News

Fall 2023 magazine story photo

Shared Values, Kindred Spirits

Several years ago, I stepped onto the Northland College campus to interview Dr. Alan Brew about Superior Connections for the Star Tribune. I paused in a scent of pine and the clarity of northern sun and tumbled back fifty years to my days at another college in the North Country, St. Lawrence University, not far…

Becky Rom in a canoe on water.

A Legacy of Conservation

Once in a generation, someone comes along and makes a mark so significant, it reverberates through many lifetimes. Some are calling conservationist Becky Rom “our generation’s Sigurd Olson,” which is high praise, especially for someone who grew up admiring Olson for his commitment to the environment. “Sig was a family friend,” says Rom, “and I…

Amanda Petty receives large check in classroom surrounded by students.

Robots for the Win!

Not many teachers come home from school knowing their classroom received $60,000 for curriculum enhancement, but thanks to her passion for providing new learning opportunities and her stellar, on-the-fly videography skills, this Northland alum sure did. Seventh grade science teacher Amanda Petty ’14 remembers the day her boss told her to “wear something nice to…

Camp Brother Bear artwork by Rachel Fine ’24

The Evolution of Camp Brother Bear

Camp Brother Bear is the natural evolution of Brett Norgaard’s commitment to Northland College. Finding joy from grief after the unexpected passing of his son, Bjorn Norgaard ’10, Brett and his family established the Brother Bear Fund to support adventurous student experiences at Northland College. Over the years, the scope of that support has evolved…

Lake Mead at a historically-low water level. The color of the rock at its shores shows where the water level used to be.

Burke Center Announces Release of “Purified: How Recycled Sewage Is Transforming Our Water” by Peter Annin

The Northland College Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Peter Annin’s highly-anticipated book, Purified: How Recycled Sewage is Transforming Our Water. Available in stores and online on November 9, this groundbreaking work sheds light on the pressing issue of water scarcity and unveils the potential of…

Fall Fest 23 Collage

Fall Fest 2023 Recap

Despite a particularly rainy weekend, spirits were high and joyful during the 2023 Fall Festival and Camp Brother Bear activities. This year’s event was intimate and focused around the reunion of Northland football alumni. After years of organizing on the part of members of the 1973 team, the guys showed up to celebrate their notable…

Two wolves laying down. Timber wolf Alliance

Timber Wolf Alliance Presents Exciting Events for Wolf Awareness Week 2023

The annual observance will be October 15–21, 2023.

The Timber Wolf Alliance at Northland College is proud to celebrate Wolf Awareness Week, taking place from October 15 to 21, 2023, with events in Duluth, Minnesota, and Ashland, Wisconsin. This annual observance aims to raise awareness about wolves and their vital role in our ecosystem. Building upon the rich tradition established by former Wisconsin…

Burke Center Associate Director—Great Lakes Matt Hudson at the Phase 2 North Fish Creek Restoration site.

Burke Center Receives $500,000 to Continue North Fish Creek Sediment Reduction Project

Northland College’s Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation has been awarded $500,000 of new funding to support the third phase of its Sediment Reduction Project on North Fish Creek—the largest source of sediment flowing into Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay. A grant of nearly $300,000 was recently awarded from the Great Lakes Commission’s Great Lakes…

Two representatives from Xcel Energy stand in a greenhouse with President Chad Dayton and Director of Grants and Sponsored Awards Lisa Williamson with a big check for $11,000

Scholarship Power

Xcel Energy has a history of supporting environmental initiatives at Northland College, and the upcoming academic year will be no different. On August 9, 2023, two Xcel Energy representatives—Social Investments Representative Jennifer Prochnow and Community Services Manager—Northern Wisconsin & Upper Peninsula Ken Disher—stopped by the College to present President Chad Dayton and Director of Grants…

Burke Center researchers launch a buoy in Lake Namekagon to collect data on lake health

Burke Center Launches Buoys in Lake Namekagon to Fill Knowledge Gap

The Lake Namekagon system in northwestern Wisconsin is set to receive long-term, real-time data thanks to a new monitoring project by the Northland College Mary Griggs Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation. The initiative will support scientific research, and real-time data will also be available to the public. Research buoys equipped with high-tech sensors have been…