St. Olaf Magazine | Winter 2025 February 6, 2025 150th SHARE IT Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare through Email Interactive Quiz: How well do you know St. Olaf after 150 years? Are you an expert on Ole lore? Take our St. Olaf Sesquicentennial Quiz to find out! In the spring of 1968, the St. Olaf College campus was buzzing about a new study-abroad program that had just received faculty approval and was set to launch in the fall. It has since become one of the college's signature programs. What is it? Environmental Science in Australia and New Zealand Global Semester Peruvian Medical Experience Oles Around the World What was the first building on the St. Olaf campus? Steensland Hall Holland Hall Old Main Hoyme Chapel True or False: The first class of St. Olaf's School students included women. True False How many students does St. Olaf currently enroll? 2,206 2,415 2,909 3,066 On September 17, 1977, the St. Olaf and Carleton football teams played a first-of-its kind game that garnered a wave of national media attention. What made it historic? It was the last game played at the old Metropolitan Stadium before it was demolished The game was played using the metric measurement system It was the first time players on both teams were slated to enter the NFL draft St. Olaf won by a historic margin The St. Olaf Choir was founded in 1912 and has had just four conductors in its storied history. Which of them is the longest-serving? F. Melius Christiansen Olaf Christiansen 1925 Kenneth Jennings ’50 Anton Armstrong ’78 What year did St. Olaf's first Black faculty member arrive on campus? 1940 1964 1972 1990 Which popular TV character has a connection to St. Olaf? Lucille Ball’s character Lucy Ricardo in the TV series I Love Lucy (1951–57) Alan Alda’s character Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H (1972–83) Betty White’s character Rose Nylund in the TV series The Golden Girls (1985–92) Vincent Kartheiser’s character Pete Campbell in the TV series Mad Men (2007–15) St. Olaf Professor Emeritus of Physics and Environmental Studies Bob Jacobel was a member of a research team in Antarctica that made history — and international headlines —in 2013. What was named in his honor? A classroom in the Physics Department at St. Olaf A research station in Antarctica A glacier The pond in the St. Olaf Natural Lands Some of the earliest years of St. Olaf are captured in an incredible trove of photos by Ole G. Felland, who served as a professor and librarian from 1881 to 1926. Roughly how many of his photos does the college have in its archives today? 330 550 1,600 3,000 In 2013 the St. Olaf men's cross country team won the college's first NCAA Division III National Championship. Ten years later, another men's team won the second NCAA team title in school history. Which team was it? Soccer Hockey Basketball Football In the spring of 1989, The Olaf Messenger was filled with back-and-forth letters to the editor debating an upcoming vote in the St. Olaf Student Congregation. What was the Student Congregation voting on? Calling a new pastor Electing their first woman council president Becoming the first congregation at an ELCA college to be Reconciling in Christ Changing the name of the congregation As Oles returned to campus in the fall of 2024, they were greeted by a new staff member with a trailblazing role. What makes this staff member unique? She also works at Carleton and helps Oles and Carls bond She is a dog She is an AI employee She is a cat In the fall of 1974, there were 12 athletic teams for men at St. Olaf. There were seven for women. During that academic year, 345 men participated in athletics. How many women participated? 96 127 212 348 Who was the first president of St. Olaf? Lars Boe Clemens Granskou John Kildahl Thorbjorn Mohn What is the nickname for St. Olaf students and graduates? St. Olafites The Lions Oles The Vikings No other college or university in the country has a fight song quite like Um! Yah! Yah! What makes St. Olaf's fight song unique? It was composed by famed Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg It is sung in ¾, or waltz, time It is only ever performed a cappella There is nothing unique about it St. Olaf has hosted visits by both the royal family and prime minister of which country? The United Kingdom Norway Sweden The Netherlands During World War II, what did St. Olaf host on campus? A visit by General Dwight Eisenhower The U.S. Naval Flight Preparatory School A series of blood drives to support wounded troops A campaign to encourage students to buy war bonds What prestigious academic award did two Oles receive in 1951 for the first time? Fulbright Scholarship Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Rhodes Scholarship Marshall Scholarship NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Interactive Quiz: Can You Put These St. Olaf Events in Chronological Order? 150th Interactive Quiz: Can You Put These St. Olaf Events in Chronological Order?