Women of the Year 2018

The nominees are women who have made an impact in the areas of equality advocacy, arts & culture, business, community & volunteer service, education, faith, health & wellness, women’s empowerment, science & technology, or youth advocacy.

Nearly 800 members of the community gathered April 30 to celebrate the 38 nominees at the 45th annual Women of the Year event, including four Concordia alumnae.

Norene Baeth ’67

Norene Baeth is coordinator for the Red River Valley/Fargo Chapter of the national organization Project Linus. Since 2011, she has organized events for “blanketeers” to come together to make fleece tie blankets for children in need. Her largest blanket-making effort took place in 2015 at the National Association for College and University Residence Halls conference, where 2,000 delegates made 333 blankets and 100 dog toys in under two hours. Blankets are given to comfort local families and “hug” the victims of national disasters like the California wildfires and Hurricane Harvey.

Amber Blomberg ’11

Amber Blomberg is manager of Community Partnerships and the Caring Foundation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. She helped with production of the eye-opening documentary “The Opioid Epidemic: Seeking Solutions in North Dakota.” She led the launch of Blue & You, bringing 3,800 employee volunteer hours to vital community needs. She serves on planning committees for the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce Corporate Cup and Ronald McDonald House Sweetheart Ball. Blomberg graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing.

Dr. Katie Hasbargen ’95

Dr. Katie Hasbargen is the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fans and Readiness Team Lead. Working with 14 regional colleges and universities, she created the Microsoft MORE (Mentorship, Outreach, Retention in Education) program designed to encourage women to stay in technical majors. She serves in executive positions on numerous boards and councils that empower women, including the Concordia College diversity initiative dedicated to increasing the diversity of people, thought, and curriculum collegewide. Hasbargen has a bachelor’s degree in communication and business from Concordia College and a doctorate in communication from North Dakota State University.

Chaycie Kramer ’00

Chaycie Kramer is a Kindermusik licensed educator. She shares her passion for music with children in a way that brings social, physical, cognitive and emotional growth. Through the research-based curriculum, she sets a strong foundation for lifelong learning through music for newborns to age 7. Each week, she teaches 150 children of all backgrounds and abilities through 12 unique class offerings. Kramer has a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Concordia College and a master’s degree in music from the Boston Conservatory. She plays bassoon and contrabassoon for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony.

Congratulations to all of the nominees!

Photos: Britta the Photographer

^{Published May 2018}