Here for the Hill 2026

We're in our final hour of Here for the Hill! Power through this last hour with us and make your gift right now to support St. Olaf student orgs. They are counting on you to help make their year a success.

Thank you to all who have come alongside H4TH and Oles!

In case you missed it! We shared a few student stories this week in our emails, but want to be sure everyone had a chance to hear directly from students what your gift will do. If you need any additional encouragement to support student orgs, here are just a few of many stories we hear all the time on campus.

Taiko Drumming

Hello, my name is Hannah. I’m a senior who has been with Taiko Drumming Group (St. Olaf Taiko) all four years, and I’m now the president. Taiko has provided a lovely, dedicated, and hard-working community here on the Hill. 

Taiko (太鼓) is a form of Japanese drumming that was brought to the United States by Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka in 1967. Originally, taiko was played by one person for ceremonies. However, jazz musicians started playing in ensembles, which has since spread across the country and eventually to St. Olaf in 2004. 

I’m grateful that I have been able to learn and grow with St. Olaf Taiko each year on the Hill; not only regarding percussion, but also life, problem solving, what it means to be a leader, and so much more. (Though I must stress, the drums themselves are pretty awesome too, even if they are starting to show their age from the love we give them).

Because much of our equipment is about as old as the club, any gift we receive will go directly to repairing it. Thank you for your time reading this message and your support. We appreciate you very much!

- Hannah Freeman '27

Oles Under the Sun

My name is Grace Sundell, and I’m a senior. I’ve been on the Oles Under the Sun executive board for the past three years and am currently serving my second year as a co-president. 

OUTS is an outdoor-focused club on campus whose aim is to provide a variety of accessible opportunities for all members of the St. Olaf community to engage in and learn about the outdoors through activities such as walks, hikes, off-campus camping trips, and other educational or recreational experiences. OUTS seeks to build a strong and welcoming community around shared love for the outdoors, regardless of experience, ability, or time constraints. In short, our mission is to make friends outside! 

I enjoy being a part of OUTS because I love the outdoors and enjoy sharing that love with other people. I think nature is for everyone, and everyone should have access to it. By being on the OUTS leadership team, I am able to help others connect with and enjoy nature as I do.

OUTS puts on multiple events per month to help Oles get outside — under the sun, if you will. Fostering a community based on a love for the outdoors is extremely valuable, and OUTS strives to do just that. 

Any and all gifts given to OUTS are greatly appreciated and will go directly to providing Oles with the accessibility and gear they need to do things like camp, ski, hike, and make friends outside.

- Grace Sundell '27

Yoga Club

My name is Emily Jacobson ’27, and I’m a senior math major. I’m also serving as treasurer and a yoga instructor for the St. Olaf Yoga Club, collaborating with the other club executives to provide free, weekly yoga classes to Oles of all skill levels. 

Founded only two years ago, we’ve made great strides in our third year as a student organization. Our club alternates between vinyasa flow and yoga sculpt, with attendance numbers soaring to more than 50 yogis working out together in one studio! 

I have loved being a part of yoga club, seeing the growth our organization has had, and getting to work out alongside so many Oles each week. I will be working as a digital analyst in St. Paul after graduation, but also intend on becoming a registered yoga teacher, RYT-200! 

I can't wait to see what this club achieves, and all gifts will help us continue offering free yoga classes on campus at St. Olaf. 

- Emily Jacobson '27

What could we possibly still want to know from student orgs? It’s the final installment of this year's "Hey Student Orgs." So...

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 If your student org had a theme song, what would it be and why?

Men’s Ultimate — If Men's Ultimate had a theme song, it would be “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede. This is a song we love to sing in huddles at tournaments and it always keeps our spirits high!

Vortex — Our theme song would be "Teach Me How to Dougie” because we have a player on our team who is nicknamed Dougie and plays the song for us at practices and tournaments!

Pilates Club — If Pilates Club had a theme song it would be “Breathin” by Ariana Grande. We encourage our members to breathe out their stress when they walk in the studio for a session, and we also remind them to breathe when the burn starts to kick in from an exercise!

Powerlifting Club — Our theme song is definitely "My Own Summer (Shove It)" by Deftones. The chorus is all about shoving, which is exactly what we do! We spend our practices shoving heavy barbells, and the heavy riffs are perfect for getting the team hyped up for big personal records!

When you support student orgs, your impact extends beyond St. Olaf. 

Ole Tiny Dorm shared with us their most recent recording (released just yesterday), which they filmed at Bridge Square Barbershop in downtown Northfield as part of their efforts to expand beyond campus and build collaborations with local businesses. Check out the video above! 

This is what you are supporting during this final day of Here for the Hill. Student orgs are enhancing life on campus, while also keeping their sights on creating local and global community — and your gift makes that happen.

You’ve met a lot of great student orgs and clubs this week working hard to make life at St. Olaf more meaningful and fun for Oles. We wanted to share a little about another listing you might have seen on the leaderboard — the Co-Curricular Opportunity Fund. 

The Co-Curricular Opportunity Fund exists to ensure that every Ole is able to access campus life beyond the classroom by providing assistance on a case-by-case basis to those wishing to participate. When you make a gift to this fund, you’re making the Hill a more accessible and welcoming place, and expanding opportunity to more students. Read more at stolaf.edu/sa/ccof.

Thank you to everyone who has made a gift to the Co-Curricular Opportunity Fund — and to all our H4TH student orgs!

It’s the last day of Here for the Hill so we’ll be quick! In these last hours, we hope you’ll make your gift and share this campaign one more time. We’re closing in on the goal and you can help us get there. 

Thank you for showing up all week for Oles!

There is still time to make your gift during Here for the Hill — but not for long! We’re finishing up day three (the last full day!) of H4TH this evening and still have a ways to go to meet our goal of 600 gifts. But our student orgs aren’t letting up, so neither are we! 

Thank you to everyone who has already made a gift, shared a post, stopped by the Buntrock table, and engaged with this campaign. 

Let’s finish strong together!

Lights, camera, action! Now starring St. Olaf student orgs...

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 If your student org were a movie, what would it be and why?

St. Olaf Men’s Club Volleyball — Space Jam: A New Legacy. Space Jam just encompasses the chaotic and family vibe we bring as a club. We are so connected together through a sport like the movie and constantly make adventures together where we are able to learn about each other and grow as people.

Women’s Club Hockey — If St. Olaf Women’s Club Hockey were a movie, we’d be The Mighty Ducks! We’re a team built on friendship, teamwork, and a love for hockey. Whether we’re on the ice or cheering each other on from the bench, we know that the best part of the game is the people you play with.

Women’s Flag Football — We think our club would be The Breakfast Club! We all come from different sports backgrounds but came together to try something new and build a team. As a growing club, we’re learning together, making friendships, and having fun along the way. We may come from different places, but we share a love for sports and being part of something bigger!

WHO WE ARE: Trek and Tea is an organization dedicated to celebrating nerdom and a shared love of sci-fi, in particular Star Trek. Our goals are to create community amongst sci-fi lovers and Trekkies of all walks of life and create a place where everyone feels welcome.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Trek and Tea would use the additional funds to help fund club activities and meetings. This year we're hoping to hold events like trivia, star walks, and even taking club members to a comic con. Our goal is to make these events as cost affordable to people as possible and funding allows that to happen. 

WHO WE ARE: Scared Scriptless is a club that focuses on bringing students together through participating in improv comedy and putting on shows for those part of the St. Olaf community. We strive to create a welcoming environment where all feel comfortable, safe, and enjoy some extra laughter in their day. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would assist the club in funding and providing T-shirts for club members, buying tickets to see improv comedy shows in the Cities, and would support promotional pieces like posters and stickers to further share our work.

WHO WE ARE: FRN aims to reduce food waste and hunger in our community. We collect unserved food from Stav Hall and package it for redistribution at the Northfield Area Learning Center, Northfield Community College Collaborative, and the Community Action Center. We recover on Sundays at 7:30-8:30 p.m. and Monday and Tuesday nights 8-9 p.m. — and it is a great way to give back to our community and our planet! 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Your gift will support our mission beyond just the Hill, but to the Northfield community. STAV Hall provides containers but we have to pay for food containers, labels, and pens. Take your impact further by supporting our work!

WHO WE ARE: The St. Olaf Women’s Club Lacrosse team is dedicated to promoting a competitive environment for students to play the sport and make friends. The program welcomes players of all skill levels to participate and develop their abilities.  

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funding for our women's club lacrosse team will directly lower high player registration fees, making the sport more accessible to everyone. Financial support also allows us to enter more competitive tournaments, giving our players valuable room to grow and showcase their hard work.

WHO WE ARE: The mission of OUTS (Oles Under The Sun) is to provide a variety of accessible and affordable opportunities for all members of the St. Olaf Community to engage in and learn about the outdoors through activities such as walks, hikes, off-campus camping trips, and other educational or recreational experiences, regardless of experience, ability, or time constraints. OUTS seeks to build a strong and welcoming community around a shared love for the outdoors. In short, our mission is to make friends outside! 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funds to purchase supplies for events, including s'mores supplies and gas for driving during our off-campus trips! We would also eventually like to have our own supply of outdoor gear, including sleeping bags, tents, stoves, etc and would use money raised to fund these items as well.

Nom nom nom! What org gathering or club meeting isn’t better with food? The student orgs agree!

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 What’s your go-to meeting snack?

Trek & Tea — Our go to meeting snack has to be a nice warm cup of tea, specifically "Earl Grey, hot" — Captain Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Tea is a part of our name after all!  It is something that helps people feel welcome and like part of the community. 

Math Club — Our go-to meeting snack is definitely cookies. We've even done a cookie-decorating event before! We decorated cookies shaped like Einstein tiles. Cookies are a great snack that are tasty and well loved. Perfect for bringing people together and learning about math!

Civil Discourse Association — While it isn’t food, we are fans of Coffee at the Civil Discourse Association. One of the frequently occurring events that we hold is called Conversations and Coffee, where we have coffee together and debate a topic.

Film Production Society — Our answer for the Film Production Society is that our go-to meeting snack is popcorn (kinda cliché for a bunch of film makers we know but it doesn't change how good popcorn can be). 

Magic: The Gathering Club — We all snack differently - we enjoy peanut butter pretzels, sour patch kids, tortilla chips, and candy bars!

WHO WE ARE: Our mission is to teach the art of taiko drumming, and develop as a performance based group. Overall, we aim to share St. Olaf Taiko’s style of drumming through student-led instruction and multiple performances throughout the year. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Our drums are in desperate need of repairs — our club has been using the same equipment for almost 20 years. For example, some of the drums have issues such as mold stains, cracks, and dents, and require reskinning or other repairs. We would also like to purchase new bags for drum storage, since our current bags have mold.

WHO WE ARE: St. Olaf Men’s Club Volleyball operates at a level higher than recreational play. We compete in Division II club volleyball, the highest level of competition below varsity athletics. Participation includes conference play and other competitive events, all of which require financial and organizational support. We aim to foster a competitive yet fun environment where friends collaborate with each other to play high level volleyball. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would assist us immensely during our spring season which is our conference season. We will have many travel expenses also as we attend nationals this year. Lastly, we would use additional funding to buy new equipment such as balls, jerseys, and a new net. 

WHO WE ARE: Students for Reproductive Rights centers its work on three main pillars: connection, education, and action. SRR works to spread information on abortion and reproductive rights, access, and justice throughout Minnesota and the country. We also connect students and their legislators at both local and national levels to ensure access to reproductive health care and comprehensive sex education. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: The additional funds would grant us the opportunity to assemble post-abortion care kits for local abortion patients. In order to make this donation, we need to fundraise money to purchase post-abortion care items like sanitary pads, heating pads, snacks, lotion, and cards for personalization. 

WHO WE ARE: We are dedicated to providing more resources to student journalists and more information to the student body.   

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We will use additional funds to expand our reach and impact more of the St. Olaf community by printing more issues.

WHO WE ARE:  We provide a competitive and supportive atmosphere for women/non-binary individuals to learn and practice ultimate frisbee while building a community on the hill. Vortex travels to tournaments in both the fall and spring to build team chemistry, compete at a high level, and have fun.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funds to make our team more accessible for our members. The additional support would go towards helping pay for tournament bid fees, transportation, and lodging.

St. Olaf has Ole the Lion, but what about the student orgs? We can’t be the only ones wondering.

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 If your student org had a mascot, what would it be and why?

American Choral Directors Association — ACDA's mascot would be a turtle named Coral who swims around the Choral Sea with BaTony the Baton.

Yoga Club — The mascot for Yoga Club would be a little cat stretching its back up in the air, just like in the classic yoga flow “cat-cow!”

St. Olaf Women in STEM — If the Women in STEM had a mascot, it would be a bee. Bees are hardworking, community-driven, service-oriented, and intelligent. Our organization focuses on these values to bring together and empower female-identifying students with a common interest in STEM.

Ole Tiny Dorm — "Lampie" The Lamp: When we were looking for a logo, we wanted something anyone could have in their dorm, musician or not. Enter Lampie the Lamp. He’s been with us through late-night edits, 47th "I swear this is the last take,” and finals-week all-nighters. He even gets the last word in our videos. Lampie has been there since the very beginning, quietly witnessing the chaotic beauty that goes into making Ole Tiny Dorm. He’s basically one of us at this point, except he actually knows how to stay lit.

WHO WE ARE: We are a sports club that strives to provide competitive and non-competitive tennis playing opportunities to the St. Olaf campus. We want to create an environment where tennis is accessible to all students no matter their ability! 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would allow our club to continue to provide rackets, tennis balls, and nets to players. For our competitive team, the funds would allow us to go to more tournaments and compete at a high level across the midwest! 

WHO WE ARE: We hope to bring the great game of hockey to students at all levels of experience. Our main goal is to have low-cost, accessible games for any student with hockey experience. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: These additional funds would allow our club to increase the number of games we can play in a season. It also allows for things like new socks or jerseys or other cosmetic upgrades to our game. 

WHO WE ARE: Special Olympics is a student-run organization that connects St. Olaf students to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities in Northfield through non-profit organizations, including Laura Baker and Special Olympics Minnesota. We foster inclusion, spread respect, and support organizations to connect and build relationships in the Northfield community. We work each school year to host inclusive campus and athletic events dedicated to spreading acceptance. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: With additional funds, Special Olympics would host more elaborate community events that are open to the Northfield community, not just St. Olaf students. Additionally, we want to grow our branded apparel and invest in swag that St. Olaf students could wear off campus to raise awareness and amplify our mission in the wider community!

WHO WE ARE: Our student organization mission is to create an open environment for all students to build community around pickleball. All students are encouraged to come and play with us, regardless of skill level, and our goal is to have the most fun and relaxed time possible. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would go towards the paddles, nets, and balls that we provide for free for all members of the club. With the rise in popularity, funding would also help support newly designed merchandise that has been a high demand in recent years. 

WHO WE ARE: We are St. Olaf's Student Musical Theater Org! We make fun, accessible student theater opportunities for students and by students. Regardless of prior experience we work to bring fun opportunities to campus. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Putting on shows is expensive, it requires rights and the funds to build costumes, props and sets. We would use this funding to continue to provide an awesome experience and worthwhile performance for students. 

It's so exciting to see the support that the St. Olaf community has shown during Here for the Hill. We're more than halfway through H4TH, but we're far from done. There are plenty more student org videos and updates to come, so let’s hit the accelerator and enjoy another packed day of H4TH.

Already made your gift? Thank you! Increase your impact by spreading the word about this campaign and student orgs.

On campus this week? Be sure to swing by the H4TH table in Buntrock! We’ve had so much fun with students (and fac/staff!) who have stopped to spin the wheel for a treat, hear more about H4TH, and share their org or club stories! 

St. Olaf Fund staff will be on the scene again from 9:30 a.m.-noon both tomorrow and Friday. Follow the music to our location by Cage doors.

See you tomorrow for day three of Here for the Hill! 

Can student orgs radiate a color? If they could…

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 If your org was a color, what would it be and why? 

Students for Reproductive Rights — RAINBOW, obviously.

Alpha Phi Omega — If APO were a color, we'd be BLUE because blue represents service, community, and dependability. Like the color itself, APO is everywhere, showing up for our campus and community whenever help is needed and making a difference along the way.

Global Economic Forum — The Global Economic Forum would be GREEN because we are a group of people who want to make the world economy better for everyone.

WHO WE ARE: Aspiring Educators works to support future educators by building community, sharing practical classroom insight, and connecting members with local schools and education professionals. Our goals are to prepare members for licensure and student teaching, create opportunities for hands-on service and mentorship in the Northfield community, and advocate for high-quality education for all learners. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Our club is currently running low on funds. Additional funds would be used in a multitude of ways, bringing aspiring educators to the MEA conference so they can learn from experienced professionals, allow us to provide hands on experience to aspiring educators, have teacher of the year hosted at st olaf, and allows us to create many more opportunities for students wanting to become educators. With this support, we can keep inspiring and preparing the next generation of educators in our school and community. 

WHO WE ARE: Habitat for Humanity is an organization where we give back in our community as well as throughout the country. We assist in building houses and fostering relationships and community with those around us. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Our group would use additional funds as a way to allow us to continuing helping people. The majority of funds would be allocated towards our Spring break trip in which we will be volunteering for a week. In another state, we will also use the money for transportation to local builds.

WHO WE ARE: The Mock Trial team develops legal skills and practices public speaking at competitions across the Midwest. We argue a fictional court case as either the Prosecution/Plaintiff or Defense against another team, forming our own case using witnesses, evidence, and case law. We work towards building confidence while winning individual and team awards, and preparing members for a possible future in law. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would be incredibly helpful for the Mock Trial team as we travel to many tournaments across the Midwest. Tournaments are the only way we are able to compete, so funding would support us being able to have more experience in trials as a team.

WHO WE ARE: Tempest is a close-knit family that brings competition, community, and a love for the game to every practice. Players have a wide variety of playing experience and backgrounds, and anyone is welcome on our team, which we strive to do through accessibility! We want our team to be a place to grow our skills and love for frisbee together, while giving plenty of opportunities to enjoy ultimate and balance school, clubs, and other commitments.  

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We travel to compete in several tournaments each semester in addition to playing local teams in the area, which requires bid fees, jersey fees, and travel costs. Since Tempest strives to be an accessible team, we are committed to financially supporting players through scholarships, the opportunity fund, and our no-questions-asked policy.

WHO WE ARE: Our mission is to provide an inclusive and fun dance environment for people with all types of dance experience! We have two teams, Gold Team, which offers a space for newer dancers to experience Dance Team in a low-stress environment, and Black Team, which allows experienced dancers to continue to maintain their skills and compete. The Dance Team provides halftime entertainment at the homecoming football game in the fall and at home basketball games during the winter and early spring. The dance season also involves competing and performing in jazz and pom against other Division III college teams, including Dance Team Union Nationals. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Our main use of additional funds would be for attending nationals in the Spring in Orlando, Florida. This includes a registration fee, travel expenses, hotel rooms, and costumes! We also bring in choreographers each year to choreograph our dances for nationals! These additional funds are essential in allowing our team to participate in competitive dance! 

WHO WE ARE: EC works to increase sustainability on an institutional scale and promotes environmental awareness in the student body. We worked with facilities to return compost bins to campus, and are trying to expand the program this year. We are also working to conduct a waste audit of campus buildings, ensure the bike share program we started with SGA continues, and start a free/reuse store on campus, among other things. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would help us cover the cost of safety equipment and other supplies for the waste auditing process. They would also allow us to purchase tabling supplies to attract more students to our educational tabling events (e.g. waste sorting 101). 

WHO WE ARE: The purpose of this Student Chapter of the National Audubon Society is to bring a stronger presence of conservation efforts, education, and involvement involving the avian world. We will provide opportunities for students to learn and expand on their passion for birds. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would help support us in exploration of the birds of Minnesota through investigation of areas around us and critical areas for birds in Minnesota. This would also help us continue to investigate and educate the St. Olaf community about bird deaths due to window strikes and fund a green solution. 

This one is SUPER important, so be sure to read all responses very thoroughly.

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 Tell us a joke about your student org.

Club Tennis — Club Tennis: where ‘love’ means nothing, but your donation means everything.

Women’s Club Soccer — What does a Women's Club Soccer practice look like in the rain? … I don't know, we don't do rain!

Men’s Club Hockey — If we lose to Carleton, we get expelled. (don’t worry, it really is a joke)

Women’s Club Rugby — What do you call a dinosaur that plays rugby? A TRY-ceratops!

WHO WE ARE: Our goal is to create a fun and welcoming environment where women can play flag football, make friends, and improve their skills. We want to grow our team, build a strong community, and continue developing our program as we work toward becoming a varsity sport at St. Olaf.  

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funds to buy more jerseys and equipment, cover gas for traveling to games and tournaments, and pay for referees and stadium rentals. We would also use the funding to support our volunteer coaches and help cover the costs of running our team as we continue growing and working toward becoming a varsity sport.  

WHO WE ARE: The purpose of Gymnastics Club is to grant St. Olaf students the opportunity to learn and practice gymnastics skills in a fun, safe, and positive environment. Gymnastics Club is for all students, whether you are a veteran athlete hoping to maintain your skills, or are someone trying gymnastics for the first time! 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would help to ensure that all club participants would be able to attend weekly open gym practices with no financial barriers. Additionally, funds raised during Here for the Hill would be used to organize fun team bonding events outside the gym, such as craft nights, a trip to a college gymnastics meet, and a spring gymnastics showcase.

WHO WE ARE: The St. Olaf Water Polo Club's mission is to create a fun and competitive environment for players to develop skills in water polo. We are a no-cut, beginner friendly club that hopes to provide a close community for any students who enjoy being in the water and the experience of a team sport.  

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: These funds would allow us to pay our competitive league fee, pay for lifeguards at practices, and cover travel expenses for competitions. Any leftover funds can go towards new team suits in different sizes and equipment like new balls and goals. 

WHO WE ARE: The mission of St. Olaf Powerlifting is to build a supportive, inclusive community where students of all experience levels can safely learn and practice the sport of powerlifting. Our primary goals this year are to successfully rebuild our active roster, foster a positive training environment, and help members confidently develop their strength and technique in the squat, bench press, and deadlift. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funds primarily to help with our required facility rental fees. Additionally, we’d like to invest in shared lifting equipment — such as belts, lifting straps, and wrist wraps — to ensure all members have access to safe gear regardless of their personal budget. This financial support is crucial for allowing us to keep club participation entirely free and accessible for all St. Olaf students. 

WHO WE ARE: The purpose of Students for Justice in Palestine is to inform the St. Olaf community about the ongoing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid in Palestine; collaborate with organizations at St. Olaf and beyond regarding matters relating to justice in Palestine; create a campus resolution for complete divestment from Israel; support and represent the Palestinian student body; and always promote an intersectional approach to solidarity with all those oppressed.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Any additional funds raised will be to support our club activities and events. In the past our expenses have been on things like buying ingredients for cooking events or bake sales, paying guest speakers, and purchasing film/documentary rights.

If you’ve ever been on stage you know there’s nothing like the thrill — or the unpredictability — of live performance. Anything can happen! So we were curious…

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 What’s the strangest or funniest thing that has happened at a performance or rehearsal? 

Ole Tap Collective — Trying to get our tap boards from the Center for Art and Dance to the quad and/or Buntrock Commons for performances is always an ordeal! The process involves several carts, group strength, and a lot of laughs.

Taiko Drumming Group — We once played a song during a concert so fast that a piece of our equipment broke. It was a bachi - the sticks we use - that got snapped in half.

Alpha Psi Omega — Dr. Armstrong once appeared as himself in a St Olaf production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as a guest speller and was eliminated early. When asked what his thought process was he said, "I thought they were asking for the French spelling."

Scared Scriptless — We have this one warm up game where if you laugh you have to take a lap. Because of this, we've had multiple occasions where practically the whole club is jogging laps because we can't help but make stupid jokes with each other.

WHO WE ARE: We aim to provide opportunities for people interested in the sport of ultimate to play on a competitive and hard-working team. We seek to foster a culture of effort and commitment while supporting strong social connections that last long after their time on the team. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: As a nationally competitive team, we use funds to travel across states to participate in tournaments throughout the year. This includes car rentals, hotel bookings, and bid fees to play in the tournaments. Additional funds will allow us to ease the financial burden on our players of competing at a high level within the sport of ultimate.

WHO WE ARE: The Limestones is St. Olaf's longest-running A Capella group. The campus' flagship TTBB A Cappella ensemble, we aim to rebuild the organization to what it once was; a competitive, renowned, and revered group of achieved singers. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funding would immediately fund our effort to record and produce an album during the 2026-27 academic year! Continuing this Limestones tradition is important to maintaining group membership and longevity, and it keeps the Limestones name circulating for decades to come. 

WHO WE ARE: The Civil Discourse Association exists to be a place to have difficult conversations. Founded to get a more nuanced view of the opinions of Oles on polarizing and political topics, the CDA is a space to meet and talk with others you would not have otherwise talked to about polarizing topics. We as the CDA are here to build community through understanding. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use the additional funds provided to us through the Here for the Hill campaign to reach a broader number of students with more advertising and opportunities to engage in civil discourse. We would also use these funds to continue our Coffee and Conversations program, which is our weekly meeting at which we discuss subjects pertaining to both the Hill and the larger world as well. 

WHO WE ARE: Our mission as the Pilates Club is to provide a welcoming environment for students to move their bodies and grow in community through the practice of Pilates. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: The practice of Pilates is heavily enhanced with the inclusion of equipment such as light weights, Pilates rings, bands and more, and so we would direct our funds towards those items to improve the quality of our classes. Additionally, with the rapid growth of our club we simply need to purchase more mats for our members to use.

WHO WE ARE: Ole Tiny Dorm is a music recording project at St. Olaf College, providing students of all musical backgrounds a platform to perform live and share their music with the world. Our primary goal is to uplift the contemporary musical talents many Oles have, but is never heard outside of their dorm room. Additionally, we provide students interested in creative roles and concert management the pre-professional opportunity to run our platform. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: As a recording platform, Ole Tiny Dorm relies on various audio and video equipment to make our work possible. While we are fortunate enough to have access to some resources from the library, St. Olaf does not provide a space where musicians can perform and record their own music in a comfortable, low-barrier environment. We will use additional funds to equip the org with the equipment necessary to make our project possible, which will allow more students access to our platform, and house it in a public recording space for all students to use. 

It was no surprise that “community” was the word that was most frequently used when we asked student orgs to describe themselves. That’s what these groups create on campus — community. 

It's day two of Here for the Hill! Thank you to everyone who has made their gift. You’ve stepped forward to say you support these orgs and what they bring to the student experience. 

Join us today and help create community at St. Olaf by making your gift or spreading the word about H4TH. 

As we roll into the evening of Here for the Hill day one, it’s exciting to see how many people have already made their gift. Thank you to everyone who showed up for student orgs so far!

While you're hopefully enjoying a nice relaxing fall evening, we encourage you to scroll back and watch any of the student videos you missed. And stay tuned for a whole slew of new videos tomorrow. 

See you in the morning for H4TH day two!

With the leaves turning and the air crisping, we looked out the window and wondered…

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 If your org was a season, which would it be and why?

Environmental Coalition — We would be spring! Spring is a time of growth, representing how we work to grow long lasting sustainability initiatives on campus. It is also a time when life visibly returns to our environment, and that life is something we want to protect for future generations. 

Habitat for Humanity — If Habitat was a season it would be spring because spring is the time for so much new growth and Habitat is creating so many new things from a whole new house to so many new friendships within the org as well!

St. Olaf Bird Alliance — If the St. Olaf Bird Alliance was a season, we would be spring. Spring is the season of new life and the return of migratory birds. We always encourage growth in recognition and conservation of birds and hope to spread that mission to future Oles.

The St. Olaf Messenger — If The Olaf Messenger were a season, we would be fall: ever-changing and full of new beginnings (and new stories!). Every year at the Mess, new writers walk through our doors, new editors find their footing and old ones move on to their next chapter. Like the leaves that fall in front of Rolvaag Library, we change with the seasons, bringing new perspectives and stories to campus each year.

WHO WE ARE: We aim to create a supportive environment for players to come together and improve their volleyball skills. We welcome all skill levels and for more advanced players offer the opportunity to travel on the competitive team and play against other college clubs. We value sportsmanship and building up our wonderful community through our love for volleyball. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Our fundraising will go directly to supporting our tournament attendance. Since many of our league tournaments take place in Milwaukee, funds are needed for transportation and lodging. Additionally, we use these funds for our league dues and individual players dues. All together our fundraising will enable us to have a successful competitive season! 

WHO WE ARE: We are a volunteer EMT service that provides 24/7 medical coverage to the St Olaf campus community. We staff sporting events and regular shifts on campus in which we are on call to respond to any medical emergency that may arise. We also hold biweekly all service training in which we practice medical scenarios and attend other medical trainings such as MCI and Stop The Bleed trainings in order to further our knowledge and skills in emergency medicine. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funds to purchase the medical supplies that we use on campus. As a 24/7 coverage service, we use a lot of supplies each year, which necessitates frequent restocks of medical equipment in order to keep our campus safe. These funds would also support our organization to be able to purchase better training equipment, which would allow us to train our EMTs to provide higher quality patient care, and learn the best medical care techniques. 

WHO WE ARE: American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) works to empower and prepare young musicians and future choral conductors to be music educators. Our big goal this year is to attend the ACDA National Conference, which is happening in Minneapolis in March 2027! 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funds to send as many members as possible to the ACDA National Conference in March 2027. We would love to take advantage of this incredible professional development experience, which is right in our backyard this year.

WHO WE ARE: At WCH our goal is to create a welcoming, fun environment for female and non-binary identifying hockey players to continue playing a sport they love, and strive to create equitable spaces for women in the sport of hockey.  

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would be used to help us join the ACHA league, fund more games and equipment for new players!

WHO WE ARE: The Ballroom Dance Performance Team seeks to educate students on ballroom dance technique and etiquette, as well as promote social ballroom dancing as a fun activity. Besides providing weekly professionally coached lessons and practice sessions, the team competes in dance events in the Twin Cities when available and performs for the St. Olaf student body twice a year. A partner is not required. Students of any and all experience levels are welcome to join! 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Our club could use the funds to help build a community for dancing through funding for dance shoes and competition uniforms. Any additional funding would also be very helpful to pay for more professional instruction to raise the overall dance experience of the team!

WHO WE ARE: We want to be a widely known and accessible space for people to come together and learn more about current economic issues, finance and market trends, and generally help everyone develop their understanding of the economic world. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: The additional funding would be instrumental in our ability to operate as a premier and professional club on campus. We would be able to cover more speaker and travel fees, giving us the outreach to potentially get some high profile speakers over the course of this year.

WHO WE ARE: A team that is meant to empower women and show them how powerful their bodies can be while fostering a fun environment for connection with people from all walks of life. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: With additional funding we would be able to cover more funding to provide equipment for our team, host more games, and participate in more team bonding activities. 

Did you ever notice how when you are around the same group of people for long enough you begin to speak the same language? We like to think that student orgs are a place for Oles to find their community, so it’s no surprise this might happen!

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 What’s a common saying in your org?

Aspiring Educators — A common saying in our org is "lets play scribbl.io."

Oles Under The Sun — OUTS's common saying is: "Let's get Oles outside!"

St. Olaf Dance Team — A common saying in our group is "I trust my teammates." We say this all the time to remind each other of what we are here for. We rely on each member of our group to put in their full effort in order to do the best dancing we can, so having a strong foundation of trust is incredibly important to us.

WHO WE ARE: The St. Olaf Film Production Society works collaboratively to produce our own short films.This provides experience for those looking for a career in film, as well as those who want to see if filmmaking is an interest of theirs.  

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: If we got these additional funds we would use them to create bigger and better films. Get props, set design, and costumes without fear of running low on funds, allowing us full creative liberties. These funds would also help us submit our films to more film festivals expanding our reach in the world and giving us more career opportunities. Finally these gifts would help future generations of film production Society members have enough funds to get better equipment and expand their reach as well. 

WHO WE ARE: Alpha Phi Omega is a national coeducational service organization dedicated to developing leadership, promoting friendship, and providing service to others. Our mission is to create positive change in our campus and community through volunteerism, while fostering personal growth and lifelong connections among members who are committed to helping others. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funding to assist members with the yearly dues required by our national organization. By lowering financial barriers, we can ensure that students who are passionate about service have the opportunity to remain active in Alpha Phi Omega and continue making a positive impact in our community.

WHO WE ARE: The Magic: The Gathering Club is committed to providing time and space for individuals to play the trading card game Magic. Through weekly meetings, special events, and overall collaborative communication, students are encouraged to learn how to play, expand their skills, and generally enjoy a good time with their fellow members. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds would help support the club for any special events that we plan to put on. These events could include but are not limited to prereleases, booster drafts, and any special programming that nearby local game stores are having. With new funds, we could afford to buy greater amounts of cards for our student body to play with, experience, and enjoy. 

WHO WE ARE: Women's Club Soccer aims to provide St. Olaf students with space to participate in a competitive soccer program. As a club, we promote an inclusive and encouraging environment for experienced and new soccer players. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Our club is very excited that we have officially joined the US College Club Soccer League which allows us to play more games at a more competitive level. This also means that our club will be traveling a lot more, and in order to do so, additional funds and support is needed. We are so excited to keep expanding our club and continue to become more competitive, and we heavily rely on support to do so!

WHO WE ARE: Ole Tap Collective aims to provide a welcoming community for tap dance at St. Olaf. As a group, we provide student-led rehearsals and choreography sessions that prepare us for a variety of performances we do during the year! We also hold drop-in classes throughout the year for members at different levels. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We intend to use additional funding to bring in one or two guest artists to teach masterclasses in the spring. This will provide dancers with the opportunity to expand their knowledge, improve their technique, and learn from professional tap dancers.

We asked… they answered. What did we ask them? Absolutely absurd questions! Because why not? Here’s the first of 10 installments of “Hey Student Orgs!” 

Hey Student Orgs! 🦁 If your student org were a food, what would it be and why?

Special Olympics Club — If Special Olympics were a food, we think it would be a soup with ingredients of all flavors, as a way to represent the varying abilities, personalities, and strengths that each person brings to our organization. When all ingredients/people come together, we create something meaningful, supportive, and stronger as a whole.

St. Olaf Gymnastics Team — If Gymnastics Club were a food, we would be a pretzel! We twist through the air and we are always working on our flexibility.

Pickleball Club — If Pickleball Club were a food, we would unexpectedly NOT be a pickle but instead ice cream. Pickleball Club's mission is to create a fun atmosphere for everyone, and there are many people that don't like pickles, but who doesn't like ice cream (or pickleball)?

The Limestones — So our food would probably be a lemon or some other citrus. I just feel this inclination towards citrus but I almost wish there were a citrus that was, like, more green and tangy. They should make that, we'd probably be that.

Water Polo Club — The team has voted and we’ve determined that if we were a food, we would be water.

WHO WE ARE: Math Club's mission is to make a fun and welcoming space for people to socialize while learning about math! We hope to give people a space to do low-stakes math related activities, whether they're math majors or just enjoy math. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We would use additional funds to support the community and hospitality at our events, like purchasing snacks (pizza for pi day!), learning materials, and art supplies for our art-themed events.

WHO WE ARE: We seek to provide a safe and structured environment for Oles to learn and practice the fundamentals of boxing. Our hope is that students can carry the skills and passion for boxing that they acquire forward into their lives, whether they box just to exercise or they seek to compete after their time in college. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: With our large number of participants who learned about us from co-curricular fairs, we don’t have enough boxing gloves or mitts for everybody. Additional funds would help Boxing Club to purchase new and higher-quality equipment, which would in turn improve the quality of our practices.

WHO WE ARE: We teach free yoga classes to students of all levels every week! Our club hosts traditional vinyasa yoga, yoga sculpt, and pilates yoga mix. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: We allow all levels of yogis to join, so it would be phenomenal to purchase more mats for new students to borrow during class. Additionally, we would love to bring registered yoga teachers from downtown Northfield to campus to teach special themed classes that we cannot offer, such as sound healing, partner yoga, or an advanced/intermediate challenge class! These funds would help us purchase the props we need to support students, as well as pay a RYT to teach a class right at St. Olaf!

WHO WE ARE: Alpha Psi Omega strives to promote theatre community, celebrate student achievement in academics and theatre, and support student produced theatre on campus. We seek to provide structured support and community building. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: With additional funds, Alpha Psi Omega hopes to establish and manage a stock library of theatrical properties for use in student theatre. Also, as an honor society, Alpha Psi Omega has a responsibility to the APO national office when inducting new members, which includes an induction fee that we intend to pay for all members. 

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY! Anyone who makes a gift to APO will have a chance to name our  collection of fresnel lights! Make your gift today and we'll contact you for your contribution! 

WHO WE ARE: Women in STEM at St. Olaf College strives to create an inclusive, supportive environment for all female-identifying individuals who share an interest in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Through addressing opportunities and challenges women in STEM fields encounter, engaging in intellectual discourse, facilitating community building activities, and nourishing a passion for STEM-related subjects, we seek to continue to support this historically underrepresented gender in STEM and foster learning, curiosity, community engagement, and excitement. 

WITH YOUR SUPPORT: Additional funds will aid the women in STEM in facilitating events that highlight STEM-related opportunities for life after college, such as alumni panels and visits from outside faculty. The women in STEM would be able to organize events aimed at fostering community, knowledge, and curiosity that uplift members and encourage a supportive and intellectual environment. 

It’s an incredibly exciting week here at St. Olaf! Nearly 50 student orgs are participating in Here for the Hill — a campaign designed specifically to support the orgs and clubs on campus that enhance student life and the Ole community. Your gift will go directly to the participating student org of your choosing. You can also make a gift to the Co-Curricular Fund, which exists to help support all student orgs and clubs.

Be sure to check back here throughout the week for featured content and fun updates. You absolutely don’t want to miss the creative, informative, and sometimes downright hilarious student-created videos!

Make your gift today and spread the word about Here for the Hill.

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