Knighted by the King
Photo: Christy Olsen Field Consul Kim Nesselquist was appointed to Knight, First Class in the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit by HM King Harald.
Consul Kim Nesselquist knighted into Royal Order of Merit in Seattle, Wash.
Christy Olsen Field
His Majesty King Harald of Norway has appointed Consul Kim Nesselquist to Knight, First Class to the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit.
The Royal Norwegian Order of Merit was instituted by the late King Olav V on June 14, 1985, to recognize foreign nationals and Norwegian nationals permanently living abroad for their work in promoting Norwegian-American interests.
Consul Nesselquist received the honor from Consul General Sten Arne Rosnes at Norwegian Constitution Day celebrations on May 17 in Seattle, Wash.
“It has pleased His Majesty The King to honor Kim Nesselquist in this way in recognition of his longstanding, able and dedicated service to Norway,” said Consul General Rosnes.
Consul Nesselquist is a Norwegian citizen who has been a resident of the U.S. since 1990. He grew up in Norway, and holds degrees from the Oslo School of Marketing and Pacific Lutheran University. In Norway, he served as a political advisor for the Conservative Party, served in the Mayor’s office in Oslo and Oslo’s first Executive Board, and as Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services. Nesselquist was elected twice to the city council in his hometown of Drammen.
Upon returning to the Seattle area in 1990, Consul Nesselquist became strongly involved in the Norwegian-American community. He has a long career as a board member of several Norwegian-American institutions and organizations, including the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, Norse Home retirement community, Western Viking newspaper, the University of Washington Center for Scandinavian Studies, the Wang Center for International Studies and Regent at Pacific Lutheran University. In 1998, he was appointed Vice Consul of Norway for Washington and Idaho and was appointed to Consul of Norway in 2007. In 2003, he was appointed as CEO and Executive Director of the Norwegian American Foundation. Under his leadership, the Foundation posted over 1,200 events for Norway’s Centennial in 2005, merged the Western Viking and Norway Times newspapers into the Norwegian American Weekly, and purchased Norway.com. Nesselquist is now a Director of Development at Pacific Lutheran University.
Nesselquist’s commitment to strengthening Norwegian-American relations is illustrated by his words and actions. He is a frequent guest of Norwegian organizations around the region to speak about modern Norway, and hosts Norwegian dignitaries who visit the Pacific Northwest.
“Kim is an outstanding representative for Norway. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated and generous person as our Consul in Seattle,” said Ambassador Wegger Chr. Strømmen, Norway’s Ambassador to the U.S.
This article originally appeared in the June 7, 2012 issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (800) 305-0271.
