David 'Chip' Norris presented with Luther College Distinguished Service Award

DECORAH, IA (10/08/2012)(readMedia)-- Luther College President Richard L. Torgerson presented David "Chip" Norris with the Luther Distinguished Service Award on Friday, Oct. 5 at the Celebration of Distinguished Service during homecoming weekend at Luther.

The Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the college, is given in recognition of success and achievements in professional fields, service to society, contributions to community and loyalty and service to Luther.

Recipients of the 2012 Luther Distinguished Service Awards are:

Anna Hill Duin, Hastings, Minn., professor of writing studies, director of graduate studies in the Scientific and Technical Communications Program at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, Luther class of 1977

David "Chip" Norris, Champlin, Minn., Alerus Financial president-Twin Cities Region, Luther class of 1982

Miriam (Strum) Odden, Fox Point, Wis., retired owner and consultant for Odden Consulting, Luther class of 1962 and Fran Odden, Fox Point, Wis., retired pastor and interim assistant to the bishop, Luther class of 1959

James K. Oppermann, Brookfield, Wis., senior vice president of Finance and Management Services at Alverno College, Luther class of 1977

Marjorie Opuni-Akuamoa, Lausanne, Switzerland, Evidence Strategy and Results senior advisor for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Luther class of 1992

Kevin L. Sand, Decorah, Iowa, retired family medicine physician and former medical director at Decorah Clinic Physicians-Mayo Health System, Winneshiek Medical Center, Luther class of 1972

Harlan Satrom, Decorah, Iowa, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network financial advisor and president of Retirement Benefits Corporation, Luther class of 1982

Terry A. Sorom, Wenatchee, Wash., retired ophthalmologist at the Eye and Ear Clinic in Wenatchee, Luther class of 1962

Jennifer L. Weuve, Chicago, assistant professor at the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging, Luther class of 1992.

David "Chip" Norris

Chip Norris graduated from Luther College in 1982 with the Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and business management.

Norris has a distinguished career in the financial sector. He currently serves as Twin Cities region president of Alerus Financial, a full-service community banking and diversified financial services company. Norris has successfully navigated three acquisitions during his time as regional president, and he has overseen the growth of the Twin Cities company from a four-person startup in 2007 to a thriving multichannel business employing 235 people today.

Norris is heavily involved in his community. In addition to serving three terms on the President's Advisory Board of North Hennepin Community College, he is also president and board member of that college's foundation.

Norris is a former president of the Brooklyn Center Rotary Club of Brooklyn, Minn., and both he and his wife, Jari, are designated Paul Harris Fellows of Rotary International. In addition, Norris was named the Brooklyn Center Citizen of the Year in 2001.

For seven years, Norris served as the president of the Northwest Minneapolis Business Association, and for five years he served as the president of the Fourth Precinct Advisory Council to the Minneapolis Police Department.

Norris volunteers for the Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity, and he is a fundraising team leader for the Minnesota Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In 2006, the Chip and Jari Norris Endowed Leadership Scholarship was established at Luther College to attract and support students who have balanced achievement in the classroom with community leadership.