St. Olaf College

06/23/2026

Space for Innovation 🌏🌙🌟

Through the Innovation Scholars Program, a team of St. Olaf students partnered with NASA to analyze new ways that space technology can be used on Earth.

The program, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has provided a powerful hands-on learning experience for scores of Oles — and helped many shape their careers.

This year's team of St. Olaf students — Mariam Adamyan ’26, Kieran Haaland ’27, Cole Kehrberg ’26, and Aubrey Mattson ’26 — was advised by Darin Oenning ’96, an alumnus who has deep expertise in business development and product planning and also teaches in the college’s Biology Department.

👉 Read more about their experience partnering with NASA in the latest edition of the St. Olaf Magazine: https://wp.stolaf.edu/news/space-for-innovation

06/21/2026

The longest day of the year looks good on you, St. Olaf 🌞

06/19/2026

To commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, honor the resilience and contributions of Black Americans, and reflect on our nation's ongoing journey toward equality and justice for all, St. Olaf observes Juneteenth as an official college holiday. It's a moment to recommit to the continual work of creating a campus community where everyone belongs and thrives.

06/18/2026

St. Olaf Flag Football touches down their inaugural season at TCO Stadium!

St. Olaf’s inaugural women’s flag football club — supported by the Minnesota Vikings' Women's Collegiate Flag Football 2026 grant — already proved to be a force within their first season.

“By establishing a program now, even at the club level, St. Olaf aligns with a broader movement to expand opportunities for women in football,” Ryan Townzen, the team’s head coach and the director of recreation at St. Olaf, says.

“The team creates new avenues for community engagement, potential partnerships, building a sense of belonging, and increased visibility for women in sport.”

The Oles ended their inaugural season in third place, falling by one point to the College of Saint Benedict, which went on to claim the championship.

👉 Read more at St. Olaf News: https://wp.stolaf.edu/news/flag-football-touches-down-their-inaugural-season-at-tco-stadium

📸 Kat Dodge and Cornerback Joy Brandenstein ’27. Images courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings.

06/15/2026

John Carlson-Yunga ’27 awarded Goldwater Scholarship

St. Olaf student John Carlson-Yunga has been awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for the 2026-27 academic year. The Goldwater Scholarship is a prestigious national competition for undergraduates who have shown significant achievement and potential in the fields of mathematics, science, and engineering. Carlson-Yunga is a physics and mathematics major with a focus on condensed matter physics and theoretical physics.

“I find it interesting to think up new ways of how things actually work, and think of new ways to understand it,” he says. “I really like the sandbox environment that theoretical physics gives me, where I can utilize several theories, concepts, and ideas to create something new in the field.”

👉 Read more at St. Olaf News: https://wp.stolaf.edu/news/john-carlson-yunga-27-awarded-goldwater-scholarship

06/13/2026

Two Oles selected as Phillips Scholars!

Two St. Olaf College students, José Antonio Preciado ’28 and Hemen Belete ’29, have been named 2026–27 Phillips Scholars, earning funding and support for innovative summer projects that address community needs in Minnesota.

“The Phillips Scholars program lets you practice your leadership and creativity — and facilitate good in your home community through those skills,” Preciado says.

Read more about their projects at St. Olaf News: https://wp.stolaf.edu/news/two-oles-selected-as-2026-phillips-scholars

06/12/2026