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
2012: Clinton Maurice
2013: Pauline Coleman
2015: Judy Gervais Perkiomaki
2016: Sandra Nelson Miller
2017: Dave Alford
2018: Jeff Klein
2019: Christine, Dirk & Pirjo Schulbach
Awarded each year, this honor seeks to recognize those making a difference in the Nordic community... and beyond.
Scandinavian of the Year is a prestigious award given annually by Nordic Northwest to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their organization and to the wider Scandinavian community in the Pacific Northwest.
Kirsty Dickinson, an active member of the Nordic Community since the early 2000s, has been a big part of everything NNW ever since. She has served on the Board of Directors, chaired & co-chaired the NNW development committee, Nordic Nights, the Nordic Country store at ScanFair, NNW’s Nordic Vintage Sale, the Annual Membership Celebration, lots of raffles, including the “Get Portland Rolling” raffle, and more. Besides Nordic Northwest, Kirsty and her extended family also work on helping military families, help with Best Buddies, initiated the Roosevelt High School sports team dinners and more. Kirsty has the biggest heart. She makes everything she chairs so much fun that volunteers (and staff) would literally line up to be part of her endeavors. She is very organized and welcomes everybody with open arms, a smile on her face, and always some snacks, and sweets, of course, to make volunteering even happier.
Congratulations to Kirsty Dickinson, our 2020 Scandinavians of the Year.
2020 Scandinavian of the Year nominees:
Robert Basel
Sara Winter
Kirsty Dickinson
Being nominated is, in itself, an honor. Each of these nominees is deserving of great acclaim and our big thanks for their amazing contributions and devotion to communicating and celebrating Nordic culture within our community.
Sara Winter
Robert Basel