Fisher, Nguyen crowned 2026 Viking Days royalty
Tradition, community and excitement are in the air at Augustana with the annual Viking Days festivities in full swing. The weeklong celebration honors the many students, faculty and alumni who make the university a special place.
Celebrations kicked off on Oct. 16 with the first-ever Meet the Royals Lip Sync Battle. According to Clark Egland, co-chair of the royalty committee, the event replaced a “Family Feud” inspired competition that suffered from low attendance.
The lip sync battle featured royalty nominees performing elaborate choreography to their favorite songs in Hamre Hall.
Mariam Alinzi performed “Party in the USA” with a host of background dancers.
Vy Nguyen won with her rendition of “Midnight Sun” by Zara Larsson, featuring members of the Augustana football team in dolphin hats. and tight reflective t-shirts.
The Elmen Center hosted a kickoff on Monday with yard games and glow-in-the-dark dodgeball. On Tuesday, Augustana S.A.L.T.’s Sailing into Service event at the Elmen Center brought students together to paint rocks, make tie blankets and write cards for Letters of Love.
Dunk Your Royalty also made a return after a successful debut last year. Nominees had to answer Augie trivia questions to avoid taking a dip in the pool.
Coronation was held on Wednesday in the newly renovated Elmen Center forum following the Viking Feast with its traditional “Augie bowls.” The evening featured two new attractions: a speed sketcher and a photo booth.
Junior Jacey Meyer and sophomore Emily Stahlberg, who were co-chairs of one of the event committees, worked over the summer to integrate both additions. Meyer said they wanted to bring in a photo booth so attendees could commemorate this year’s celebration.
President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin highlighted the range of generations present at the event.
“It’s an entire community of students and faculty and retirees and little kids, and it’s the whole family,” Herseth Sandlin said.
As the royals walked up to the stage, last year’s king and queen Alex Folgar and Gabriella Rabboni gave a joint speech. The nominees were escorted by loved ones and mentors who impacted their college journeys. Yabesera Wurgessa was escorted by 11 of her closest friends.
As a freshman, Wurgessa worked as a member of the dining hall staff at the event. She returned three years later as royalty.
“Then, I was more concerned with making sure everything was going smoothly. Now I’m really just taking it all in,” Wurgessa said.
Before this year’s royals were crowned, professor of music David Chin spoke on the traditions and community that make Viking Days special.
This year, Nguyen and Ridge Fisher were crowned as Augustana’s Viking Days king and queen.
“You know, it’s pretty cool. If you told me I would be here in high school, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Fisher said. “The thing that matters is the crowd, the friends I have supporting me and how much Augustana has changed my life.”
Nguyen said the victory was a moment of gratitude and love for the community gathered around her.
“I’m just really, really grateful and really honored to have everyone’s support to be standing up here with all these amazing people,” Nguyen said, adding that she’s also looking forward to the parade on Saturday morning.
The annual Viking Days parade will set out from Our Saviors Lutheran Church at 9:30 a.m.
Festivities will continue with a mentalist performance at 7 p.m. on Friday in Hamre Hall. Saturday’s football game against Southwest Minnesota State University at 1 p.m. will bring Viking Days to a close.
