vocation features alumni Dan Grille and Cameron Goude

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 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 are meant to inspire students to listen to their own yearnings for a life of purposeful work that honors [...]

November 19, 2021

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Crystal Whitmarsh (’06, PTA)

“Leadership is about embracing the journey.”

This profound statement from Finlandia University PTA alumna, Dr. Crystal Whitmarsh (’06), encompasses her story, loud and clear. Whitmarsh’s life has a common thread that is found throughout her tapestry of successes; servant leadership. Two of her most recent successes include being featured for the cover story of “Spotlight Magazine” and receiving the 2021 Global Ignite Vision Award (G.I.V.A ) curated and commissioned by Ark and Brook PR.

“Attending and playing basketball at Finlandia [...]

October 20, 2021

Rajala joins Financial Aid staff

Finlandia’s Financial Aid department recently welcomed alumna Jenna Rajala (’15) as the new Coordinator of Student Accounts. Rajala started her higher education journey as a Finlandia student in 2004 and returned to finish her Physical Therapist Assistant degree at the university in 2015.

“This will be my third adventure at Finlandia but my first experience as a staff member,” Rajala said.

After graduating, Rajala worked for a local nursing home as a physical therapist assistant and later served as coordinator for [...]

FinnU will not enroll students for 2023-2024Learn More
+