A Royal Visit

A highlight of the past year was a visit in October from 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, Luther awarded Crown Prince Haakon an honorary degree.

Luther president Brad Chamberlain (left) awarded Crown Prince Haakon an honorary degree.

In his address to the Luther community, Crown Prince Haakon said, “Universities are the sites for the free exchange of ideas. Independent teaching and research is at the heart of a free society. 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.”

The occasion marked the ninth visit to Luther by members of Norway’s royal family. In 1965, Crown Prince Haakon’s father, King Harald—then the Crown Prince—received an honorary degree from Luther. King Harald’s father, Olav V, also received an honorary degree from Luther in 1939, when he was Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Haakon’s visit 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 Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies, the only endowed undergraduate Nordic studies center in the United States. Initial planning is being conducted in collaboration with Snøhetta—the world-famous Norwegian architectural firm that also designed a recent addition to the Vesterheim Museum—to create a welcoming and vibrant space that reflects a Nordic ethos and aesthetic.

The visit and the coming renovation, said Luther President Brad Chamberlain, “inaugurate 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.”