Left to right: Dr. Howard K. Rockstad;  Ms. Diane Bodemeijer;  Dagfinn Gunnershaug, Vice Consul of Norway

Left to right: Mrs.Jane Sandler, speaker Dr. Ake Sandler, speaker Mrs. Sharon Smith, banquet chairperson

Since 1987, Dr. Rockstad has worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena where he has conducted innovative research on semiconductors. For his endeavors, he has obtained six patents and has been published over the years in more than 50 publications. He has participated in a NATO Advanced Study Institute for Optical Properties at the University of Ghent, Belgium and served as a spokesman in his field at the University of Maine, Lycoming College, the University of Birmingham, England, the University of Toledo in Ohio, Northern Illinois University, and at Cornell University. 

Prior to his employment at JPL, he previously worked for Corning Glass Works, Energy Conversion Devices, Inc., and Control Data Corporation.

A native of Ada, Minnesota, Dr Rockstad graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, where he was an honor student in mathematics and physics. He completed his graduate work at the University of Illinois where he was awarded his doctorate in Physics. 

Since 1996, he has served as President of the Scandinavian American Cultural and Foundation (SACHF), where he helped to create the Nordic Spirit Symposium, an annual event which brings noted scholars from throughout the United States and Europe to California Lutheran University to lecture on various aspects of Nordic culture from the history of the ancient Vikings to modern trends in the five nations of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Finnish-American Master Potter Otto Heino at his studio-home in Ojai,California ("The Pottery") with the lemon-yellow glazed piece of pottery presented to Dr. Howard K. Rockstad at the awards banquet on 5/20/06.

The gift table at the banquet: shown, 1-4, is (1) Outstanding Scandinavian-American Plaque with Rockstad's name inscribed as the 21st recipient of the Award;  (2) presentation plaque for Dr. Rockstad recognizing him at "Outstanding Scandinavian-American 2006";  (3) precious yellow glazed piece of pottery, a gift to Howard Rockstad from the American Scandinavian Foundation of Thousand Oaks and provided by Otto Heino, Master Potter;  (4) Photograph of Finnish-American Potter Otto Heino, at his studio-home called The Pottery, with the pottery presented on May 20th toRockstad. Photo credit: Elissa Della Rocca

The recognition event, prepared by Dr. Rockstad’s peers with exquisite care, was polished to a smooth finish. Dr. Ernst F. Tonsing, Professor Emeritus of California Lutheran University, served ably as the master of ceremonies, while Dr. Leonard S. Smith, Professor Emeritus, California Lutheran University, presented the Encomium for Dr. Rockstad. The Reverend Frank Nausin, Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks, offered the invocation and the benediction. The music of Torkil Hammer, performed on traditional Swedish and Norwegian string instruments, delighted the listeners, and a video, created by the Burton Rockstad Family of Ada, Minnesota and celebrating the honoree’s Norwegian-American roots, enriched the event.

In recognition of his many years of dedicated service (he was playfully recognized as “The Last Viking” and dubbed “Howard the Steadfast” by Dr. Leonard S. Smith) Dr. Rockstad was presented with a precious piece of pottery by the internationally acclaimed Finnish-American potter of Ojai, California, Otto Heino. Mr. Heino, the first recipient of the Award (1986) was unable to attend; therefore, the presentation was made on behalf of the ASF-TO by Elissa Della Rocca, a previous recipient of the Award, and Marilyn Kujala, past president of the Los Angeles Finlandia Foundation. The traditional plaque in recognition of achievement was presented by Ann-Charlotte M. Harris, Past President, ASF-TO, and the organization’s own formal plaque, with Rockstad’s name inscribed as the Honoree 2006, was prominently displayed.

Words of tribute flowed freely: speakers included Are Jostein Norheim, Consul General of Norway; Dagfinn Gunnershaug, Vice Consul of Norway; Dr. Ake and Mrs. Jane Sandler representing the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation; and Mr. Glenn Braaten and Ms. Dorothy Green representing the Sons of Norway.