Nona MacQuilkin and Norman Christensen Family and Friends

Nona MacQuilkin and Norman Christensen Family and Friends

Nona MacQuilkin was an English and Elocution teacher who instilled value and education within the minds of her students at UW-Superior. An excerpt from the 1932 Gitche Gumee yearbook Forensic Coaches page: “Miss Nona MacQuilkin, oratory coach, who has produced ten State champions and four Inter-State champions, proved her remarkable ability as a coach again this year. Although Superior won second place at the State contest this year, two of the three judges awarded Superior first place. Miss MacQuilkin’s splendid work in the field of oratory is recognized, not only in the colleges of Wisconsin, but likewise in the colleges of the adjoining States. Her success in producing championship calibre in speaking is nothing if not proverbial.”

Paul Holden established the scholarship in Ms. MacQuilkin’s name in 1965, and was a generous supporter of the university.

Norman F. Christensen was an English teacher for 41 years, the last 23 of which were as Professor of English at UW-Superior. During 13 of those 23 years he also served as English Department chair. He specialized in American Literature, literary criticism, the history of the English language, and Shakespeare. His children attended UW-Superior and became English teachers as well, completing five degrees among the three of them. Dr. Christensen retired as professor emeritus in 1987 and passed away four years later, and the two names were combined in one scholarship to benefit UW-Superior students.