GOLDen Times | Issue 2 | February 2025
Greetings, Augie Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Alumni!
Welcome back to the monthly GOLDen Times newsletter (so punny!). My name is Ashley Marcinkus '20, and this month, I'll be taking over the virtual presses. I am a member of the GOLD Council's Marketing and Social Events Committee. Our committee creates funtastic (more puns) virtual and in-person events for you — young alumni! On top of that, we curate this newsletter as your monthly one-stop shop for young alumni news, recommendations and upcoming events tailored specifically for young alumni.
A little bit about me! I studied elementary education at Augie and taught for three years. I'm now a learning partner with HomeServe USA (think AAA but for houses). As a student, I was involved in Camp Kesem, OSL and Sigma Pi Delta sorority. In my free time, I love to be outdoors (hiking, rowing and exploring), enjoy reading rom coms and historical fiction, and have been known to chat for hours on end.
Happy reading!
We'll 2x your gift!
A Day of Giving Young Alumni Challenge
I'll keep this short and sweet! You may know that A Day of Giving is coming up on March 5. It's Augie's largest fundraiser of the year. The GOLD Council has pooled $2,500 of our own money to match your gift. It's a pretty sweet deal if you ask me! You can give now!
Event recap! Virtual and in-person fun!
Super Bowl Snacks & Sips
A small but mighty crew made Super Bowl party snacks and drinks over Zoom. GOLD Council members curated quick and easy snack and drink options, including a cocktail, raspberry tea mocktail, chili cheese dip and tasty Rolo pretzel bites. We hope you can join future virtual events; they are super low-key and free!
GOLD Council members and event hosts Mia Gerace '20, Laura Johnson '15, Latesha Lee '19 and Ashley Marcinkus '20 with event participants.
Winter in the Windy City
More than 60 young alumni attended Winter in the Windy City, Augie's signature Chicagoland networking and social event. After the event, young alumni went to an after-party at Time Out Market Chicago. So much fun!
Young alumni (and several GOLD Council members) at Winter in the Windy City.
After Augie Podcast: An “ALDI quarter” for your thoughts?
This month's episode features Jason Schultz '10, interviewed by Alexis Hutson '17. Jason serves as manager of sustainability at ALDI, Inc., where he plays a pivotal role in steering the company's strategic vision to support nonprofits addressing food insecurity, children's health and wellness, diversity, equity and inclusion, and disaster relief. Tune in as Jason and Alexis discuss his story and reminisce about all things Augie!
Jason Schultz '10
Book recommendation of the month
I highly recommend The Defining Decade by Meg Jay, PhD! Our "thirty-is-the-new-twenty" culture tells us that the twenty-something years don't matter. In this enlightening book, Dr. Jay draws from more than a decade of experience to reveal how our twenties are a defining period of adulthood, weaving science and real-life stories to show the profound and lasting impact of decisions made during this pivotal decade. After reading this book, I realized that while our twenties can be filled with scary adulting things, they are also very empowering.
Have a book or podcast to recommend to fellow young alumni? Submit a recommendation to be featured in GOLDen Times!
Young alumni class notes: 2024 was a merry year to marry
Congratulations to two young alumni couples who got married recently!
➡️ Class Notes
Augie fun fact!
Did you know that Augie was originally founded in Chicago? The college moved to Paxton, Illinois, in 1863, and finally to Rock Island in 1875. On September 22, 2025, Augustana will celebrate 150 years of hosting classes in Rock Island.
➡️ Why Rock Island? Read how Augustana came to be in the Quad Cities.
1880s view of 7th Avenue and the First College Building, Rock Island.
Viking Voyage: Launch & Level Up Your Career
Thursday, March 27 | 7-8 p.m. Central
Join Augustana Career Coaches Claire Brakel Packer and Beth Ford for a dynamic virtual event designed to help young alumni land their first job and grow professionally.
➡️ Register
Navigating Leadership: Strategies for Effective Management
Thursday, April 3 | 7-8 p.m. Central
Join us for an engaging virtual panel discussion on leadership and management, featuring Augustana alumni Sam Schlouch '10 and Sara Luebbering '12.
➡️ Register
Navigating Career Disruptions with Values-Based Decision Making
Tuesday, April 15 | 7-8 p.m. Central
Join Augustana CORE career coach Claire Brakel Packer and CORE vocational exploration coach Keri Bass for an engaging webinar aimed at helping recent alumni navigate the most common career disruptions.
➡️ Register
Thanks for reading! Until next month, and Go Vikings!
Ashley Marcinkus '20
GOLD Council Marketing and Social Events Committee
P.S. - Be sure to follow us on Instagram @augustanagoldalumni!