Luther College awards honorary degree to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

Luther College conferred the degree of Doctor of Civil Law honoris causa upon His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.

At a Celebration Convocation on Monday, Oct. 6, Luther College conferred the degree of Doctor of Civil Law honoris causa upon His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in recognition of his dedication to human rights, environmental responsibility, and the bonds between Norway and the United States.

The convocation marked the ninth visit to Luther College by members of Norway’s royal family. The date is significant: Sixty years ago to the day, on Oct. 6, 1965, Crown Prince Haakon’s father, King Harald — then the Crown Prince — received an honorary degree from Luther College. King Harald’s father, Olav V, also received an honorary degree from Luther in 1939, when he was Crown Prince.

“This is just one of the reminders of the history and heritage that have shaped Luther College, and a remarkable tradition of three generations of visits by the Crown Prince of Norway,” said President Brad Chamberlain. “Today, we celebrate the historic and enduring connections between Norway and the United States of America. Today, we lift up the story of a people separated by an ocean but united by their heritage, their values, and their collective pursuit of the common good.”

“Let me say how deeply honored I am to receive this recognition. To be granted an honorary doctorate from Luther College is not just a privilege, it is a moment that I will treasure,” said H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon. “This country has always believed in the power of knowledge, building some of the best learning environments in the world. Luther College is part of that proud tradition.”

Crown Prince Haakon’s visit was part of a trip marking the 200th anniversary of the first organized Norwegian emigration to the United States. His trip highlighted the deep cultural and historical ties between the two countries and promoted cooperation in business, education and culture. Luther College is the first U.S. college founded by Norwegian immigrants (1861), and its early collections of Norwegian-American objects grew into Decorah’s Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, one of the most comprehensive museums in the United States dedicated to a single immigrant group.

A New Home for Nordic Studies at Luther Unveiled

Luther’s ties to Norway remain vibrant and future-focused through its Nordic studies academic program and the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies, founded at Luther College in 2018. It is the only endowed undergraduate Nordic Studies center in the United States. Annually, approximately 125 Luther students take coursework in the Norwegian language and Nordic culture, and at least 20 study abroad in Norway annually.

Accordingly, the Celebration Convocation marked the official unveiling of site plans for the renovation of Luther’s oldest building, Campus House, to serve as the new home of the Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies. Initial planning is being conducted in collaboration with Snøhetta, the world-famous Norwegian architectural firm headquartered in Oslo, to create a welcoming and vibrant space that reflects a Nordic ethos and aesthetic.

A cornerstone that will be placed in the renovated Campus House was unveiled at the convocation. The cornerstone bears the logo of Crossings, the yearlong bicentennial celebration of Norwegian emigration to the U.S., and the inscription “Dedicated by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon.””

“For Luther College and its broader community, this visit by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, and this cornerstone, inaugurates new energy and a renewed commitment to exchange that honors the history of the founders of Luther College and the enduring connections between Luther College and Norway,” Chamberlain said.

“Universities are the sites for the free exchange of ideas. Independent teaching and research is at the heart of a free society,” said H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon. “And so, to the students here today: Cherish that freedom. Seek out those that are different from you. Be curious and be generous, because that is how we grow.”

Investment in the Future

Chamberlain also announced that Luther College has purchased a stake in the Future Library, a project in Nordmarka, Oslo, Norway. Future Library is a public artwork that aims to collect an original work by a popular writer every year from 2014 to 2114. The works will remain unread and unpublished until 2114. One thousand trees were specially planted for the project in the Nordmarka forest at its inception. One hundred manuscripts will be printed in limited-edition anthologies using paper made from the trees.

“By owning a stake in the Future Library, Luther College will receive in 2114 a copy of the manuscripts that have been collected,” Chamberlain said. “Luther College honors this connection to Norway that promotes the sustainability of people, conversation, open debate and literacy.”

Welcome from Decorah and Iowa

At the Convocation, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski delivered greetings on behalf of the city, county and the state of Iowa.

“It is my privilege today on behalf of the elected officials of our city and county to welcome His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway to Decorah and the great state of Iowa. Our town and your family have had a storied history, dating back almost a century ago when we welcomed your grandfather, King Olav the Fifth, to our community back in 1939. The tradition continued with your father, His Majesty King Harald the Fifth’s visits, and of course your own.”

— Lorraine Borowski, mayor of Decorah

“Norway and Iowa share deep, historic ties. This year, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first organized crossing of Norwegian immigrants. We remember the hopes and dreams that brought them across an ocean and then across half a continent to make their homes here in Iowa. It is fitting that we come together to celebrate that past here at Luther College, where descendants of those first voyagers created the first institution to educate their children, and preserve their legacy. But we are also here to think about the future and excited to see partnerships develop between Norway and institutions like Luther and Vesterheim that can spur innovation, entrepreneurship and stronger cultural ties.”

— U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson

About H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon

Crown Prince Haakon was born on July 20, 1973, and is heir to the throne of Norway. The Crown Prince married Miss Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in Oslo Cathedral on August 25, 2001. There are three children in the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s family: Marius Borg Høiby, Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra and His Highness Prince Sverre Magnus. Crown Prince Haakon has one sister, Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise.

Crown Prince Haakon carries out a wide variety of official engagements in Norway every year, focusing especially on entrepreneurship and innovation in Norwegian business, youth and diversity, and nature, with a special regard for the ocean and the issue of climate change. In 2013, he initiated the SIKT conference. This has become an annual meeting where young leaders from all sectors of Norwegian society discuss the future of Norway.

He holds the rank of general in the Norwegian Armed Forces, admiral in the Norwegian Navy and general in the Norwegian Air Force.

The Crown Prince is very active in the international sphere, where young leadership and the fight against poverty are issues particularly close to his heart. As Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 2003, he annually visits UNDP-funded projects all over the world. In his work for UNDP, Crown Prince Haakon puts special emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals. The fight to alleviate poverty and sustainable oceans are at the core of his efforts.

In 2006, Crown Prince Haakon was one of three founders of the organization Global Dignity, a worldwide initiative to promote values-based leadership. He is actively engaged in The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s Foundation, which identifies and supports projects for young people in Norway with the objective of strengthening youth leadership and integration.

Celebration Convocation in honor of H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

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