Tag Archive: Finnish & Nordic Studies

February 15, 2021

Kalevala Week Programs Begin February 23

The Copper Country Community Arts Center and the Finlandia University Finnish & Nordic Studies Program are pleased to announce Kalevala Week 2021, a joint program of public events in celebration of Finland’s national epic, Kalevala. Centered on the CCCAC’s annual Art of the Kalevala exhibition and the Finnish & Nordic Studies Program’s annual Kalevala reading marathon, this series will highlight the important place Kalevala has in the Copper Country through a series of events that will [...]

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 [...]

November 15, 2019

Insight Into the Paloheimo Fellows Program Experience

This week host, Olivia Myers is joined by Finnish & Nordic Studies Senior, Seth Dahl. Dahl and Myers dive into what it’s like to be in the Finnish & Nordic Studies program, the Paloheimo Fellows program, the opportunity it gives students and more.

The Paloheimo Fellows program allows a select group of students to study Finnish culture and society in Finland with Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen. With the support of the Paloheimo Foundation, most expenses for travel are [...]

November 1, 2019

Paloheimo Fellows Program Accepting Applications Through Nov. 22

The Paloheimo Fellows program allows a select group of students to travel to Finland with Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen to study Finnish culture and society. With the support of the Paloheimo Foundation, most expenses for travel are covered.

FinnU students from any major can apply. You must be at least a junior in a four year program or a second year student in a two year program. Applications will be evaluated on academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, community and campus involvement, [...]

May 25, 2019

Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen Named 2019 Recipient of Board of Trustees Distinguished Faculty Award

Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen was honored as the Board of Trustees Distinguished Faculty Award recipient at the 2019 Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 5.

Dr. Virtanen, an assistant professor of Finnish & Nordic Studies, joined Finlandia’s Suomi College of Arts and Sciences in 2014. She teaches 12 courses including Cultural Anthropology, Finnish Language, Gender in Nordic Society and the Kalevala. She also chairs the Institutional Review Board.

“Being part of FinnU’s commencement is an annual source of joy to me,” [...]

February 14, 2019

Who loves the Kalevala? We love the Kalevala! Kalevalathon comes to Finlandia February 28

Join students and faculty in celebration of Kalevala Day, also known as the Day of Finnish Culture, for the inaugural Kalevalathon on Thursday, February 28 from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Finnish American Heritage Center. The participants from Finlandia University’s Finnish & Nordic Studies Program will be performing a 5.5-hour marathon reading of Kalevala.

“The Kalevala is an enduring symbol of Finnishness that is present around us, even in the Copper Country,” said Dr. Hilary-Joy Virtanen, [...]