This generous gift honors the memory of Gertrude D. Holdal (1903-1987), the daughter of Norwegian immigrants Andreas Edvard Abelsen and Bereth Christine Hansen. Gertrude Holdal grew up in Spanaway, Washington, attended Pacific Lutheran University, and lived most of her life in Tacoma. She is fondly remembered for her devotion to her family and for her dedication to preserving her Norwegian heritage.
The purpose is to provide support for students in the Norwegian program by such means as scholarships, travel stipends, research awards, the purchase of teaching materials, and activities related to Norwegian studies. Awards will be made on the basis of academic achievement and educational objectives in the area of Norwegian language and literature or area studies with a Norwegian emphasis.