PLU alumni join King Harald V in Oslo to celebrate 200 years of Norwegian-American history
Image: His Majesty King Harald V of Norway joined over 50 PLU alumni at Fanehallen in Oslo to honor the long-standing tradition of Norwegian students traveling across the Atlantic to learn, research, and forge lifelong ties in the United States.
By Alumni and Student Connections
PLU alums recently gathered in Oslo, Norway, for a historic celebration marking 200 years of Norwegian immigration to North America. For the Lute community, this gathering was a unique opportunity to reconnect and foster a profound sense of shared identity and belonging among alums spanning various generations.
“Being in Oslo with our sister universities, celebrating the historic Norwegian immigration that connects us, really highlights how important these transatlantic ties are,” said Dan Lee, PLU’s Vice President of University Relations. “Our shared commitment, built on this common history, shows that our bond with Norway and other international partners is truly about shared knowledge, mutual understanding, and common values that benefit everyone.”
The special event, co-hosted by PLU alongside five other sister universities — Augsburg University, Augustana University, Concordia College, Luther College, and St. Olaf College — was made even more memorable by the presence of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway. The universities also partnered with the Norway-America Association (NORAM) as the local co-host.
The alumni gathering, held at Fanehallen just two days before Norway’s vibrant Syttende Mai Constitution Day celebrations, brought together over 300 attendees, including nearly 50 PLU alums and numerous members of PLU’s Scandinavian Cultural Center. This momentous occasion honored the enduring tradition of Norwegian students traveling across the Atlantic to pursue education, conduct research, and forge lifelong connections in the United States.
The event commenced with a distinguished announcement by the Royal Guard, signaling the arrival of His Majesty King Harald V. The program featured greetings from Eric Meyer, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, and a keynote address by Ine Eriksen Søreide, former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Their remarks highlighted the strong diplomatic and educational bonds that continue to flourish between the two nations. The three-hour event provided an excellent chance for alumni from all six participating campuses to reconnect with old friends and forge new connections.
This bicentennial celebration honored a pivotal historical milestone — the 1825 journey of the ship Restauration, which carried the first organized Norwegian emigrants to North America. It also reinforced the vibrant international connections that enrich the PLU experience.
PLU was founded in 1890 by a group of Scandinavian Lutherans from the Puget Sound area, led by the Reverend Bjug Harstad. Their vision was to create an institution that would help immigrants integrate into their new home while upholding the cherished Scandinavian and Lutheran traditions of education and service.
Today, nearly 5 million North Americans proudly claim Norwegian ancestry, a history that continues to shape both regions and the sister colleges founded by these early immigrants.