King Martin dons homecoming crown

Maybe it's just superstition, but it seems Jamie Martin was wearing a magical sweater the night he was crowned Augustana's Homecoming King.

The same grey and blue Norwegian sweater worn by this year's King has been worn by the past four Viking monarchs – or so rumor has it.

"I think the sweater picked me," Martin said. But anyone who knows this senior understands how deserving he was of the crown, and how well he'll represent his classmates throughout Viking Days.

"It's no surprise to me that Jamie won – he knows everyone and everything about Augustana," senior Corey Hermanson said. "He's the nicest and most caring person around."

A self-proclaimed "proud North Dakotan," Martin was born and raised in Valley City, N.D. But that didn't stop him from leaving his home state to attend Augustana College.

"My two older brothers went to state universities and I wanted a different experience," he said. "I didn't want to be an unknown."

After visiting campus for the Distinguished Scholars Competition, Martin knew he was coming to Augustana.

"My Distinguished Scholars interview, my interactions with everyone on campus – all of my experiences on campus were very positive that day," he said.

Even as soon as the day of his interview, it was clear that Martin wouldn't be an unknown on Augustana's campus. "I've heard a lot of stories about that day [Distinguished Scholar's]," he said. "Apparently they thought Augie was just going to eat me up."

Four years later, Martin not only proved any naysayers wrong, but also has taken on Augustana as his home and source of pride.

Martin is serving his third year as a peer advisor, this year in East Hall. He contributes his time to Outreach Ministries, sits as a member of the Central Planning Committee for planning PA activities and assists Colleges Against Cancer as their online chair. Besides these community activities on campus, Martin has a passion for volleyball, and plays with a club volleyball team.

He plans to graduate in May with computer science and business administration degrees, but everything beyond eight months from now is up in the air.

"I've always wanted to be the world's leading expert at something," Martin said. "I'm not sure what yet, but that's my goal – it's going to happen."

In the short term, he's considering graduate school or possibly the peace corp, but as with most seniors, plans are far from concrete.

"I am just realizing that I've lived on campus every summer – I've never left Augie, and now I'm sad to leave it," he said. "I don't know what I'll do without it."

So until the inevitable end, Martin's making the best of college – and his reign as King – until he has to pass on the mysterious sweater to the next lucky individual crowned Homecoming King.

"It's been pretty ridiculous how people treat me now," Martin said. "Dan Voss tried to feed me at dinner."