Congratulations to Larry West, the newly appointed Scandinavian of the Year.

 

Scandinavian of the Year is one of the most prestigious awards given annually by the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation (SHF) to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to his/her organization and to the wider Scandinavian community in Oregon. The plaque is given in recognition of outstanding achievement and public service.

 

SHF invites any Scandinavian organization in Oregon or Southwest Washington to nominate a person who has made such a contribution. For online applications and a list of previous Scandinavian of the Year winners please scroll to the bottom of the page. If you would like an application mailed to you please call SHF at (503) 977-0275 or email shf@mindspring.com. 

From left to right: Sandra Nelson MIller, Maritha Rufus, Larry West, Clint Maurice

Larry West, Danish, nominated by Portland Danish Brotherhood & Danish Sisterhood of America

Larry has been heavily involved in the Danish community for 27 years. He has been involved in the Himmelbjerget Danish Camp, held at Menucha every June. It is the most successful program for Danish children in the Western U.S. He has been treasurer and president of the Portland Danish Brotherhood and past-president of the National Danish Brotherhood. He is the Oregon representative to the Northwest Danish Association.

Also nominated were:

Clint Maurice, Swedish, nominated by Harmoni Lodge #472, Nobel Lodge No. 184 - Vasa Order of America, and Swedish Society Linnea

Clint generously donates his time, talent and unsurpassed dedication to the League of Swedish Societies and the League’s success in local Nordic events, especially with the Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival and ScanFair. His long-standing leadership in the League of Swedish Societies is a model for all of us.

Sandra Nelson Miller, Swedish/Norwegian, nominated by Leikarringen of Portland

Sandra has been an active and leading member in a number of Nordic organizations for over 30 years. She is the Secretary of the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation Board of Directors, the current co-lead for ScanFeast and is on SHF’s Capital Campaign Steering Committee, Entertainment and Governance committee’s among other leading positions.

Maritha Rufus, Swedish, nominated by New Sweden Cultural Heritage Society

Maritha has been a leader in New Sweden’s annual Lucia Fest and continues to be on Scandinavian Heritage Foundation Lucia Committee, has been a teacher at the Swedish School pre-school and a teacher at Trollbacken Swedish language camp. On her own initiative, she began a monthly International Story Time at the Main Library in Hillsboro. She owns an infant/toddler childcare known as “Swede Care.”

 

Every year the Scandinavian of the Year award is announced at the Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

2012 Forms

2012 Scandinavian of the Year Nomination Form

Scandinavian of the Year Letter

Congratulations to Andy & Margot Toth, Scandinavians of the Year 2010-2011

 

Also nominated were:

Julie Whipple, Norwegian, by Grieg Lodge, Sons of Norway ~ Leif & GunMarie Rosqvist, Swedish, by New Sweden Cultural Heritage Society ~ Judy Gervais Perkiomaki, Norwegian/Finnish, byFinlandia Foundation Columbia-Pacific Chapter ~ Kirsty Dickinson, Norwegian, byScandinavian Heritage Foundation

 

Congratulations to Denver James & Kristi Johnson-James, Scandinavians of the Year 2009-2010

 

Congratulations to Ann Signe Grangaard, Scandinavian of the Year 2008-2009

 

 

Past Scandinavians of the Year 

1956 Bob Anderson
1960 Marcus Peter Pihl
1961 Carl M. Saltveit
1962 Malcolm Frykman
1963 Erv Lind
1964 John Virtanen
1965 Bardi Skulason
1966 Boris Sirpo
1967 Lorentz Bruun
1968 E. Dean Anderson
1969 Werner Sahlin
1970 Erik Hauke
1971 Ernest Harold
1972 Christian Elster
1973 Oscar Nastrom
1974 Harold Berentson
1975 Melvin Pihl
1976 G. Bernhard Fedde
1977 Lloyd E. Anderson
1978 Magnus Esrom
1979 Faye Frykman
1980 Ross Fogelquist
1981 Alpo Tokola
1982 Mary Nastrom
1983 Glen Nordby
1984 Rolv Schillios
1985 Gerda Farestrand
1986 Martha Stenberg
1987 Mel Iverson
1988 Herb Matta
1989 Cathy Bjork
1990 Ellen Jacobson & Maj Persson
1991 Johanna B. Fedde
1992 Saara Slossar
1993 Judy Rust
1994 Lillian Johnson
1995 Robert M. Lee
1996 Carol De Sau
1997 Kaja Voldbaek
1998 Rosi Hill
1999 Elisabeth Mendenhall
2000 Doris & Harry Heiberg
2001 Steinar Fuglestad & Elsie Nordby
2002 Toni Linne & John Nielsen
2003 Christie Stilson
2004 Aase Maja Besson
2005 Doug & Ulla Hanson
2006 Eila Chisholm
2007 Carl & Marian Thompson
2008 Ann Grangaard
2009 Denver James/Kristi Johnson-James
2010 Andy & Margot Toth

2011 Larry West