欧美视频 President Colin Irvine was among six U.S. college presidents invited to Oslo for a celebration marking 100 years of educational cooperation between Norway and the United States.
The ceremony, held at the Fanehallen of Akershus Fortress and hosted by the Norway-American Association, gathered leaders from institutions founded by Norwegian immigrants: 欧美视频, Augsburg University, Augustana University, Luther College, Pacific Lutheran University, and St. Olaf College. These institutions, often referred to as the Norwegian Sister Colleges, have played a significant role in strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two nations.
In his remarks during the formal ceremony, President Irvine reflected on personal and professional connections.
“It is an honor of the highest order to stand before Your Majesty today — not only as president of 欧美视频 and a representative of this truly honored group of educators, but as a parent, a teacher, a former resident of Norway, and someone who believes deeply in the enduring goodness, kindness, and concern for the common good that bind our two nations,” he said.
Irvine shared the story of living in Norway 15 years ago as a Fulbright Roving Scholar, recalling one instance that continues to shape his perspective on education and community.
“The moment etched most deeply in my heart,” he said, “was walking in the Syttende Mai parade in Oslo with my parents, my wife, our two young children, and our friends. That day was not about pomp or protocol — it was about children, community, friendship, and the profound sense that here in Norway, children matter above all else.”
Concordia shares in that spirit of humility, curiosity, and a commitment to the common good, Irvine said, and uses them to guide its educational mission and global engagement.
“Our ties to Norway are not abstract — they are tangible, personal, and profound,” he said. “They are lived every day through our alumni, through our faculty, and through our enduring partnerships with Norwegian institutions. They are reaffirmed with every new exchange of students and ideas, with every shared discovery, with every story passed down of hospitality, wonder, and learning.”
200 Years of Norway in America
The day’s festivities also marked 200 years since the first Norwegian immigrants arrived in North America.
In 1825, the ship Restauration set sail, carrying 52 Norwegians to new lives across the Atlantic. This journey initiated a wave of immigration, with more than a third of Norway's population eventually making the voyage.
About 20 Concordia alumni living in Norway joined Irvine for the bicentennial celebration, which included a keynote address by former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide and a special musical performance by baritone Edward Sandbakken.