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Tag Archive: David Maki

Juhannus
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 [...]

Frank Eld Finnebago
March 2, 2022

Bridge Feature: Eld delivers archive in ‘Finnebago’

Former Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) director Jim Kurtti traveled to New England in the fall of 2019 and met with multiple donors who made gracious contributions of Finnish American archives to be preserved and shared with the Archive and Center’s visitors. Until now, the archives were stored in New England before they were able to be transported safely by none other than Frank Eld and his famed ‘Finnebego’. On a journey that started in New England, Eld transported [...]

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 [...]

David Maki FAHC
January 19, 2022

Finlandia appoints new FAHC director

HANCOCK — For more than 20 years, David Maki served as the “right-hand man” at the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC). Now, he’ll have both hands on the steering wheel, as he takes over leadership of Finlandia University’s most well-established expression of its Finnish roots.

Maki, 45, officially assumed the role of Director of the FAHC in late December. He had been serving as interim director of the Center since the spring 2021 retirement of Jim Kurtti, who was the director [...]

125th Anniversary Sunday Worship
December 13, 2021

Finlandia celebrates 125th Anniversary

A semester of celebration culminated on Sunday, Dec. 5 in a full day of dance, musical performances and worship. Dozens of Finlandia University friends and family members gathered to commemorate the institution’s 125th Anniversary alongside the observance of a now 104-year-long tradition, Finnish Independence Day.

David Maki, Interim Director of the Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) on Finlandia’s campus, delivered the Independence Day program’s opening remarks.

“Today is another significant milestone in Finlandia University’s history as we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of [...]

FAHC award of excellence with david maki
October 28, 2021

Finnish American Reporter receives Award of Excellence 2021

The Finnish American Reporter recently received the Finlandia Foundation National Award of Excellence for 2021. Founded in 1986, the FAR is the largest and most widely circulated newspaper for Finns in North America. Editor-in-Chief David Maki accepted the award at FFN’s meeting last month at Finn Camp in Wixom, Michigan.

“We aim to serve the entirety of Finnish America, much like Finlandia Foundation does,” Maki said.

“The Reporter exists because of its customers, it exists for its customers and our customers [...]

September 9, 2021

Finlandia announces 125th Anniversary celebrations

HANCOCK, MI – On September 8, 1896, hardy and hard-working Finnish Lutheran immigrants gathered to worship at the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan to officially dedicate a school in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: the Suomi College and Theological Seminary. J.K. Nikander, president of the Suomi Synod and the college’s first president, preached from the book of Proverbs 8:1, “Does not wisdom cry out, and does not understanding lift up her voice?”  

Founded in the late 19th century, Suomi College prepared [...]

Finnish American Heritage Center
May 28, 2021

Finnish American Heritage Center reopening June 1

The Finnish American Heritage Center (FAHC) will reopen to the general public on June 1, 2021 under the following guidelines:

Public hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday The Finlandia University Gallery and Martha Wiljanen Community Hall will be open and accessible for self-guided tours; guided art gallery tours provided by Gallery Director Carrie Flaspohler are available upon request The archive will be 100-percent appointment-only; masks will be required when inside archive reading room and other research areas The FAR [...]

November 28, 2018

Finns of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula book released by Finnish American Heritage Center

The Finns’ influence on Upper Michigan’s life, history and culture is well documented. Now, it’s also well compiled and ready for a place on your bookshelf or coffee table. The Finnish American Heritage Center has recently completed a book in the “Images of America” series through Arcadia Press titled “Finns of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.”

Though the book includes contributions from some other agencies, it primarily contains images from the FAHC’s extensive photo collection. [...]

Festival Ruska
September 20, 2018

Nordic Music Workshop coming to Hancock on October 6

Copper Country residents and visitors are invited to a unique Nordic Music Workshop on Saturday, October 6 at 2 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center.

Come to learn more about unusual and beautiful Nordic instruments like the hardingfele, the nyckelharpa, the theorbo, and some not so unusual and complimentary instruments like the viola da gamba, fiddle, banjo and bass.

As a part of Finlandia University’s Festival Ruska the musicians from this year’s Beethoven and Banjos Music Festival [...]

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