Students at Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) Cambridge Campus recently celebrated the shared cultural heritage of Minnesota and Sweden while hosting a visiting delegation of Swedish college students, faculty and administrators in April. The 10-day visit represents the latest collaboration between ARCC and Orsa Lärcentrum, a college in the town of Orsa, Sweden.

Eight area families, including those of ARCC faculty and staff, welcomed the 17 Swedish guests into their homes during their visit. In addition to giving the Swedes a taste of American life, they helped their guests stay on track for a busy schedule of educational activities.

The whirlwind agenda included joining ARCC students on campus for several classes and potluck meals; having dinner with ARCC President Patrick Johns; touring the Haubenschild Dairy Farm and the Moran Herb Farm; and visiting the Native American Ojibwa Museum, the Science Museum of Minnesota and the American Swedish Institute. The Swedish delegation even took in a legislative session at the State Capitol, which included a personal introduction to the State House of Representatives by Rep. Joseph Opatz, who is also an Interim Dean at ARCC.

The ties between ARCC and Orsa Lärcentrum grew out of a historical connection between Minnesota’s Isanti County and the Dalarna region in Sweden. Thousands of Swedes from the Dalarna area immigrated to Isanti County between 1850 and 1925, earning the county its nickname, "Dalarna of America.” More recently, three communities in Isanti County have developed sister relationships with towns in Dalarna: Cambridge with Rätvik, Isle with Älvadalan, and Mora with its Swedish namesake, Mora. Visits between delegations from the two schools have been arranged since 1998. The two schools now alternate years for these exchange visits.

ARCC Dean of Education Deidra Peaslee, who helped arrange this year’s visit, finds the exchange invaluable for each school’s students.

"I think it has provided an opportunity for our students and staff to interact with people from another country, allowing them another way to think outside of East Central Minnesota,” Peaslee said.

The Swedish students would no doubt agree. They returned home with a wider view of life in Minnesota - as well as souvenir gift packs stocked with an American eagle hand kerchief, a native American dollar, a variety of food items, a Cambridge Bank calendar that displays historical pictures of the community, ARCC logo pens, and a copy of "Spirit River Reflections,” a compilation of ARCC student drawings, poetry and other artwork.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College, with campuses in Coon Rapids and Cambridge, has been a leading provider of higher education and training in the north suburban area of Minneapolis/St. Paul and East Central Minnesota since 1965. Annually, the college serves over 8,000 learners of all ages as they pursue associate degrees that transfer as the first two years of a bachelor's degree, or certificate programs that lead immediately to rewarding careers.

Minnesota State Rep. Joseph Opatz, left, greets a delegation of Swedish college students and instructors at the State Capitol. The delegation came to East Central Minnesota for a 10-day visit in April through an exchange program arranged through Anoka-Ramsey Community College Cambridge Campus.

If you are interested in participating in the exchange program next year, contact the Educational Services Office at 763-689-7023.