October 1, 2007, Professor Arthur Lloyd Olsen was awareded the St. Olav Medal in recognition of his great services to Norway. Through is long teachig career and being an active member of numerous Norwegian American organizations, Dr. Olsen has fostered cooperation among Norwegian organizations and between Norway and the U.S. He has contributed a great deal to the favorable image of Norway in South Dakota and beyond.
4/21/2008 :: Dr. Olsen was born in Casper, Wyoming. He has been a student at St. Olaf College, Luther Theological Seminary, Standford University, and Harvard University Divinity School. He holds a PhD from the latter. To name a fewof his activities, he has been a member of Sons of Norway, Norse Glee Club and Nordland Heritage Foundation for decades, as well as being a supporter of the Peace Prize Forum, where he also served in the committee.
From 1956 to 1957 he served on the Agustana faculty, and since 1960 he has been a Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the same college.
The ceremony to confer the St. Olavs Medal took place on Monday April 14 2008, at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.