Tag Archive: Dr. Hilary Virtanen

May 10, 2021

Academic Achievement Committee Announces 2021 Honors & Awards Recipients

In a normal year, Finlandia’s Academic Achievement Committee hosts the Honors & Awards Banquet for students who have been selected to receive endowed scholarships and honors. This year, the committee opted to honor these students during Finlandia’s hybrid commencement ceremony held on Thursday, April 29. Announcing the honor recipients was Dr. Hilary Virtanen, Assistant Professor of Finnish and Nordic Studies. It was an incredibly special day for those in attendance or watching on Livestream. Finlandia congratulates the following Honors [...]

meaning of sisu with Dr. Hilary Virtanen- background of text is of Lake Superior after sunset

April 14, 2021

No.1 U.K. Podcast Features Dr. Hilary Virtanen on the Meaning of Sisu

Most Finlandia students, faculty, and staff have heard the term sisu thrown around in conversations or even marketing materials on campus. The word is nothing new to FinnU, but in the United Kingdom, that may be otherwise. On April 14, FinnU professor of Finnish and Nordic studies, Dr. Hilary Virtanen, was featured in the No. 1 documentary podcast in the United Kingdom titled “Getting Emotional” about the meaning of sisu.

“If you talk about it [sisu] more thoroughly, it’s [...]

June 19, 2020

Dr. Virtanen to Host Free Virtual Midsummer Lecture on June 23

The burning of the kokko at the 2018 Juhannus celebration in Toivola, MI. Photo: Olivia Myers | FinnU Marketing

Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen will be hosting a free virtual Midsummer lecture on June 23 at 8pm EST/7pm CST. This event is hosted by the Finnish American Cultural Activities, a Finlandia Foundation chapter in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.

In the days of COVID when social distancing practices give us all pause to consider how to celebrate the Juhannus, join folklorist [...]

December 15, 2017

To the Library of Congress and back with Finnish Professor Dr. Hilary Virtanen

Assistant professor of Finnish and Nordic studies, Dr. Hilary Virtanen dropped by Finlandia Fridays this past week to talk about her busy semester. Dr. Virtanen kicked off the academic year by attending FinnFest USA, which was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. One of the highlights of the festival this year included an appearance by the Finnish president and his wife. Dr. Virtanen gave a talk about Finnish-Americans traveling and the experience of going to and connecting to [...]

November 1, 2017

Virtanen, Kurtti and Chopp participating in 41 North Film Festival

On Saturday night at 7:30 three Finlandia employees will be participating in a panel discussion following the showing of Sami Blood during the 41 North Film Festival at Michigan Tech.

About Sami Blood

In this lyrical and psychologically-complex drama, a 14-year-old Sámi girl is subjected to racism and eugenic scrutiny in the 1930s when she is removed from her family and sent to a state-run school that aims to reeducate her into Swedish culture. Newcomer Lene Cecilia Sparrok brilliantly portrays the fierce [...]

October 16, 2017

Dr. Virtanen to speak at symposium at Library of Congress

Finlandia University Assistant Professor of Finnish and Nordic Studies Dr. Hilary Virtanen is going to be one of three panelists Thursday at the Library of Congress for a symposium celebrating the history and future of the Finnish language.

Dr. Hilary Virtanen

“It is an honor to take part in this symposium and to use research and experiences with Upper Midwestern Finnish in celebration of Finland’s centennial,” Dr. Virtanen said. “While it is true that many aspects [...]

October 5, 2017

Teaser for Finnish TV show that highlights Hancock released

Hancock episode to be shown on Nov. 20

This week the first teaser for a Finnish television series that will feature Finlandia University was released.

Antti Holma is the host of the Finnish show, which begins October 23. He came tot he Copper Country in March to shoot an episode highlight the area’s Finnish American heritage.

In March of this year a crew from one of Finland’s major broadcasting networks came to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula to highlight the Finnish American [...]

September 29, 2017

Final events of Festival Ruska should make for great “Finnish” to festival

Another wonderful day of Festival Ruska was had on Thursday, with students and community members being introduced to mölkky, voisilmapulla and korvapuusi. Now we move to the weekend, and our final two events of 2017 Festival Ruska.

Festival Ruska Bad Movie Night

In 1959, a team of Finnish and Soviet filmmakers joined forces to produce a cinematic rendering of Finland’s beloved national epic Kalevala. Named Sampo in its original production, the film told the story of the love between a man and a woman, [...]

Perho College Lecturer Leni Palminkoski-Pihlamo

June 19, 2017

Perho College of Culinary, Tourism and Business visit to Finlandia University

Perho College lecturer Leni Palminkoski-Pihlamo presents on family history in the Copper Country and the Perho Culinary, Tourism and Business College.

Finlandia University hosted a visit by a delegation from the Perho Culinary, Tourism, and Business College in Helsinki, Finland on Tuesday, June 6. The delegation of 32 faculty members had tours of both the Quincy Mine and the FinnU campus before lunch and presentations at the Finnish American Heritage Center. [...]

November 4, 2016

Finlandia Fridays Explores the Paloheimo Fellows Program

On this installment of Finlandia Fridays special guest Dr. Hilary Virtanen discusses the Paloheimo Fellows Program with host Michael H. Babcock. This program offers a unique and special experience that allows four lucky Finlandia students (of any major) the opportunity to study abroad in Tampere, Finland. This program runs for three weeks every May and is guided by Finnish expert Dr. Virtanen. In Finland students will gain knowledge on social scientific techniques to observe and analyze the [...]

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