Current students and alumni can all agree that Concordia has an unparalleled sense of community. Concordia acts as a second home for many and the bonds built here are analogous to familial ties. This deep-rooted sense of care dates back to Concordia's early years. An iconic figure who helped to instill this sense of family was Helga Fjelstad. She was hired in 1895 to be the matron of the school. As head matron, Fjelstad's duties included feeding the students (which she did on a very small budget) and overseeing all the activity pertaining to the dining hall. She took this task seriously and was known to teach students proper etiquette because some did not even know how to use a fork. Fjelstad was also admired for her comforting presence. She would often invite students into her kitchen for some hot coffee and free advice. Students who were close to her recalled how Fjelstad "always gave us kindly advice and comfort when it was most needed and did it in a way... that reminded us of mother." Expanding the family to also include sisters, the Big Sister program was established in 1922. Similar to the current Peer Mentor system, new students were assigned to upper-class women who helped them acclimate to college life. Big Sisters met incoming Cobbers at the train station, brought them to their dorms, helped them to register, and gave them tips and tricks to being a successful college student. To symbolize these strong connections post-graduation, the official college ring was introduced in 1920. It was designed by Concordia alumnus and jeweler Oscar Martinson. The Cobber Ring has become a widely recognized, trademark symbol of Concordia College and connects the Cobber family from all corners of the world. Comments are closed.
|
Archives
September 2018
Categories
All
|