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Tag Archive: Finnish & Nordic Studies

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, [...]

Kalevala Week 2022
February 21, 2022

Kalevala Month featuring art exhibit, Kalevalathon

The Copper Country Community Arts Center and the Finlandia University Finnish & Nordic Studies Program are pleased to announce Kalevala Month 2022, 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 be offered online and [...]

Kalevalathon 2022
February 15, 2022

4th annual Kalevalathon to be held on Feb. 24

Kalevalathon is back again for the fourth year. Join the Finlandia community to celebrate Kalevala Day on Thursday, February 24, from 9 a.m. to approximately 7 p.m. Eastern time via Zoom as they read the Finnish epic poem, the Kalevala.

“February 28 is Kalevala Day in Finland, and locally, for years Kalevala has been celebrated with February’s annual Art of the Kalevala exhibition at the Copper Country Community Arts Center and since 2019, with the Finnish & Nordic Studies Kalevalathon,” said 

HUMANA Sugar Island Symposium
January 12, 2022

Virtanen to present at online public symposium: Exploring Sugar Island’s Early Finnish History

In 1916, a Finnish immigrant to North America, Frank Aaltonen, visited Sugar Island, Michigan, and was highly impressed by the opportunities the island presented. The island was the traditional home of the Anishinaabeg, but by the early 20th century, its population was a mixture of several ethnicities. Aaltonen envisioned the island as a Finnish colony of farmers. A recruiting campaign ensued, and by the 1930s several hundred Finns had moved on the island. Join Finnish and American scholars in exploring [...]

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 [...]

September 7, 2021

With Shared Voices: Finlandia joins UArctic network

Finlandia University has joined the University of the Arctic (UArctic), a cooperative network of higher education institutions, research institutes and other organizations across northern regions. The network focuses on research and education, building and strengthening collective resources and infrastructures that enable member institutions to better serve their constituents and their regions. 

Through cooperation in education, research, and outreach, UArctic enhances human capacity in the North, promotes viable communities and sustainable economies while forging global partnerships. Created through the Arctic Council, UArctic [...]

Kalevalathon
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, [...]