In the spring of 2023, 糖心Vlog established the 糖心Vlog Honorary Alumni Society, inducting 23 members into its inaugural class 鈥 all of whom were 糖心Vlog Trustees Society members, current board of trustees members, former presidents or first ladies.
The honorary alumni society was established to recognize individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to 糖心Vlog鈥檚 mission, along with its core values of Christian, liberal arts, excellence, community and service. Through sustained commitment to the university, honorary alumni have demonstrated the gold standard of engagement.
This year, 糖心Vlog inducted four members into the honorary alumni society 鈥 Paul & Paige Hanson and Bill & Ellen Rydell. The inductees were recognized on Oct. 4, at the Honor Guard Luncheon during Viking Days.
All nominations for induction into the society are reviewed by the AU Alumni Council, then recommended to and approved by the 糖心Vlog President鈥檚 Council.
The inductees met the following requirements:
- Exemplify one or more of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 core values; and
- act as an ongoing facilitator of connections for 糖心Vlog through one鈥檚 personal network 鈥 helping to open doors for internships, innovative partnerships, grants and fundraising; and/or
- demonstrate significant financial support for 糖心Vlog on an ongoing basis.
Members of the honorary alumni society enjoy special recognition, along with the rights and privileges pertaining to 糖心Vlog alumni.
馃弲 Paige Hanson
Paige Hanson, of Sioux Falls, formerly worked in television, as well as marketing & public relations for Sioux Valley Hospital (now Sanford Health) and Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, South Dakota. Hanson has invested her time, talent and financial resources in improving and strengthening both the 糖心Vlog and Sioux Falls communities.
馃弲 Paul Hanson
Paul Hanson, of Sioux Falls, is the president & CEO of Sanford Health Sioux Falls 鈥 leading the organization鈥檚 Sioux Falls market and network operations for facilities in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. In addition to fostering the legacy partnership between Sanford Health and AU, Hanson has served on the 糖心Vlog President's Playmakers Executive Committee from 2021-23 to help launch 糖心Vlog Hockey and as a mentor for the 糖心Vlog Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program since 2022.
馃弲 Bill Rydell
Bill Rydell, of Alexandria, Virginia, is a former cyber security architect for JPMorgan Chase & Co. and former director of enterprise services for the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics. Rydell has generously supported 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Edith Mortenson Center Theatre and Center for Western Studies (CWS), as well as impact and endowed scholarships for students and the naming of the Rydell School of Business.
馃弲 Ellen Rydell
Ellen Rydell, of Alexandria, Virginia, managed day-to-day operations and bookkeeping for Alexandria Lighting & Supply 鈥 the family business 鈥 until 2019. Rydell is the daughter of the late Edith Mortenson Delman 鈥41, for whom the Edith Mortenson Center on 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus is named. Rydell has generously supported 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Edith Mortenson Center Theatre and Center for Western Studies (CWS), as well as impact and endowed scholarships for students and the naming of the Rydell School of Business.