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The Finlandia Alumni Board (FAB) has selected 49 students for its second annual Alumni Association Textbook Awards. Presenting the first awards for 2021 were Haley Makela ('19), pictured left, and Laura Bianucci ('13), pictured right. Receiving the first award was Haley Bianucci, center, a current junior and criminal justice major at Finlandia. The award is given out in the form of a $250 textbook voucher, redeemable at North Wind Books. Over 140 students submitted applications this year.
“It is an honor to work with such an amazing Alumni Board that has donated so much of their time in raising money for the Textbook award,” Laura Bianucci said. “One goal of the Alumni Board is to help current students with some financial support that will hopefully take some money burden off their shoulders. I wish this was something that was done when I attended FinnU. Any type of financial help to pay for school is always appreciated.”
The Alumni Association Textbook Awards are a direct result of the FAB’s third Giving Day campaign. The first campaign, held in 2019, raised enough funds to supply 35 awards. In 2020, Giving Day was postponed and rescheduled. In support of Finlandia’s Safe Open 2020 plan, Giving Day 2020 was held in September and the money raised was dedicated to PPE and safety upgrades for Finlandia students.
$15,000 was raised this year, setting a new record for the Giving Day fundraiser. Currently active Finlandia Alumni Board members include Stephen Szuber, Jason Sullivan, Donna Kennard, Adam Huey, Alexa Sorensen, Monica Hill, Amy Sturma, Haley Makela, Laura Bianucci, Kendall Bolen and Michael Weathers.
“I’m inspired to be a part of the FAB because Finlandia gave me so many opportunities, and I just want to share those with the current students. I want to create a strong relationship between alumni and students,” Makela said.
2021 Alumni Association Textbook Award winners....
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Readers may already be familiar with the Finnish American Heritage Center at Finlandia University in Hancock, Michigan as the home of this newspaper, but for some it may come as a surprise to know that the Heritage Center is also home to the Finnish American Folk School. Since 2017 the folk school – the first of its kind in the United States – has offered unique opportunities for education and exploration of traditional Finnish folkways including arts, crafts, food, and music. Under the leadership of their new director Phyllis Fredendall, the folk school is planning exciting new dimensions and programming in the coming year and beyond. Fredendall, emeritus professor of fiber and fashion design at Finlandia University, will build on the folk school’s past programming by anchoring many classes and workshops in the university’s well-equipped fiber arts studio. 
The Finlandia Alumni Board has recently welcomed a new member! Michael Weathers graduated from Suomi College in 1983 with a management, sports and recreation degree. Suomi's small class sizes and caring faculty members attracted Weathers to the college with aspirations of starting off on the right foot. 
