St. Olaf College Celebrates First Anniversary of Svoboda Center for Civic Engagement
St. Olaf College recently celebrated the first anniversary of its Svoboda Center for Civic Engagement, located in Tomson Hall. The center was established through a generous gift from Paul Svoboda '81, providing a dedicated space and resources for civic leadership and community engagement. According to Northfield Public Schools Superintendent Tim Anderson '97, while civic engagement has always been a core idea at St. Olaf, the Svoboda Center has given this work a "front door and a name." The center nurtures students' passion for public service and builds their capacity to engage in their communities through Academic Civic Engagement (ACE) courses, internships, volunteering, and research opportunities. Over 1,000 students participate in ACE courses annually, and the center collaborates with more than 50 local organizations to connect students with opportunities to learn and serve. In its first year, the Svoboda Center has expanded student involvement in community-based work-study programs and student service...
