Gustavus Adolphus College wishes you a safe and festive New Year. As we roll into 2025, we look back on some of the many milestones, activities, and accolades we experienced in 2024.
January
Karith Foster Gives MLK Day Address — The founder of Inversity Solutions discussed how to cultivate cultures of inclusivity.
Gustavus BMB Major Earns Prestigious Accreditation — The American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology recognized the program’s qualities and longtime success in developing future scientists.
Gustavus Choir and Gustavus Wind Orchestra Embark on Midwest Tour
Kasie Tweet named CSC Academic All-American, one of the highest honors in any level of college athletics for the fifth-year volleyballer. She was joined by Gustavus Football’s Jake Breitbach.
Women’s Hockey goalie Katie McCoy sets all-time Division III shutout record.
February
Cross Country Earns USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Award — This is the fifth straight year the Men’s and Women’s teams have achieved the honor.
Gustavus Named a Top Producing Fulbright Institution — The College was recognized for having five student winners of the prestigious fellowships.
As Gustavus teams were winning eight MIAC Championships over two weeks in February—Men’s and Women’s Swim, Women’s Basketball (x2), Women’s Hockey (x2), and Men’s Basketball, the Athletics Department also ran the first annual Give Like a Champion campaign and raised over $420k.
March
Men’s Basketball Makes NCAA Tournament for first time since 2012
Women’s Hockey Ends Season Against No. 1 UW-River Falls in NCAA Quarterfinal
Two Gustie Gymnasts Qualify for NCGA National Championships
Three Gusties Named CCM/AHCA Women’s Division III All-America
Gustavus Adds Sport Management Major, Two Others — The College faculty elevated the Sport Management minor, along with Ancient Greek and Latin.
Gustie Students Lobby Lawmakers for Higher Ed Funding — Almost 30 Gusties fanned out across the Capitol complex to meet with state legislators, share their Gustavus stories, and educate their elected representatives about the funding concerns private colleges and their students face.
Syd Hauger named All-American, Laurie Kelly finalist for national coach of the year
Megan Geraets and Kate Carlson earn All-America track honors
Jake Breitbach named Bobby Bell Impact Player of the Year
April
How Gustavus Professors Led Through Change — These instructors led the efforts to revamp the College’s curriculum—a big lift with cascading consequences.
Gustavus to Erect Large New Solar Panel Field — The project will be completed in 2025 and will generate about 10 percent of the College’s energy usage.
President Rebecca Bergman Announces Retirement — The College’s 17th President will step down in May 2025.
How NLE Choppa Ended Up Playing Gustavus — The acclaimed hip-hop artist performed in the Don Roberts Arena.
Introducing the Winners of the GSO 2024 Concerto & Aria Competition — Bassoonist Will Schmidt ’27, violinist Jack Saetveit ’25, and cellist Elle Bergquist ’24 were named the winners of this year’s competition, and vocalist Josh Newman ’25 received honorable mention.
Gustavus First-Gen Students: “In a way, it’s a super power.” — Five first-generation college students on their roads to college, their Gustavus experiences, and the truth of it all.
Women’s Gymnastics’ Aryn DeGrood named NCAA Regional Coach of the Year
Tyler Walsh named head Men’s Hockey coach
May
Fulbright Program Recognizes Three Gusties — Olivia Falk ’24 and Alexis Lin ’24 received English Teaching Assistant awards, and Kade Copple ’24 was named an alternate for the Israel Research Award.
Three Gusties Land Coveted Research Internships — The Hormel Institute provided valuable learning and professional opportunities in the biomedical field.
Kate Knutson Wins Swenson-Bunn Award — The Political Science professor was lauded for her work in and out of the classroom.
Philip Bryant Wins Faculty Scholarly Achievement Award — The retiring English and African Studies Professor was recognized for his many academic accomplishments.
A Gustie Giving Back in Multiple Ways — Ethan Moudry ’27 has discovered ROTC and passions for foreign languages and service.
A Gustie Charts Her Path to Global Engagement — Caroline Southworth ’24 sets her sights on diplomacy and international relations.
Kelley Brennan Named MIAC Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year
Hayley Russell Wins Edgar M. Carlson Award — The Health and Exercise Science Associate Professor is this year’s recipient of the College’s highest honor for teaching excellence.
Gustavus Celebrates Commencement 2024
Bryce Novak Named D3baseball.com All-Region — The center fielder is the first Gustie baseballer to win the honor all four years.
After Men’s Tennis won two MIAC Championships, Gage Gohl and Tyler Haddorff Win NCAA Doubles National Championship. They were joined by teammate Marco Siviero on the NCAA All-American team.
Bryce Novak sets all-time MIAC hit record
Gustavus women win third-straight MIAC all-sports title
June
Wren Heiman ’25 Named Outstanding Student in Design, Technology and Production
Gustavus Launches Premier Music Scholarship — Leo Mellum ’28 has been awarded the inaugural honor, which was established by Music Department faculty for the rarest and most exceptional talent in music performance.
Gustavus Finishes Top 20 in Region, Fourth in MIAC in Learfield Directors’ Cup Division III Standings — The honor measures performance across all sports.
In Memoriam: Gregory Lawrence Kaster, 1954-2024 — Gregory Lawrence Kaster, History, passed away unexpectedly on June 22 at the age of 70. He will be remembered by the Gustavus community as a passionate advocate for the power of the liberal arts, especially the humanities, and for being a trusted mentor to faculty and students alike.
158 Gusties Named Winter/Spring Sport MIAC Academic All-Conference
Marco Siviero named CSC Academic All-American
Gage Gohl and Tyler Haddorff Named Gustavus Athletics Co-Male Athletes of the Year — The pair became the first duo to ever share the award after winning the NCAA doubles national championship in May.
July
Five Gusties Named WGCA All-American Scholars
Gustavus Announces 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame Class
Three Swimmers Named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans
Katie McCoy Selected as Gustavus’s Nominee for 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year — The Gustavus Athletics Department nominated McCoy because of her outstanding performance on the ice, her excellence in the classroom, and her contributions to the community.
Gustie Erin Coleman Wins Two Prestigious Scholarships — The Physics and Mathematics and Computer Science double major earned a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and a Rossing Physics Scholarship, the second time she’s earned that honor.
Sophia Coltvet named CSC Academic All-American — The senior Women’s Hockey player was one of six women nationally who received the honor, and Coltvet also was named AHCA Academic All-American
Men’s and Women’s Tennis Earn ITA Academic Honors
Women’s Basketball Earns WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll — The team had the 25th-best cumulative GPA in Division III.
Emma Forsyth ’25 Wins 2024 ELCO Corporation Award — For distinguished accomplishments in Theatre & Dance.
August
Gustavus Summer Research Goes Way Beyond the Lab — How Gustavus summer research students use summer programs to develop valuable knowledge and abilities that will serve their future careers.
Softball has 13 Named NFCA Scholar Athletes
Women’s soccer posts highest GPA in Division III
September
Gustavus Celebrates Move-In Day 2024
Gustavus Shows Breadth, Depth in National Rankings — Gustavus scored particularly well on measures such as social mobility (how well a school graduates economically disadvantaged students), economic opportunity (how well a school’s grads leave college with manageable debt), excellence of faculty, and overall quality.
No. 24 Men’s Golf Wins Prestigious Williams Invite, Gutuza Finishes First
Breitbach Named Semifinalist for 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy — The award recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
How two Women’s Soccer players leveraged their summer internships
Women’s tennis sweeps ITA Championships
October
Siviero and Christensen Earn All-America Honors at ITA Cup
Balancing Act: Syd Hauger’s Unconventional Fifth Year — Student-athlete, SAAC advisor, All-American shooting guard, collegiate fellow, social media manager, Homecoming Queen, digital well-being mentor, All-Conference sprinter—and registered nurse.
Men’s soccer finishes regular season undefeated
President’s Art Award Recipient: Mya Hanson ‘25
Gustavus Adolphus Establishes Endowed Chair in Scandinavian Studies — The inaugural Thorstensson, McKnight, Nordstrom Endowed Chair in Scandinavian Studies will be Professor Dr. Ursula Lindqvist.
November
Men’s Soccer Ends Season with 1-0 Loss to UW-Platteville — The team reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Volleyball Goes Undefeated in MIAC Play, Claims Fourth Consecutive Regular Season Title
Five Gusties Earn MIAC Football All-Conference — Five additional players earned honorable mention.
Tyler Smith Earns MIAC Men’s Cross-Country Elite 22 Award — The honor recognizes athletic and academic achievement.
Tweet and Klaith Repeat as AVCA All-Americans — Tweet was also named the Region 9 Player of the Year.
December
A host of recognitions for Men’s Soccer: Hecht, Johnson Named United Soccer Coaches All-America; Men’s Soccer Lands Four on United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team; Waldspurger and Olson Named United Soccer Coaches All-Region.
Gustavus Celebrates Christmas in Christ Chapel — This year’s event, At Twilight an Angel, featured four performances in front of capacity crowds.
Zainab Syed ’27 Named St. Lucia 2024 — The sophomore was recognized for her leadership, character, and commitment to service.