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.

​

Jeff Klein, our very own emcee at our 2018 Midsummer festival, was nominated this year by the VASA Lodges Nobel and Harmoni, New Sweden Cultural Heritage Society and the Swedish Society Linnea. This is not the first time Jeff has been nominated for this honor and that fact comes as no surprise since he has been actively contributing to our Nordic community since he danced with the VASA Rosebuds in his youth. Within all his Swedish organizations, Jeff is known as an organized worker who completes tasks thoroughly and in a timely manner. He has held some of the most esteemed titles within the VASA Order, from Chairman of the Nobel lodge to District Master, and he serves as Nobel Lodge’s delegate to the League of Swedish Societies, for which he acts as secretary. Jeff’s dedication to the VASA dancers has been constant over the years and he has contributed to them not only as a dancer but as a teacher and accomplished musician, performing on both the piano and accordion. His compositions always delight his listeners and anyone who’s heard him play knows how deeply his love of music goes.

​

Congratulations to Jeff Klein, our 2018 Scandinavian of the Year award-winner.

The 2018 Scandinavian of the Year Award Recipient, Jeff Klein, photographed by Michelle Bauer.

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