Honoring Our Soldiers

Alumni Review Summer 2010

Universit y of Nor th Dakota A lumni A ssoc iation

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ALUMNI REVIEW • Vol. 93 No. 2 • Summer 2010

FE ATUR ES

4

Messenger in War & Peace

8

Working for Women’s Rights

David Dodds, ’98, provides a personal account of his military experiences in Iraq

Carolyn Becraft, ’66: An advocate for women and families in the military

10 The Cambodian Chance

College of Business and Public Administration Dean Dennis Elbert, ’68, ’72, had a much different life before the classroom

D E PA RTM E N TS

2 Message from the Executive Vice President

8

State Board of Higher Education Retires Fighting Sioux Name & Logo

18 What’s New

News from Around Campus

19 A Letter from the President Honoring Tradition

28 Athletics

10

Reaching Goals & the Drive for More The End of an Era

32 Alumni Class News

Who’s Doing What: News About your Classmates

44 In Memoriam On the cover: Chuck Kimmerle, a UND photographer, captured this photo during ROTC training in April. Currently, about 130 UND students are active in the ROTC.

28

state board of higher education

retires fighting sioux name & logo

Alumni Review Summer 2010

Universit y of Nor th Dakota A lumni A ssoc iation Vol . 93 No. 2 • Summer 2010

Executive Vice President and CEO Tim O’Keefe, ’71 Executive Director, Alumni Association Doris Cooper, ’91

dear alumni & friends,

On Thursday, April 8, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education made the decision to formally retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

Personally, as a Letterwinner associated with four generations of such within my immediate family, I am saddened by this decision, just like many of you. For nearly 80 years the Sioux name has been associated with many tremendous accomplishments, traditions and national recognitions that have put UND in a positive spotlight.

It is also true that there have been times when some have not treated the name and logo with the respect and integrity so many of us have cherished.

Like all of us at the UND Alumni Association & UND Foundation, I am in this leadership role for only one reason: to enhance the educational and economic development opportunities of our students, athletes, faculty, coaches, staff, leadership, and programs.

In the future, nothing will shift from that mission, or from the energy and passion we will continue to uphold as we attack the lofty goals we share with the UND Alumni Association & UND Foundation board of directors and University leadership.

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As we move forward, I know every positive aspect of the culture and traditions related to the Fighting Sioux name and logo will be impressed upon the student‐athletes of the future by our coaches and fans.

In the last eight years, I have experienced firsthand the incredibly uncommon loyalty and passion of our alumni and friends. You have been most generous in your support of your alma mater with time, talent and treasure. Your impact has been felt across campus, and through the success of our athletic teams on the field and students in the classroom, as well.

Now is not the time to pull back from the students. Support is a conscious choice. I know you will rise to the occasion, just as our alumni have since 1889.

Sincerely,

Tim O’Keefe, ’71 Executive Vice President and CEO UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation E‐mail: timo@undfoundation.org Of note: On page 31 you will find more about the retirement of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, including reaction from UND coaches and students. The August Alumni Review will contain additional coverage on this decision.

Editor Leanna Ihry, ’02 Designer Kirsten Gunnarson Writer Jessica Sobolik, ’02 Contributing Writers University Relations Contributing Photography Chuck Kimmerle/University Relations

Board of Directors UND Alumni Association President Jim Williams, ’62 Vice President Carolyn (Howland) Becraft, ’66 UND Foundation President Linda Pancratz, ’76 Vice President Rick Burgum, ’68 Directors: Alice Brekke, ’79, ’87; Kristine (Hefta) Brindle, ’78; Jill (LaGrave) Burchill, ’76; Kris (McConn) Compton, ’77; Patrick Dirk, ’71, ’72; Robert Erickson, ’71, ’74; Mark Fliginger, ’74; William Guy III, ’68, ’76; Tim Haas, ’68; Bart Holaday; Robert O. Kelley; Chuck Kluenker; Paul LeBel; Erwin Martens, ’83, ’85; Ken Mellem, ’66, ’68; Lauris Molbert, ’79, ’83; Jennifer Neppel, ’86; Diane Odegard, ’86; Tim O’Keefe, ’71; Keith Reimer, ’73; Al Royse, ’72, ’73, ’76; Robert Solberg, ’69; and Lisa Wheeler, ’75, ’82.

The University of North Dakota Alumni Review (USPS 018089: ISSN 0895-5409) is published Aug., Nov., Feb., and May by the University of North Dakota Alumni Association, 3100 University Avenue, Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157.

Periodical postage paid at Grand Forks, ND 58201 and other offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Alumni Review, 3100 University Avenue, Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157.

For inquiries about advertising, additional copies, reprints, submissions, or general comments, contact Leanna Ihry, editor, at 800.543.8764, 701.777.0831 or alumnireview@undalumni.net.

Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.

- An excerpt from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, Jan. 20, 1961 In this issue we honor all UND students, faculty and staff, and alumni and friends who have previously or are currently serving their country. Thank you for all you do.

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Messenger in War & Peace

David Dodds, ’98, a UND writer, was first deployed to Iraq in 2007 and is currently serving a second time as a military journalist in Kosovo. Here, he shares his story.

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“Someday when peace has returned to this odd world I want to come to London again and stand on a certain balcony on a moonlit night and look down upon the peaceful silver curve of the Thames with its dark bridges.”

-Ernie Pyle, war correspondent, 1900-45

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I’ll never forget my first day In Iraq.

It was March 20, 2007, and the war was in full swagger. Suicide attackers and roadside bombs, unfortunately, were so common they didn’t make the front page of the local newspapers anymore.

As I stepped off the C‐130 onto the suncracked tarmac of Tallil Air Base, 300 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, the threats around me, though hidden, were palpable.

It wasn’t culture shock. I had been in the Middle East for seven months at that point. But, this place had an uneasiness not felt during my previous assignments in Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.

I was a military journalist assigned to document the war and the progress being made in spite of it. I visited new brick‐and‐mortar schools that replaced Bedouin mud‐hut classrooms, multimillion‐dollar water upgrades built in lieu of drinking and bathing in polluted

David Dodds is currently serving near Pristina, Kosovo (pictured here).

rivers and Supermax prisons that supplanted Saddam’s infamous torture centers.

I sold the good that came of war. My target audience was the people of Iraq. My competition was a thriving insurgency sworn to kill the messenger, and any other American soldier who stood in its way.

I had a heightened sense of everything as I rolled “outside the wire” on my first mission.

The convoy commander’s words of warning and checklist of what‐to‐do‐in‐case‐ofs replayed in my mind. Not since my catechism in third‐grade Sunday school was something so important for me to know.

I sat in the back of an up‐armored Chevy Suburban traveling the wrong way down the northbound side of an Iraqi interstate highway.

We moved at twice the speed of vehicles we met.

It was all by design: be swift, and above all, be unpredictable.

My eyes fixed a good half‐mile ahead. For me,

the rookie, on my virgin voyage, every oncoming car was a possible vehicle‐borne IED. The same could be said for anomalies on the road surface, freshly‐tarred potholes and the never‐ending parade of trash and displaced soil along the roadside – all potentially concealed a bomb with my name on it.

So, maybe a hundred times during that 20-minute drive to a new children’s hospital in An Nasiriyah, I prepared myself for the worst.

And as each imminent threat passed, I sighed, took a deep breath and readied for the next.

This was reality for American soldiers in Iraq in 2007.

The war was still in doubt and young men in An Nasiriyah openly wore their disdain for us. In lawless quarters, where Al‐Qaida in Iraq operated unabated, and to my chagrin, where the children’s hospital was, their confidence was bolstered by the Kalashnikovs rifles they flashed beneath their dingy white dishdashas.

Our goal was to be in and out of the city in less than 30 minutes to deny the “bad guys” enough time to set a trap. In front of the hospital, my vehicle abruptly halted, my door flung open and I was whisked inside. I was reminded right away not to stand in front of open doorways or external windows.

Another soldier was assigned to watch me so I could photograph and interview doctors and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors designing the new hospital. When an Iraqi construction worker started snapping photos of me, unbeknownst to me, with a hand-held digital camera, my bodyguard leapt to him, demanded the camera and deleted the images. The worker was escorted off the premises.

At that moment, I realized there was a bounty for soldiers like me. My camera and pen were as lethal to the insurgent cause as anything American forces could throw at them. They needed to silence people like me.

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David Dodds, a member of the North Dakota National Guard, is currently serving as a military journalist in Kosovo.

This was my reality in Iraq.

The environment I operate in now is the antithesis of my time in Iraq. One need only walk the main streets of Pristina, the vibrant hub of Kosovo, down to Ronald Reagan Place or Bill Clinton Avenue, past the 14‐foot‐tall bronzed statue of the 42nd U.S. president, to see the unbridled love for America.

The American flag I wear on my right shoulder is met with smiles, handshakes and an eager “hello” from the children who want to practice their English on a real Yankee.

I am a NATO peacekeeper, part of Kosovo Forces 12 (KFOR), based at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, set in the heart of the once war ravaged, now just volatile, Balkans.

In a land where Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs struggle to set aside centuries of blood feuds and religious persecution to live peacefully, there is common ground between the ethnicities when it comes to respect for America. The Fourth of July here is celebrated with as much fervor as the 17th of February, the day Kosovo asserted its own independence. The admiration for America here is second only to America’s love for itself.

I didn’t feel quite the same love in Iraq.

There are similarities. For one, in both cases, I was/am part of a multinational effort to restore peace and order to a part of the world. In Iraq, I served in the U.S.-led coalition Multi‐National Force‐Iraq. Here in Kosovo, under NATO’s KFOR flag, I belong to Multinational Battle Group East.

I also find myself once again in a region

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David Dodds (front) and other soldiers take a little time out of their busy schedules to participate in a St. Patrick’s Day run in Kosovo.

that is predominantly Muslim. But, here again, a contrast must be drawn between the radical Wahabism that mainlines in the Middle East and the more pedestrian form of Islam in Kosovo.

Islamic terrorism against KFOR soldiers is virtually nonexistent for fear of what the citizenry might do to those who perpetrate it.

In Iraq, the goal for military journalists like me was to put the spotlight on the efforts of soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines to bring a better day and to focus on U.S. and coalition projects to rebuild the country. The plan was twofold: delegitimize the insurgency and garner support for the coalition.

In Kosovo, the story is the opposite.

Here, we go out of our way to place the U.S., KFOR and NATO in the background as much as possible. The idea is to shine the light on the institutions in Kosovo and their ability to

provide for their own people. KFOR’s role is that of a ready reserve – a third responder behind local police forces – waiting to react only if needed.

So, for every story we do about someone such as U.S. KFOR Soldier Spc. Abby Tews, Jamestown, N.D., who volunteers her time to teach English to schoolchildren in Gjilan, Kosovo, we also strive to spread the news of a bread factory in the same city that is using private investments to expand, hire more workers and create more opportunities for farmers of all ethnicities to sell their wheat.

The way war journalists cover their surroundings has everything to do with the stage of the military campaign they find themselves in.

In Iraq, we needed first to win hearts and minds before we could win peace. In Kosovo, a much more mature military setting, where a

fragile peace has held for exactly six years now, the hearts were won long ago.

Kosovo should be a model for what Iraq and Afghanistan might look like years from now. And along the way, just like in Kosovo, military journalists will continually adjust the way they cover those parts of the world.

Having seen firsthand the ravages of war, the pure joy of newfound peace and the undaunted resolve to recover, I can relate to the musing of legendary military scribe Ernie Pyle when he yearned to return to post‐war London to see the “peaceful silver curve of the Thames with its dark bridges.”

I, too, hope to return to my familiar haunts in Iraq and Kosovo one day.

Preferably, not in uniform, and amid a long‐ lasting peace for both. 

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Working for

Women’s Rights

by Jessica Sobolik

Women in today’s military can thank Carolyn (Howland) Becraft, ’66, for the opportunities they have.

Carolyn Becraft graduated from UND in 1966 with a foods and nutrition degree from the College of Home Economics. Planning on becoming a dietician, she had no idea how her life would change. “The moral of my story is: Where you start isn’t where you are going to end up,” she said.

Becraft also began her military career at UND. The dietetic program required an internship after graduation, and a family friend suggested the U.S. Army might offer the best experience. At that time, women couldn’t join the ROTC, but there was a student program with funding available to women going into health fields. After she graduated, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. “For me to go into the Army, that was a very nontraditional thing to do, but I did it mainly for the internship,” she said.

After her one-year internship, Becraft served in the Army for 4½ years. “The military services give you a lot of responsibility at a young age,” she said.

“By the time I left, I was 27 and the head dietician at Ireland Army Hospital at Fort Knox, Ky. It was a 1,000-bed hospital, and 120 people worked under me.”

Role Change: Army Veteran to Army Spouse Becraft married Michael, also an Army officer, in 1969. At that time, she had a slightly higher date of rank than he, but once they were married, the Army no longer recognized her rank, and it docked her pay by one-third.

Then she got pregnant.

She almost lost her job as a result, but at that time, airline stewardesses were suing their employers for wrongful termination, and they were winning. “The Army knew they had to change so they did offer to let me stay, but the condition was I would have to give up total custody of my child to my husband, who at that time was going to Vietnam,” Becraft said. “It was an offer I couldn’t accept, and it did get me thinking about women’s rights.”

Her husband continued his military service, and the couple moved 11 times in 26 years. When they arrived in Germany for a four-year tour, Becraft said she lost her U.S. civil rights. “All my benefits were in his name, so I couldn’t even open a bank account in

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my name,” she said. “He had to sign to let me get my driver’s license. I was a veteran, but the Army didn’t acknowledge my veteran status when I applied for jobs, which meant I got a lesser job. It just irritated me because I’d been a full member [of the Army] with full rights, and then a spouse with no rights.”

Refusing to submit, Carolyn began working toward a Master of Science in Education degree through the University of Southern California.

Her thesis, titled “The Effects of the Women’s Movement on Wives of Military Officers,” contained data that reflected her personal feelings: Military spouses had aspirations for themselves, but they didn’t see how they could accomplish their goals within the military framework. “It was the first study of its kind,” she said.

The thesis received mixed reviews. After presenting her findings at a conference for military spouses in Germany, Becraft said the senior officer wives in the audience were very offended, yet the younger wives told them to listen up. “I knew the most important thing: I wasn’t crazy,” she said. “When you live in a society that demands conformity, if you say anything that threatens the status quo one bit, it’s easy to be marginalized.”

She added, “One of the reasons [the Army] could never marginalize me was I always had my data straight, and I was a veteran. I could speak their language, and I showed them respect.”

Life After the Army: Where Her Story Really Starts From Germany, the Becrafts moved to Washington, D.C., where she continued advocating women’s rights in the military. She became chairwoman of a committee at an Army Wives Club conference that formed six major recommendations to the Army regarding families. After they were approved, she spent a year as a volunteer “bird-dogging” the Army to implement the recommendations. “We wondered how we could get [the Army] to make the changes without telling them what to do,” she explained. So, she designed and developed

the Army Family Action Plan Process, still in use today. “They’re very hierarchal, so what happens is, you have a symposium at the base level where people raise issues of concern to the commander,” she said. “Those he can’t fix, he sends up the chain [of command].” Almost every law and policy that has been changed or broadened since then – regarding child care, pension benefits, travel for kids when their parents are overseas, etc. – has come from her process.

Later, after Becraft spoke to a graduate class at George Washington University, the chairwoman of the department told her the Women’s Equity Action League (no longer in existence) was awarded a Ford Foundation grant for a Women in the Military project. Becraft promptly applied for, and became, director of the project. For nearly 10 years, she advocated for military families and women in the military. She conducted television and other media interviews, and testified before Congress, shaping legislative agendas and moving issues forward. Pulling from her experience with restrictions against military families, she accomplished her most gratifying goal: repealing combat exclusion laws for women in the military in 1991.

There were never any laws that restricted women from combat specifically. Instead, the laws forbid women to be on designated combat ships or aircraft, and policy limited their opportunities for administrative and support roles.

With that milestone met, Becraft continued to work tirelessly for women’s rights in the military. Through all her testifying before Congress, and close work with the House and Senate committees on armed services, she got to know a lot of people in Washington. So when Bill Clinton became president and Les Aspin became secretary of defense in 1992, Becraft made it known that she wanted to be deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy. “I had helped establish [the position] after all,” she said. Appointed in 1993, she had oversight and direct responsibility for Department of Defense education (K-12

Carolyn Becraft Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1998-01

overseas programs), the commissary (grocery) system, military exchanges, child care, family advocacy, veteran’s benefits, parks and recreation, and more.

Beginning in 1998, she served as assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs, a senate-confirmed position with responsibility for all personnel policy covering active duty and reserves for the Navy and Marine Corps. She was the second woman to do so. In 2001, she began private consulting, mostly for the federal government, before retiring.

It’s difficult to tally her many accomplishments, including establishing a school system in Guam. Still, she admits getting teary-eyed when thinking about the repeal of combat exclusion laws. “Most people don’t know my role in this, and that’s okay,” she said. “But what women have accomplished because of that, they couldn’t have done without it. We now have a female four-star general, and many three-star generals and admirals. I don’t think there’s a military commander today who doesn’t believe he could do this without the women.”  Of note: Becraft is vice president of the UND Alumni Association board of directors.

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Cambodian Chance The

by Leanna Ihry

He’s a face many have come to recognize on campus over the past 30 years.

Known as “Denny” by both friends and close colleagues, Dean Dennis Elbert has led the College of Business and Public Administration since 1997.

When you shake his hand, you’d never know that it may be painful for him due to the shrapnel, or “war souvenirs,” as he calls them, that remain in his left side, arm and hand to this day. You see, Elbert’s story starts long before he arrived at UND. At a very young age, Elbert knew he wanted

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to be an educator. What he didn’t realize at the time was that his path to the conventional academic arena would have many curves.

Inspired by his father, Norvin or “Norv,” a World War II veteran, Elbert always felt compelled to be a part of the military in some facet and opted to join the ROTC Program while attending UND. It was 1968 when he graduated, and the U.S. was in the thick of the Vietnam War. Elbert was certain he would go – and he was right.

Following graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the

U.S. Army Reserve, Armor Branch, through the ROTC program. He was sent to Fort Knox, Ky., for basic training, and was then posted to serve as a training officer for recon scouts. But, before his official deployment to Vietnam in August 1969, he had a 30‐day leave at home.

During that visit, he recalls his attempt to arrange a meeting with then‐College of Business and Public Administration Dean Tom Clifford, ’42, ’48, HON ’00, who shared a common bond with him. Dean Clifford was a WWII Marine vet and also an armor officer.

“The truth is, I had volunteered to go, but

UND College of Business & Public Administration Dean Dennis Elbert served in the Vietnam War from 1969-70. Though these events took place 40 years ago, there isn’t a day that goes by when Elbert doesn’t think about the war.

as it became a reality, I wondered if I had made the right decision. If I said I wasn’t scared, I’d be lying,” Elbert said.

His goal was to come back to UND and attend graduate school. However, he wasn’t optimistic. “To put it bluntly, my undergraduate years were less than stellar. My focus was more guided toward the Theta Chi fraternity and ROTC, not necessarily the books,” he said.

Elbert didn’t end up getting that meeting with Dean Clifford, and was sent to Vietnam. “As I got off the plane, the reality of what I was about to face was overwhelming – the heat, stench of sweat, being in an unknown place – and my first thought was, ‘Jeez, I wish I would have studied harder so maybe I wouldn’t have to be here!’”

Months rolled by and Elbert served as platoon leader with the Alpha 1/16th

Mechanized Infantry and then as a support command administrative officer, 1st Infantry Division. In early 1970, he realized he had reached the coveted halfway point on his 365‐day tour. That’s when he decided to write Dean Clifford a letter telling him of his “lessons learned” and his interest in coming back to UND. As he waited for a reply, the 1st Infantry Division stood down in the spring of 1970, and Elbert was assigned to the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment as a liaison officer. Ultimately he was sent to Cambodia to take part in Operation Rockcrusher. “We lost a lot of lieutenants during the first few days in Cambodia, so the squadron commanding officer pulled me aside and informed me that my liaison officer days were over – I was going back on the line as a platoon leader. I was hoping that a certain letter would

show up before that, but I wasn’t so fortunate,” he recalled.

As platoon leader, one of Elbert’s responsibilities was to make sure the mail was distributed properly to the troops. “In late May, as I was going through the platoon stack of mail, there it was, the familiar green UND logo, addressed to First Lieutenant Dennis J. Elbert.

I opened the envelope not knowing what to expect. While I had grown professionally and matured significantly as a result of my Vietnam experience, the ‘cum lousy’ undergrad record kept flashing through my mind,” he said.

But the letter read, “Dear Lieutenant Elbert, you’ve been accepted as a ‘special student’ for the fall semester of 1970 …

“That was my ticket back to the world as we called it and grad school at UND,” he

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smiled.

Still, as fate would have it, less than a month later, on June 12, 1970, Elbert was hit in combat.

Thankfully, his injuries were not critical and he was allowed to finish his tour of duty 27 days early so he could return to UND. “On the day I left the field, my platoon sergeant took my place and the platoon got into some heavy action. He was standing where I would have been and I have often wondered if I would have been as lucky,” Elbert said.

After finishing his master’s degree at UND, Elbert taught at Central Missouri State University and at community colleges in Iowa and Missouri. He earned a doctoral degree

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from the University of Missouri Columbia in 1976 before coming back to UND in 1980, served as marketing professor and director of the Small Business Institute until being named dean of the College. “I had always wanted to be an educator and I think my military experiences really instilled that in me. You hear how it’s [war] messed up people’s lives, but, for me, I think it built character,” he stated.

“When I talk to students, I usually tell them I was 22 years old when I went to Vietnam, and when I came back one year later, I was 47,” Elbert said.

He says there’s not a day that goes by when he doesn’t think of the impact Vietnam had on his

life. “You pick a path. I could have gone one way for all the bad stuff that was going on over there, or the other way for all the good stuff we did. I like to think that I chose the right direction,” he said.

Elbert never got the award for being wounded while in country, but finally receieved the Purple Heart in 2004. It was one of the proudest moments in his life. “Senator [Kent] Conrad surprised me with the award in front of a class in Gamble Hall. My family, including my parents, were in on the secret. Jason [his son who also serves in the military – see sidebar] was home on leave at the time and that made it very special,” he said.

Jason (left) and Emilee Elbert (right) completed a 15-month deployment to Iraq with the U.S. Army JAG Corps. They are currently stationed in Germany.

Among many other military commendations he’s been awarded over the years, Elbert says the most valuable recognition he received was the CIB – Combat Infantryman’s Badge. “That’s one you only get when you’ve been 30 days in a combat assignment or for your first contact, so it’s a badge that’s cherished by foot soldiers,” the dean explained.

Elbert retired from the Army Reserve in 1996 as a LTC. However, the old adage of what’s goes around come around is true in his case. Because he’s dean of the CoBPA, the Army and Air Force ROTC programs now report to him.

Through all of his experiences, both good and bad, Elbert is proud to have served his country in his younger years, and today, his alma mater.

“I watched my dad over the years. He really made me realize that military leaders are servant leaders. His line was, ‘the troops got to eat first.’

He instilled that in me and I think that’s helped me be a better educator. I am very fortunate to have had the life, family and opportunities that, in many ways, were ignited with the ‘Clifford Cambodian Chance letter.’”  Of note: Many members of the Elbert family have attended UND over the years. Grads include Dennis’ wife, Dora (Riopelle), ’71; his daughter, Christina Fargo, ’03, and her husband, Jon, ’03; another daughter, Danielle, who earned her bachelor’s degree in 2005 and a master’s degree in 2006; a son, Jason, ’03, and his wife, Emilee (Harren), ’03, who are both School of Law grads, as well as several other extended family members.

Love and the Law

by Leanna Ihry

The motto for the U.S. Army JAG Corps (Judge Advocate General) is “Serve your country and work for the best law firm in the world.” These words prove to be true for 2003 UND School of Law graduates Jason and Emilee (Harren) Elbert, who have been stationed in Germany since May 2007.

For this young couple, traveling the world has been part of their relationship from the get-go. While they met at UND, their romance didn’t spark until they enrolled in an exchange program between UND School of Law and the University of Oslo law school in Norway.

“That’s when we really got to know each other and started dating. We realized we like traveling and have been on the move ever since,” Jason said.

Their travels may not have been possible if Jason hadn’t joined the Army ROTC while working toward his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame. “My dad [UND CoBPA Dean Dennis Elbert] is a Vietnam combat veteran. My grandfather was enlisted in WWII. We have a family history of being in the military,” Jason said.

By signing up for the ROTC Program, Jason knew he had a four-year military commitment after Notre Dame, but a long-lived desire to attend law school was getting the best of him. “I was able to get an educational delay and then when I got to law school, I applied for the JAG Corps. I got accepted, passed my bar exam and went into active duty,” Jason proudly stated.

The first step was to attend JAG School in Charlottesville, Va., a long distance from Emilee, who was an

associate with a St. Cloud, Minn., law firm. The idea of joining the Army hadn’t crossed Emilee’s mind until she went to visit Jason. “I got accepted and did the same training course as Jason had done the year before,” she explained.

After 18 months apart, they began their military careers together in late 2004 at their first active duty station in Ft. Riley, Kan. And this was when their adventures began. The newlyweds requested to go overseas with the JAG Corps, and less than 30 days after arriving in Germany, they were assigned to a 15-month deployment to Iraq.

Emilee was assigned to work with the U.S. Department of State and the Iraqi government to get their legal system back up and running. Jason concentrated on military justice. “You hear a lot of stuff about Iraq in the media and it’s definitely skewed. We were glad to go there and serve our country,” Emilee said.

Now back in Germany, Jason is the officer in charge of the Patton Law Center in Heidelberg. He supervises an office that provides legal assistance, claims services and administrative law support to the Heidelberg military community.

Emilee, on the other hand, works for the office of the judge advocate at U.S. Army Europe Headquarters (USAREUR).

As an administrative law attorney, she provides legal advice to the USAREUR command and staff on government ethics, travel and transportation and interaction with non-federal entities.

The Elberts plan to stay in Germany until at least next summer and have not once regretted their decision to work for the best law firm in the world. 

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Communicating

Through Conflict

by Peter Johnson

On Friday, Mark Pfeifle, ’97, was hired as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush and deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and global outreach. On Monday, he was on a plane to Baghdad and the task of a lifetime: to manage communications for the Bush Administration on the Global War on Terror.

“In January 2007, I got the job at the National Security Council (NSC) as, essentially, the director of communications [serving as the interagency communications coordinator for the NSC, the intelligence community, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State]. That was about the time President Bush was going to announce in a national address that he was going to send five additional brigades of forces into Iraq, and that was not a popular move. The public support for the war was at a low. I think the people wanted the U.S. to win – to achieve victory – but they were unsure if this was the right policy to do it.

“My job at that point was to work with military and state department leadership to set up a structure to communicate with a variety of audiences. You have the American population, the Iraqi population – the enemy ... a very active, mobile and adaptive enemy, which has its own communication structure for working through the media and the Internet. And then you have the other allies, and the international community, as well.”

Pfeifle had the experience to make it happen. His UND degree – communication major and political science minor – helped him secure an escalating series of communication positions including deputy communications director and

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principal deputy press secretary for the Republican National Committee, acting‐communication director and press secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior, communication director for the 2004 Republican National Convention, and director of the Social Security Information Center.

In fact, Baghdad was not at all new to the Wishek, N.D., native. He had spent six weeks in Iraq in 2006, serving as a senior communication advisor with the U.S. Department of Defense.

In February 2007, Pfeifle was back in Washington trying to figure out how to help provide insight and guidance to that process going forward. “I took a look at who are the people that we need to communicate with, the communities we need to reach out to: veterans – the VFW, the American Legion; retired military leaders; diplomatic leaders; the policy, defense and national security think‐tank folks; and military bloggers, essentially the guys on the ground who travel a lot and have a lot of contacts and insights into what’s going on and the challenges that we were facing. And Capitol Hill. And not just the members, but their staff, communication and policy people.”

Pfeifle began developing a list of “force multipliers”, folks who could help spread the messages. “One can only communicate so much, but if you bring people into your world and reach out and get them information – help them get more information from different sources – they might be willing to develop and share perspectives beyond their usual perspectives.”

One strategy was to use secure video links so that those key audiences could hear directly from the military and diplomatic

leaders in Baghdad.

“General [David] Petraeus and the Ambassador [Ryan Crocker] were absolutely in sync, absolutely attached at the hip in how they coordinated their communication and worked with each other.

They helped bring about a greater level of security in Iraq. It made it much easier to communicate with a variety of audiences and to work with the force multipliers.”

The faith the Bush Administration placed in Pfeifle paid off. In January 2009, he received the U.S. Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon a civilian, for “dramatically improved communication planning and strategies in support of the Global War on Terror.”

Since February 2009, he has served as vice president for S4 Inc., a professional services and consulting firm catering to the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and private entities. 

Mark Pfeifle, ’97, received the U.S. Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Award for “dramatically improved communication planning and strategies in support of the Global War on Terror.”

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Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) Brian Slaughter, ’05, is thankful his U.S. Army unit returned safely from deployment to Iraq in 2009.

Air Support

by Jessica Sobolik

In Brian Slaughter’s military experience as an AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army, he’s faced rocket and mortar attacks, and direct fire. So it may seem odd when he says life after deployment is more overwhelming. “It’s almost information and sensory overload when you come back,” the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences graduate said.

“For six months afterward, every time a car door would slam or a muffler would backfire, I would flinch.”

Slaughter’s unit, B Company 3-159th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, is stationed at the Storck Barracks in Illesheim, Germany. Its 24 Apache helicopters, capable of deploying anywhere in the world, are the only ones the U.S. has in Europe. Brian arrived there in March 2008 and was deployed to Basrah, Iraq, in July 2008 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

About once a week for 13 months, their base was under indirect fire. Sirens would go off, signaling incoming rockets and mortars, and the troops would have to take cover. “We’d hope and pray that the rockets and mortar wouldn’t hit us,” Slaughter said. “It was pretty nerve-racking.”

One day, a rocket impacted near a runway where Brian had just taken off. “I saw it,” he said. “We heard the air traffic controller say the airfield was under attack, and we had to maneuver our aircraft out of the area. Those things happened quite regularly. Indirect fire and responding to locate the

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enemy were a regular part of our mission while we were there.”

Slaughter’s unit also supported ground troops, and provided convoy security and aerial escorts to Black Hawk helicopters and other aircraft.

His Apache was also shot at near Sadr City, near Baghdad. “Fortunately, none of the rounds hit us, but the two ground units we were supporting saw tracer rounds coming at us,” he said, adding that no one in his 500-soldier unit was severely injured or killed during their deployment.

Returning to Germany after deployment was another challenge altogether. “We didn’t go back to work immediately,” he said. “You go to a lot of classes, counseling, a variety of medical checkups and briefings. They do a lot better job now of looking for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Overall, we were fortunate to not have a lot of issues.” Slaughter’s wife, Monique, an elementary school teacher, stayed with her family in Florida while he was deployed.

Coincidentally, there is another UND graduate in Slaughter’s unit. Andrew Sinn, ’04, was stationed in Germany when Slaughter arrived. “It was really encouraging to meet someone who was a UND grad because we could share stories, experiences and what we liked about UND,” he said. “That made it a little bit easier to transition into the unit.”

Sinn, who earned a degree in aeronautics, is currently going through a maintenance test pilot course. As Slaughter explained, if a new part was installed in an aircraft or some troubleshooting was required, Sinn would conduct a maintenance test flight before approving its usage for the rest of the pilots. “There’s a little more risk involved, and that’s why their training is crucial,” Slaughter said. “They need to understand the aircraft at a level way beyond most pilots.”

Slaughter doesn’t shy away from the challenges of active duty military, either. He may even thrive on that excitement. “Every single time I fly, something different happens,” he said.

“Flying a $30 million attack helicopter at 50 feet above the trees at 150 knots (172 mph) at night with multiple aircraft in formation, while managing weapons systems, night vision and fire control radar … it’s not just taking off and coming back and landing. The reason I joined the military was for exciting flying.” 

Bringing Law & Order Back to Iraq

by Leanna Ihry

Seven years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) signed up for a daunting task – to become engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the time, Forde Fairchild, ’01, a fresh UND School of Law graduate, was a clerk for Judge Kermit E. Bye, ’59, ’62, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Fargo and had no idea of his future involvement with this significant mission.

Fairchild, who earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, had served as a law clerk for Chief Justice Gerald VandeWall, ’55, ’58, of the North Dakota Supreme Court before joining Judge Bye’s chambers. With an impressive resume, he was selected for the Attorney General’s Honors Program, a highly competitive entry program for the U.S. DoJ in Washington, D.C. After a few years under his belt in Washington, he and his family moved home to Iowa, where Forde became an assistant U.S. attorney.

He liked his work prosecuting gang members, domestic terrorists, environmental criminals, and drug dealers. It was meaningful and he was making a difference by taking the “bad guys” off the streets. However, he got an e-mail that sparked his curiosity. The then-deputy U.S. attorney general was asking all the assistant attorney generals in the country to volunteer to go to Iraq. Forde explains that the e-mail said the great expenditure of treasure, blood and tears in Iraq would be for nothing if people didn’t volunteer to go. “That was a sickening prospect, and I felt that if my meager talents could be of any use to my country in its most difficult struggle, I had to volunteer,” Forde said.

Today, Fairchild finds himself living at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on a 14-month detail with the Deputy Attorney General’s office. He was named deputy attaché and, for safety reasons, he was also sworn in as special deputy marshall.

The DoJ currently has more than 200 employees in Iraq including special agents, prison officials, trial attorneys, staffers, and about 18 assistant U.S. attorneys. These men and women are assisting the government of Iraq in rebuilding its criminal, civil and commercial justice systems.

Fairchild’s focus is the criminal justice system. “You have to remember, to whatever extent we’re still engaged in a counter-insurgency here in Iraq, we have to separate the terrorists and insurgents from the community by exposing them as the criminals they are and then using the established Iraqi legal system to prosecute them,” Forde said, going on to explain that when terrorists are seen as criminals, they lose public support.

This is of urgent importance to both the government of Iraq and U.S. military forces there, for all detainees in this country have to be processed through the Iraqi Criminal Justice System or let go. “Successful Iraqi prosecutions mean fewer bad guys harassing the U.S. military and attempting to destabilize the government of Iraq.”

Since arriving in Iraq in August, Fairchild has dealt with security matters and terrorism investigations, and assisted the chief justice of the Iraqi court system on forensics training.

His new assignment is to lead a team of U.S. Iraqi investigators targeting terrorist financing in Iraq. “Our goal is to use the Iraqi criminal justice system to limit the funds the terrorists have available to mount destabilizing attacks. It’s like destabilizing a street gang or drug organization back home.”

Forde Fairchild, ’01, is one of about 200 U.S. Department of Justice employees assisting the Iraqi government in rebuilding its criminal, civil and commercial justice systems.

Though much has been accomplished – thanks to the tremendous skills of the U.S. military – Fairchild says there is still a lot to do. “The Iraqis must lead the effort, perhaps with American mentorship from time to time. Right now I am one of those mentors. I feel pretty good about what I’m doing here.”

Still, he looks forward to coming home in October and reuniting with his wife, Katie, and their two young daughters.

“Being separated from my family is the most difficult contribution I have ever made to something larger than myself, but it pales in comparison to the heavy lifting Katie has done back home. She and all those military families in the U.S. are my heroes.”

When asked about his career aspirations after accomplishing such a prestigious task, Fairchild humbly replied, “I love being an assistant U.S. attorney. Being a federal prosecutor fits me very well and I love what I do back home. However, I will say I feel so honored to have had the privilege of working with the U.S. military. They are a remarkable bunch of people.” 

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What’s New

C a m p u s N e ws

News from ARO

Campus

A Partnership with University Relations

UND Supports Our

Troops

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have toward the Fighting Sioux identity. There are great memories and accomplishments attached to it. As a result, many will find it difficult to say goodbye to the nickname and logo. But I believe the passion our alumni and friends have for UND is driven by much more than the nickname and logo.

The bond is stronger than that, the connections more meaningful and the commitment more dedicated.

Together, we can create an even greater future for this University.

A Letter from the President:

Honoring

Tradition DEAR ALUMNI & FRIENDS, This has been an eventful semester at UND. As I’m sure you know, on April 9 I received a letter from the chancellor of the North Dakota University System directing me to begin the process to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. I want to reassure you, our students, and all friends of the University that we will make sure we appropriately retire the nickname and logo.

I have appointed Dr. Robert Boyd, our vice president for student and outreach services, as the transition officer. Dr. Boyd, a Rock Lake, N.D., native who holds two degrees from UND, is a highlyrespected leader on campus and across the state. I want to thank Dr. Boyd for agreeing to lead this process.

As we move forward, I will create a President’s Transition Cabinet made up of representative stakeholders. This group will work with me as the retirement process is implemented.

I know there are and will be many questions about the process.

We will do our best to answer those questions and to keep you informed through a special website, http://nickname.und.edu/logo.

UND is blessed with an incredibly strong alumni family. In my 40 years in higher education, I have never met a more passionate alumni base or a more dedicated faculty, staff and student body than we have here. Our alums are a tremendous asset to this University. I understand the strong feelings many of you and many of our friends

Olympics Marcia and I enjoyed watching five UND students and former students excel in the Winter Olympics this year. Jonathan Toews, ’08, captain with the Chicago Blackhawks; Zach Parise, ..’04, alternate captain with the New Jersey Devils; and current UND students and twin sisters, Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, all competed in hockey. Natalie (Simenson) Nicholson, ’01, ’08, a UND nursing graduate, was lead for the U.S. Women's Curling team.

We are proud of all of our athletes, and we are particularly proud of the way we handle athletics at UND: with real students who excel in the arena as well as in the classroom.

You can read a full story about UND athletes in the Olympics on page 30.

General Commencement Finally, at about the time you receive this issue, there will be roughly 1,500 more members of the UND alumni family. This May, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano gave the main commencement address. This was an ideal fit for us, given our rapidly growing expertise and programming in Unmanned Aerial Systems and our strong working relationship with the Grand Forks Air Force Base and the U.S. Border Patrol. We thank Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan, ’65, HON ’02, and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, ’75, ’79, for their efforts to secure Secretary Napolitano as our speaker.

Our UAS research and teaching efforts comprise teams from across campus, from Aerospace to Business, Nursing to Psychology. UAS, with its multi-disciplinary focus, is part of a much larger vision at UND that incorporates both Army and Air Force ROTC programs and veteranfriendly policies that have earned us Pentagon recognition. We focus this issue of Alumni Review on our military servicewomen and men, both past and present.

As we near the end of our first two years at UND, Marcia and I want to thank you for all of the support we have received and the many, many friendships we have established. We look forward to your help as we continue to help move UND from great to exceptional.

Best wishes,

Robert O. Kelley President

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GI Jobs Magazine ranks UND in the top 15 percent of military-friendly schools in the nation, based on the results of a survey of 7,000 schools.

Just before the end of the fall semester of her sophomore year in late 2007, Kubasta left UND for deployment in Iraq as a specialist in the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 191st Military Police Company.

“A lot of my friends were going, so I volunteered to go with them,” she said. “My teachers were really good about it. They made sure I finished all the necessary course work for getting credit for my classes. I didn’t have to drop classes or take incompletes.”

Kubasta, a physical education and exercise science major, traded her textbooks for an assault rifle, pistol, body armor, and camouflaged fatigues. Her unit patrolled the Rusafa district in eastern Baghdad, including Sadr City, one of the poorest and most dangerous parts of Baghdad.

“We trained the Iraqi police and a few other security entities,” she said. “We were outside in Baghdad every day. It was like your adrenaline was always going. You had to watch your back and have everything correct.

Your life depended on it every single day.

“We opened schools and hospitals, and we secured areas,” she said. “We provided people with security so their kids would feel safe when they were out in the yard playing. The violence went down about 90 percent while we were there. It’s a really good feeling when you hear about that.”

As her tour of duty neared an end, Kubasta decided that she wanted to return to UND, but limited communications complicated the process. She managed to get in touch with Carol Anson, UND’s veteran certifying official.

“I couldn’t have done it without Carol,” Kubasta said. “I told her I had no idea what I was supposed to do, but I wanted to go back to school right away. She told me that she’d set everything up for me and got me into classes.”

Anson, who served in the U.S. Air Force at Grand Forks Air Force Base, says requests

To Iraq & Back From student to soldier,

Corianna Kubasta is one of about 700 students on campus who identifies themselves as a veteran.

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Corianna Kubasta has experienced some of the most stressful challenges a college student might face.

The help she has been receiving from fellow veterans and the Veteran Services office are just part of UND’s commitment to being a military friendly school.

“I’m really lucky that there are a lot of people on campus who have been through this,” said Kubasta, 21, a native of Lidgerwood, N.D. “I call them, ask what to do, and they help me out. It’s what I hope other people coming back from military duty will experience.”

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Dean’s Corner:

such as Kubasta’s from active-duty military are the norm for her office, which also helps students enroll in UND’s distance education programs.

“Many decide to attend UND because all veterans and all active-duty members receive the in-state resident tuition rate,” she said. “We have a student in Iraq right now taking online classes.”

Within two weeks after her final mission in Iraq, Kubasta was in Grand Forks, a few days late for the 2009 spring semester.

“Coming back was so slow-paced compared to what I was used to,” she said. “It was hard to go to school the day after I turned my rifle in.”

Not only was the climate vastly different, but she also had to readjust to college life as a civilian. Kubasta instinctively scanned crowds for trouble, even though she knew there was no reason to do so.

“I’d find myself watching my back,” she said. “I couldn’t sit in front of the classroom.

I had to sit in back because I couldn’t stand having people behind me.”

Kubasta also wasn’t sure how faculty and other students would treat her if they knew she’d served in Iraq, but soon realized it wasn’t an issue. “They told me it was awesome that I’d helped people in another country,” she said.

Anson and her staff assist approximately 700 students on campus who identify themselves as veterans.

“We process education benefits for National Guard, dependents of disabled veterans and active-duty members who are using the GI Bill,” she said. “We also process enrollment for the new post-9/11 GI Bill for students who served on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001, and for veterans using the GI Bill under the Montgomery GI Bill. We have students using VA (Veterans Affairs) vocational rehabilitation.”

Whether it’s providing in-state tuition to all veterans, creating a Facebook page for them, helping them find classrooms or making sure they enroll in the programs that provide the most benefits, it’s no accident that UND is considered one of the nation’s most militaryfriendly schools.  PATRICK C. MILLER

Rising to the Top The College of Business & Public Administration (CoBPA) has achieved an exceptional year due to the collective efforts of passionate students, inspirational educators, innovative programs, and the generosity of our alumni and friends.

Eduniversal awarded the CoBPA three palms in the worldwide business school ranking, classifying us as an excellent business school that is strong nationwide with continental links. Our continually expanding entrepreneurship department continues to remain strong, ranking as one of the top 25 colleges for entrepreneurship. The department of entrepreneurship, in partnership with Alerus Financial, has developed the Alerus Entrepreneurship Challenge, a new state-wide/regional business plan competition, that was held on campus last month. This provides another avenue of experiential learning for our students and budding entrepreneurs across the region.

Our passionate students continue to excel as we prepare our next generation of business professionals.

The Student Managed Investment Fund won first place in the undergraduate division for its growth-style portfolio at RISE X (Redefining Investment Strategy Education) Global Investment Forum.

I am proud to say that we are No. 1 in the world in growth-style investing.

We are committed to providing our students with the tools they need to enhance their ability to pursue internships and career opportunities during challenging economic times. Through a generous gift from Linda ’76, and Mark Pancratz, ’77, our students will have the opportunity to enhance their professional and networking skills through workshops and career development at the Pancratz Career Development Center. This new center will be located in Gamble Hall and we will be breaking ground this summer in preparation for Fall 2010.

Through the generosity of an unnamed benefactor, the CoBPA received a historic $10 million commitment to match new endowment gifts 3:1. We are privileged to have had the opportunity in such a short time to open 22 new endowments in the areas of student scholarships, faculty support and new program initiatives with a total impact of more than $7.9 million. This challenge has the opportunity to grow to a $40 million impact. On a fast track to achieving excellence, your philanthropic partnership, coupled with the additional support offered by the generosity of the matching grant, will catapult the College and ensure sustaining excellence.

We encourage you to stop by to personally meet our students and faculty to gain a better understanding of the great accomplishments being achieved at your alma mater.

Sincerely,

Dennis J. Elbert, Ph.D. Professor of Marketing and Dean College of Business and Public Administration

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Into the

Wild Green Yonder UND’s helicopter pilots are Army ready.

UND’s Helicopter Flight

Training Program (HFTP) is the only one in the country where future U.S. Army aviators can earn aviation degrees while becoming commercial, instrument-rated helicopter pilots.

Each year, about 50 UND Army ROTC cadets participate in HFTP. When they graduate, they’re not only well-educated, well-rounded and experienced helicopter pilots, but they’re also nearly assured of being placed in the Army’s aviation branch. Of the 5,000 ROTC cadets who receive commissions each year, only the top 10 percent are branched in aviation.

Lt. Jon Lilja, an HFTP graduate and Woodbury, Minn., native says, “It doesn’t necessarily guarantee the aviation branch, but barring any other issue, if you go through the program successfully, you will be branched aviation, which is something that no other school or university can do.”

The program is so successful that in 2004, cadets from West Point, the Army’s military academy, began attending a four-week course that enables them to fly solo in a helicopter after 18 hours of flight instruction.

“It really became a hit to the point where now we do 20 West Point cadets the first part of the summer and then do 20 ROTC cadets from other schools around the nation,” says Mike Krotz, chief helicopter flight instructor in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

Lilja graduated from UND in May 2009 and received his Army commission. He will soon report to Fort Rucker, Ala., where the Army trains its helicopter pilots. Because he’s completed HFTP, he won’t have to take primary flight training. He will be tested and 22 Ἅ lu m n i R e v ie w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . or g

then placed in an advanced aircraft.

“We’ve mirrored our training to be just like the Army’s,” Krotz says. “When our graduates get to Fort Rucker, they already know the basic skills and they’ve flown the aircraft. One thing they get to do that most of the Army aviators never experience is fly the aircraft by themselves. Once they get into the Army, they’ll be in a crew.”

Lilja, who enlisted in the Army in 2002 and served as a medic in Afghanistan in 2004 and 2005, earned his helicopter license at his own expense before being accepted into UND’s program as an ROTC cadet in 2007. At UND, he received flight training from former North Dakota National Guard helicopter instructors and senior Army pilots.

“They definitely trained us with a very military aspect,” he says. “It’s just fantastic.

Between the aircraft that we have, the

maintenance support and the training curriculum, you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Krotz notes that because of the success of HFTP, the University receives hundreds of applications from around the country each year, but only 15 are accepted. To qualify, applicants must have a 3.5 gradepoint average or better. They undergo an interview process and take an aptitude test.

“It’s a prestigious, special program, and people know that,” Krotz says.

Brian Anderson, Lakeville, Minn., is the cadet commander of the UND ROTC battalion and a soon-to-be HFTP graduate.

“We get a lot of high quality cadets that come here for the aviation program, but at the same time it breeds competition, and we’re very successful at anything we put our minds to,” he says.  PATRICK C. MILLER

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Up, Up and Away UND Space Studies prof tests unique tiltrotor aircraft during his Marine Corps service The standard helicopter joke

goes something like this: Airplanes fly, but helicopters beat the air into submission.

Helicopter pilots know dozens of these jokes by heart, but UND space studies professor and former military pilot Jim Casler knows firsthand that the two styles of aircraft work quite well together.

Today, Jim teaches a variety of engineering‒related space studies courses at UND, but while he was serving as a Marine Corps officer (1970‒93), he was the country’s first military pilot to fly the Osprey V-22 when it was first being evaluated by the Marine Corps in the early 90s.

The Osprey – named after a small raptor, a close cousin of eagles and hawks – is classified as a “tiltrotor.” It flies like an airplane, but can take off and land like a helicopter because the pilot can move the engine nacelles from vertical to horizontal in 12 seconds.

UND Space Studies Professor Al Casler was the country’s first military pilot to fly the Osprey V-22.

The aircraft has two turbo-shaft engines that power two oversized prop-rotors, which act like helicopter blades. The Osprey can carry two‒dozen fully‒geared combat troops, or about 15,000 pounds of payload, flying at a top speed of 290 mph – a lot faster horizontally than any helicopter, Casler said.

“The Osprey is the only military aircraft of this type in the world,” he detailed. “Primarily, its mission is to move troops into and out of hot spots and areas where it would be tough or impossible to land an airplane. It’ll also be used in military and civilian rescue operations.”

Casler worked closely with civilian test pilots from the companies that developed the Osprey, and was on hand when it was first tested in 1989.

Becoming a Test Pilot

Casler served several months in the Vietnam War theater of operations. That’s

where he got the bug to go to test pilot school.

“I had started out in the H-46, a large, two-rotor helicopter known in the service as the Sea Knight,” he said. “I was actually in the middle of a Vietnam tour when I came across a brochure for test pilot school. I knew nothing about it prior to that, but it sounded quite interesting. I ended up going to Pensacola, the U.S. Navy’s primary flight school, as a flight school instructor and built up the magic number of hours [1,500] flying Hueys [the most recognizable helicopter of the Vietnam era].”

Like many people who were students during the Vietnam War era, Casler faced the draft. “I decided that I wasn’t going to be drafted,” he said. “At the time, we were going to the draft lottery system, so I was cruising through the UND Student Union and here was a Marine officer selection recruiter. I chatted with him and basically hooked myself up. The recruiter asked me, ‘You wanna take the aviation exam?’ I had no thoughts of aviation up until that point, but I said, ‘Sure!’ I took the aviation exam and did fine. The next thing I know, I’m in the aviation program.”

His military career started in the Marine Corps platoon leaders course in Quantico, Va. “I spent that summer playing baseball, working in construction and waiting to get into flight school,” he said. After getting his wings, he was assigned to LPH-12 USS New Orleans, an Iwo Jima class amphibious assault ship. Named after the War of 1812 Battle of New Orleans, the battle that made Andrew Jackson famous, it spent a lot of time in Vietnam. It’s since been decommissioned.

Casler, who retired as a lieutenant colonel, spent most of his military career flying helicopters, including nine years as a test pilot. He flew about 60 different types of aircraft, including the Harrier “jump jet,” which can also take off and land vertically. He racked up 4,400 hours as a pilot and spent some time as a squadron commander.

After his retirement from the Marine Corps, he worked in aerospace management and business development. “I think I flew everything the Marine Corps had at the time with the exception of the A-6 [an attack jet],” he said.  JUAN PEDRAZA s um m er 2010

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A High-Flying Mission

The UND Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Research, Education, and Training launched a very successful mission that flew with a broad public service mission this spring: get up close to the Red River’s expanding flood waters, take pictures and return safely to its designated landing spot.

With a special Certificate of Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration the ScanEagle aircraft delivered stunning, detailed images of the river as it spread out over roads and farm fields in the Oslo, Minn., area.

The goal of the project was to capture and deliver data, including video images, of the flooding Red to agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Weather Service and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The ScanEagle flood operation in Oslo was a part of an ongoing research contract funded by the U.S. Air Force, administered by the Joint UAS Center of Excellence at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.

It was the first time a university and a federal agency have collaborated on a project where a UAS has been used for flood plain research, according to UND officials.  JUAN PEDRAZA

UAS: Short Acronym Belies Big UND Team Effort UND unmanned aerial systems program sparks multidisciplinary creativity, innovation Al Palmer recently retired from UND. Thirty years into a brilliant career, including the last 10 as director of flight operations, he decided it was time to move on.

Not for long.

A few weeks after turning in his retirement papers, Palmer got a call from his former boss, UND Aerospace Dean Bruce Smith.

“We need you back,” said Smith, who tapped Palmer as interim director of the University’s Unmanned Aerial Systems Research, Education and Training (UAS Center). The Center is part of the state of North Dakota’s Center of Excellence program.

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aviation. He’s not only a distinguished veteran of service to UND Aerospace, he’s got close to 10,000 hours as an air transport pilot (ATP, the industry’s top professional certification).

He’s also a brigadier general and chief of staff of the North Dakota Air National Guard. And he’s done it all with a great track record of safe operations and educational innovations at UND. “Al’s passion for the Odegard School and his commitment to our success at a time when we need his level of leadership was enough to coax him out of retirement,” said Smith.

Palmer, whose philosophy of education aims at disclipline, safety, plus a whole lot of fun,

will run one of the most unique aviation programs in the U.S. “I want to contribute my experience from overseeing the North Dakota Air National Guard’s UAS mission and look forward to the challenges and opportunities of fostering this emerging sector of the aviation industry at UND,” Palmer said.

As flight operations director, Palmer, a native of Tell City, Ind., brought a clear and definite vision to the school: “Our primary goal is to provide the highest standard of professional aviation education at a reasonable cost to the student. Yet, at the same time, our role is to coach, counsel and mentor young men and women to become leaders within the worldwide aviation community.”

Palmer began his military career with U.S. Air Force enlisted service beginning in 1972 and was commissioned in 1985. After serving as an electronic warfare specialist in several assignments including a tour

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in Thailand, he joined the North Dakota Air National Guard in 1981. He served as a maintenance officer and supervisor prior to serving in several command positions. In addition to his 1984 degree from UND Aerospace, Palmer has completed an extensive military and war college education.

Palmer believes that vision is essential to any longterm success in aviation education, whether it’s flying airplanes or operating a UAS. “A significant element in this education process is to provide a vision for each student so they can see what the future holds for them,” Palmer said. “Our challenge is to translate that vision into reality. A vision must have a positive orientation. That orientation is guided by core values. They remind us what it takes to get the job completed. They inspire us to do our very best at all times.”

It takes a team

UAS is a large, complex system that needs a lot of different kinds of expertise. That’s where Mark Askelson comes in. Askelson, a 1993 UND math and atmospheric sciences alum, is an expert in radar, which is used extensively in weather science and in UAS operations.

“I’m the principal investigator (PI) on a research project with the UND UAS Center,” he said.

Askelson, who is not a pilot, manages the Center’s ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system project, which was used this spring to patrol the flooded Red River in the area of Oslo, Minn. The ScanEagle will also be used here in the nation’s only program offering a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics with a major in unmanned aircraft systems operations.

“Our program requires an optimal system, one with a proven operational track record, reliability and effectiveness to support our educational and research activities,” he said.

From F-16 fighters to UAS at UND, Mike Nelson spent more than 20 years as a weapons system officer and pilot in Air National Guard F-16 fighters. His experience includes a lot of time overseas flying the planes in America’s international “War on Drugs.” Nelson is now a UAS course manager on the team.

“I grew up around airplanes because my father was an Air National Guard F-16 pilot, and so was my brother,” Nelson said. “I got my commission in 1986 after completing the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science at Knoxville, Tenn. My various jobs took me all over the United States: eight tours in Panama and two in Curaçao and Puerto Rico in counter-drug operations, lots of them at night, catching drug runners. It was interesting work.”

Later, he learned to fly UAS and became an instructor pilot for the MQ-1 Predator, an experience that gives him a lot of traction in the UND UAS program.  JUAN PEDRAZA

Over There

Military puts the “D” in distance education

Active duty members of the military are proving that anyone who wants a degree from UND can get it using the University’s online distance education resources and government financial assistance programs.

Staff Sgt. Shaun McKewin, a Grand Forks native and member of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, is a senior majoring in criminal justice studies. Currently serving his third mission to Afghanistan, he hasn’t let being deployed overseas stop him from taking the courses he needs to complete his degree.

“All the classes I’ve taken are selfpaced, enroll anytime, which works very well with variable schedules and less-than-ideal Internet access,” McKewin notes.

The flexibility of online education helped when McKewin was sent to another part of Afghanistan and his textbook failed to arrive in time to make the move with him.

“That’s one reason I truly appreciate the nine months allotted to complete the self-paced courses,” he said.

When McKewin returns to the U.S. in late fall this year, he will need just one course to complete his degree. He started his freshman semester at UND in fall 2002 and joined the Guard in March 2004, then missed a semester because of training.

His first deployment to Afghanistan in 2005 caused him to miss four semesters. In March 2009, he went back on active duty for his second deployment to Afghanistan and elected to stay in the country for a third assignment with his unit.

“The base where I’ve spent most of my time is an airfield near the city of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province,” McKewin said. “Our job is to operate a tower-based surveillance system. Our team works out of the Base Defense Operations Center and works closely with other force protection systems and personnel.”

During his time in the field, McKewin has taken or is taking two

Shaun McKewin studies for one of his UND classes while serving in Afghanistan.

French courses, two anthropology courses, medical anthropology, and forensic science. He’s also taking advantage of the GoArmyEd program, which pays tuition and fees directly to schools.

“The student doesn’t have to pay anything up front, which makes it much easier,” he explained.

Carol Anson with UND Veteran Services says she receives numerous inquiries every week from active duty military personnel in the U.S. and abroad about the University’s distance education program, and according to UND’s Office of Institutional Research, there are more than 120 active-duty military personnel taking online courses from UND. “They have a list of classes to choose from, either correspondence or the regular semester-based courses,” she said. “Usually if they’re on active duty, they use the tuition assistance program that pays 100 percent of their tuition and fees.”

From there, Anson refers the potential online student to a contact in a department within their area of study where an advisor is assigned.

“The advisor will see if they have credits that transfer and determine what they need to do to get a degree online,” she explained. “They get advisement through the department so they know exactly what they need to do to graduate with that degree.”  PATRICK C. MILLER

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That’s how he’s taught ever since. Berger joined UND in 1987, and is known for his attention to teaching, students and the military. He returned stateside after years of teaching military personnel overseas, and came back to grade inflation. “I’m afraid I was a bit unprepared,” he said. “I came from an environment that understood that letting students skate was not good for the real world.”

For someone who “washed out” of ROTC officer training at Cornell and flunked the physical for his draft, he’s had a lot of military experience. And that has led to national recognition for his knowledge of military history and nuclear weapons, especially the Minuteman missile wings in North Dakota.

He recalls that after the Cold War, Russia and the United States signed a treaty to destroy hundreds of nuclear launch Before coming to UND, Professor Al vehicles including 150 Minuteman III silos in North Dakota Berger taught courses aboard an aircraft alone. In July 2000, Berger was featured on CNN, which carrier and at foreign military bases. covered the implosion of one silo near Oriska.

Since then, he has served on the State Historical Board, which preserves and exhibits an underground command post and one silo near Cooperstown.

Berger’s written on national security matters, foreign relations and diplomatic history and collective security. He has a close relationship with the Professor Al Berger is known for his attention U.S. Air Force and Army ROTC units on campus, and is active as a civilian with to teaching, students and the military the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

He straddles the academic and military worlds, and says he likes getting involved with people. Berger spent two years as president of the North Dakota When you teach the history of the Vietnam conflict to State Historical Board and six years on its executive committee. He helped bring people who have been shot at in that war, and you haven’t, it gives you about an expansion of the North Dakota Heritage Center. “It was a different a different perspective, said Al Berger, professor of history. experience than what a university professor usually does,” he said. “The project Before he came to UND, Berger taught college courses aboard was done by a large number of people, and it gave me an opportunity to learn an aircraft carrier, and at military bases in Japan, Okinawa and the how state government works, regardless of party. I enjoyed it.”

Philippines. It called for some diplomacy when a quarter of his The New York City native says he and his wife, Patricia, who serves as students had fought in Vietnam, he said. “They would describe what president of the United Way in Grand Forks, have built a life here. “We are part they’d learned from their experiences, and I’d talk about what I’d of North Dakota. It’s a good feeling.”  JAN ORVIK learned from books. We all learned something. It worked well.”

A Good Feeling

UND’s Army ROTC Fighting Sioux Battalion Sandhurst Team recently attempted to relive a bit of history on UND's English Coulee. One of the ROTC students in this photo is a huge fan of George Washington, and wanted to recreate the well-known image of Washington crossing the Delaware with his troops during the American Revolutionary War in 1776. Compare the original photo with this one. The students did a pretty good job.

Photo taken by Lt. Adam Courtright, UND Army ROTC

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&

Reaching Goals

the Drive for More

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by Matt Schill

When listening to Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, redshirt sophomores on the UND women’s hockey team, talk about their experiences playing for the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, a few key phrases keep popping out: Chance of a lifetime. Unique experience. Special opportunity.

There was more, though – a slight tone in their voice.

Even after they had achieved a silver medal playing for the USA at the Olympics, the drive for more is still evident.

“The night after the gold medal game, we were already talking to some of our teammates about Soshi and going for gold then,” Monique said, referring to the Russian host for the 2014 games.

That’s not a learned behavior. It’s one built into them by the community of Grand Forks and its people. It’s an attitude those who attended UND know well.

As quickly as the Olympics ended, goals shifted to the UND women’s hockey team.

“The Olympics are over, we’re done playing for USA,” Jocelyne said. “We’re Fighting Sioux now.”

Soon after the Lamoureux sisters returned from the Olympics, they were back in the weight room and on the ice at Ralph Engelstad Arena, training with their UND teammates. During the spring, the Sioux train five times a week. This summer, they normally work out six times a week, not including skating sessions.

For former UND student-athletes Zach Parise, ..’04, and Jonathan Toews, ’08, who played on opposite sides of the gold medal game for Teams USA and Canada in men’s hockey, the feeling was similar. The two battled in an instant classic, as Canada topped USA in overtime to win the coveted gold. Quickly after the Olympics finished, there wasn’t much time to think about what had been accomplished. Both jumped back to their NHL teams and led each to top finishes in their conferences.

S p o r t s N e ws opposite page: Jocelyne Lamoureux, who played for Team USA in the Olympics, is a redshirt sophomore on the Fighting Sioux women’s hockey team. Photo courtesy of Harry Hew, Getty Images left:

Zach Parise played for Team USA, which went home with the silver medal after losing to Canada in the gold medal game. Photo courtesy of Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

bottom right:

Monique Lamoureux said her favorite place to hang out during the Olympics was the trainer’s room, where she could see how each athlete prepared for game day. Photo courtesy of Alex Livesy, Getty Images

“At the time, it was devastating,” Parise said of USAs defeat. “But the longer you get away from it, you really appreciate the silver medal. In hockey, we’re trained that it’s first place and nothing else. Seeing other athletes accomplish their dreams and win bronze puts things in perspective.”

Both Parise and Toews shined under the spotlight of the men’s gold medal game. Both were arguably the best players for each team, and it was no more evident than in the final game.

Trailing 2-1 in the waning moments of the third period, Parise scored with 24.4 seconds remaining, silencing the crowd of red and sending the game to overtime.

Canada scored the winner in overtime, but Toews didn’t see it.

“It was tough to breathe, I was so exhausted,” Toews said. “The whole bench went crazy and I just knew it was over. I couldn’t believe it. Everyone was jumping off the bench and I didn’t know what to do.”

Toews was given the Directorate Award for best forward in the tournament and was named to the AllTournament Team. He led Canada in points, assists, plus-minus and face-off percentage.

Parise finished with four goals and four assists, and

was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

“All my [New Jersey] teammates were really excited,” Parise said. “Everyone on the [USA] team, I think, was getting recognized more.

People would come up and say, ‘Great job’ and ‘How exciting,’ wanting to take pictures.”

Behind the scenes for Team Canada was another UND alum. Brad Pascall, who played hockey for the Fighting Sioux from 1988-92, is now the senior director for Canada’s men’s national teams.

For the Lamoureux sisters, losing might have been a disappointment, but coming home and seeing the support from the Grand Forks community was a big boost.

“It’s great to have all the support we’ve had,” Jocelyne said. Neighbors had painted Olympic rings in the cul-de-sac where the Lamoureux family lives. “It takes the sting away from losing in the gold medal game a bit.”

“Everyone is so excited to see our gold medals and everything. It s um m er 2010

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Photo courtesy of HHOF/IIHF Images

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Jonathan Toews, a member of Team Canada, was given the Directorate Award for best forward in the tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

kind of puts everything into perspective. Yeah, we lost the game, but who gets the opportunity to play in a gold medal game? We were fortunate enough to, so having all the support takes the disappointment away a little bit.”

Not only did they play, but the Lamoureuxs were some of the best on the ice. During a preliminary game against China, Jocelyne threaded the puck between her legs, decked the defender and beat the goaltender, scoring a highlight-reel goal that became a viral Internet video hit.

“I had a bunch of texts and Facebook friend requests after scoring that one,” Jocelyne said.

In the semifinals, it was Monique that powered the United States to victory with a hat trick over Sweden. She finished with four goals and six assists.

The men’s gold medal game between the USA and Canada not only captured the hearts of hockey fans, but it became a classic watched by an estimated 27.6 million in the U.S. and two-thirds of Canada.

“What’s cool is that fans that don’t watch 30 Ἅ lu m n i R e v ie w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . or g

hockey all the time were glued to the TV,” Parise said.

What sticks out for the players though, are memories that were made off the ice.

Sitting in the cafeteria at the Olympic Village, the Lamoureux sisters looked around.

Chinese athletes. Canadians. Koreans.

NHLers. Others she had seen on television and in commercials.

Star struck? Maybe a little. Out of place?

Definitely not.

“We fit in there,” Jocelyne said. “It’s unique in the cafeteria. You see all these athletes, the routine they do on game day and how they act in their environment.”

Monique said the most memorable person she met was U.S. short track speed skater J.R. Celski, who was injured in the 2010 Olympic Trials and not expected to make it back after a cut to his leg. However, he continued to work hard and won two bronze medals in Vancouver.

The constant media attention was also memorable, Jocelyne said. The sisters were

interviewed by Tom Brokaw for a special feature during the broadcast. They met Lester Holt of NBC News, and turned the camera on him for a blog on FightingSioux.com. The entire USA team was also interviewed live on Ellen.

Some favorite spots though, were the quiet places, away from the hype. Monique said her favorite place to hang out was the trainer’s room, where she could meet and see how each athlete prepared for game day.

That technique might have backfired for her sister, however.

Before the closing ceremony, Jocelyne forgot her cell phone and had to run back and retrieve it. In her haste, she ended up tripping.

“I slipped and fell in some mud and sprained my ankle,” Jocelyne said. “Not my finest moment.” She did get some help, though.

Members of the four-man bobsled team carried her through the ceremony.

It may not have been pretty, but it’s one of many memories that these UND athletes will always remember. Especially as they keep working toward their next goals. 

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The End of an era

by Leanna Ihry

On April 8, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) directed UND President Robert Kelley to begin the transition to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo, a name the NCAA considers to be hostile and abusive. The decision came after a May 2009 SBHE vote to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo starting Oct. 1, a deadline later extended to Nov. 30, unless UND could win approval and a 30-year commitment from the two namesake tribes in the state – Spirit Lake and Standing Rock.

As part of his statement to the UND community following the SBHE decision, Kelley said, “UND is about people – students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends – who must come together if we are to successfully fulfill this mission. I ask our students, and alumni and all friends of the University to join me in the important work ahead as we define new traditions for the University of North Dakota.”

Following the Thursday announcement, emotions were high on campus and among alumni. At a press conference on April 9, UND athletic coaches answered questions from the media, expressing a strong sense of disappointment and loss. Women’s Basketball Head Coach Gene Roebuck said, “I will always be a Sioux at heart and it’s going to be very hard for me to move on to another logo.”

Men’s Hockey Head Coach Dave Hakstol’s sentiments were similar. “I’m very disappointed today, and it’s a very difficult day.”

Head Football Coach Chris Mussman recognized that UND still has one year to play as

the Fighting Sioux, and says he’s going to make it count. “The Fighting Sioux nickname doesn’t disappear overnight. We are going to cherish the time we do have and honor it.”

That afternoon, President Kelley held a public forum at the Chester Fritz Auditorium where students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members came to voice their concerns. Students wondered why they hadn’t been asked their opinions prior to the decision.

Another told the president he wants to be involved in the process of deciding a new nickname, and one student asked what was going to happen to the many Sioux logos at Ralph Engelstad Arena. One woman expressed her gratitude that the name had been retired. The majority, however, were not in favor of the change. You can find a video of the public forum and a copy of President Kelley’s statement at www.nickname.und.edu/logo.

UND will have one year to continue using the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo. In August 2011, at the start of the 2011-12 academic year, it will need to be retired, according to the SBHE decision.

In the wake of this decision, UND has the opportunity to apply for membership to the Summit League, a process that had been halted due to the nickname. Acceptance into the league means lower travel costs and automatic bids into NCAA tournaments. UND Athletic Director Brian Faison said UND’s sports teams could also be more selective in non-conference scheduling and have the opportunity to play some familiar teams again including North Dakota State University and South Dakota State University.  Editor’s note: The retirement of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo took place very close to the Alumni Review’s scheduled print date. We will continue to keep you updated as this process unfolds through the Review, our website and the AroUND e-newsletter.

UND coaches answer questions from the media at a news conference regarding the retirement of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

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Alumni Class News

Photograph courtesy of Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections/Chester Fritz Library.

Find out what your classmates are doing now!

In honor of our military theme, we feel this photo is the perfect fit. Are you in this picture or do you know anyone who is? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Send an e-mail to alumnireview@undalumni.net, or call Leanna at 800.543.8764.

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The picture below was printed in the Spring 2010 Alumni Review. We received several e-mails and phone calls from alums saying they recognized their fraternity brother Mike Wiest, ’79, and sorority sister Julie (Ziegler) Stark, ’81. The picture is believed to have been taken in 1978 or 1979. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed or called!

Memorial Sphere stands near Twamley as a reminder.

intermission features. He has also been a music study leader for Smithsonian tours. He lives in San Francisco.

1962

Ed Schafer, ’69, HON ’08, former governor of North Dakota and the 29th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, received a Special Service Award from the North Dakota Ag Hall of Fame Committee at the North Dakota Winter Show in Valley City, N.D. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Fargo.

Charlie Froebe, ..’62, received the Manitoba Canola Growers Association “Award of Excellence.”

He and his wife, Bonnie, reside in Carman, Manitoba, Canada.

1963 Vernon Keel, ’63, released a novel titled “The Murdered Family: Mystery of the Wolf Family Murders.” He and his wife, Bernadette, live in Denver.

1965 Paige (Holter) Pederson, ’65, ’73, was given the 2010 Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award in Bismarck, where she resides with her husband, Norris, ..’69.

1967

1940s

Remember when, in 1940, North Dakota was one of only five states to be named in the honor roll of the National Education Association?

1941 Gordon Caldis, ’42, ’48, received the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Henry Havig Award

for community service. He and his wife, Elaine (Vig), ’41, live in Grand Forks.

1960s

Remember when, in 1963, Old Main, which was squeezed between Merrifield and Twamley Halls, came down?

Today, the Old Main

Roger Horton, ’67, was re‐ elected to the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. He and his wife, Eileen, live in Santa Barbara, Calif.

1969 Clifford “Kip” Cranna, ’69, is director of musical administration for the San Francisco Opera.

He hosts the Opera Guild’s “Insight” panels and the San Francisco Opera’s radio broadcasts

Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

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1970s

Remember when, in 1974, female faculty, staff and students established a Women’s Center, which offered resources and programs for women?

1970 E. James Werre, ’70, a specialist in orthodontics, reopened his practice in Fargo and also practices in Wahpeton, N.D. He resides in Fargo.

1971 John Mohn, ’71, is president of Ideal Aerosmith in East Grand Forks, Minn. He and his wife, Kathy, reside in Grand Forks.

1974 David Brakke, ’74, was elected s um m er 2010

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>>> school of law class of ’66 reunion Seventeen members of the UND School of Law class of 1966, their spouses and guests, reunited in Mesa, Ariz., in early March. It was the 10th time the class has gathered over the years. The group took part in a social, dinner theater and a major league spring training baseball game, among many activities. Special guests at the closing session were UND School of Law Dean Kathryn Rand, ’90, and UND Foundation Director of Development Mark Brickson. Pictured front row, left to right: John Dahl; Anita (Anderson) Galloway, ..’62; Sharon (Fandrich) Dahl, ’64; VeeAnn Backes; Pat Forest; AnnJean Tibbetts; Dean Kathyrn Rand, ’90; Margaret (Thorstenson) Wall, ’63; Betty (Olsen) Wheeler, ’55; Connie Gerszewski, and Fred Gerszewski. Second row, left to right: Bonnie (Ellingrud) Orvik, ’64; Barbara Halldorson; Richard Forest; Tom Moga; Pat Solberg, and Michael Ward. Third row, left to right: Chuck Orvik; Burke Halldorson; Sid Overton; Norman Backes; Paul Brewer; Richard Wall; Robert Wheeler; Wayne Solberg; Mark Brickson; Gary Maddock, and Gerald Galloway. *Bolded names without a class year indicate the individual graduated in 1966.

as a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest scientific society and publisher of the prestigious Science journal. He lives in Harrisonburg, Va.

Joel Gilbertson, ’75, of Vogel Law Firm, was named to the board of directors for State Law Resources. He and his wife, Janice (Erickson), ..’74, reside in Bismarck.

in Minnesota. He is responsible for all county government operations, which includes managing about 1,700 people. He and his wife, Colleen, reside in Duluth, Minn.

Craig Davis, ..’74, joined the Stadter Center in Grand Forks as a licensed addiction counselor.

He and his wife, Deborah (Mollison), ’81, reside in Grand Forks.

Ernest Godfread, ’75, ’77, joined the board of directors at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, where he and his wife, Carolyn, reside.

1978

1977

Darlene Stromstad, ’78, president and chief executive officer of Goodall Hospital, was

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Kevin Gray, ’77, is the county administrator for St. Louis County

Leonard Hoffmann, ’78, is a captain for Delta Air Lines, residing in Webster, Minn., with his wife, Margaret.

elected to serve on the board of governors of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society made up of more than 30,000 health care executives. She resides in Springvale, Maine.

Jo (Trutna) Van Winter, ’78, ’80, joined St. Alexius Minot Medical Clinic, specializing in family medicine. She is boardcertified in family medicine and pediatrics. She and her husband, Carl, reside in Minot, N.D.

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1983

1987

Russel Kuzel, ’79, is senior vice president and chief medical officer at UCare in Minneapolis. He and his wife, Mary, reside in New Brighton, Minn.

Kirsten (Kargel) Beck, ’83, ’86, is office manager at the Village Family Service Center in Lakota, N.D., where she and her husband, David, reside.

Larry Olson, ’87, is an MD11 captain for FedEx, based in Memphis, Tenn. He and his wife, Allison, reside in Big Lake, Minn.

Rita (Skurdell) Schuster, ’79, was named president of the North Dakota Association of Realtors.

She and her husband, Tom, ’81, reside in Grand Forks.

Jessie Fuher, ’83, is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She runs a private practice, with offices in Valley City, Carrington and Jamestown, N.D., where she resides.

1980s

Brian Gora, ’83, is president of Goodrich Sensors and Integrated Systems. He and his wife, Donna, reside in Lakeville, Minn.

Remember when, in 1981, the UND student alumni group was formed? It was called Telesis, a Greek word meaning “to plan intelligently for the attainment of desired goals.”

1980 Robert Gayton, ’80, joined the board of directors at St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, where he and his wife, Roxana, reside.

William “Bill” Strand, ’80, was appointed vice president of business analysis at Service Credit Union in Portsmouth, Maine, where he manages business analysis, electronic services, ATM support, service quality, and members' financial services. He resides in South Berwick, Maine.

1982 Pete Hronek, ’82, was selected as the new wing commander with the Montana Air National Guard.

He received a Bronze Star for his service during two missions to Iraq.

He and his wife, Traci, live in Great Falls, Mont.

1985 Phil Hein, ’85, is a first officer with UPS. He and his wife, Susan, live in Burlington, Wis. Kathy (Ebenhahn) Lill, ’85, ’88, received a certified trust and financial advisory designation. She works at Alerus Financial in Grand Forks, where she resides with her husband, Carl, ’85.

Greg Wolsky, ’85, was named director of marketing at Holland & Hart, the largest law firm based in the Mountain West region. He and his wife, Liv Tollesson, live in Bloomington, Minn.

1986 Jim Dunkel, ’86, ’90, joined First International Investments and Investment Centers of America as a financial adviser for the West Fargo branch. He and his wife, Sharon (Mehlhoff), ’87, ’90, reside in Fargo.

Robert Geisler, ’86, is a captain for Delta Airlines. He and his wife, Kristin, live in Lakeville, Minn.

Brian Weig, ’87, ’95, is a senior associate with the litigation firm Patton & Ryan LLC in Chicago. He and his wife, Paula (Conneran), ’87, ’99, reside in Montgomery, Ill.

1988 Jennifer (Newell) Gallaway, ’88, ’91, is a personal banker for Starion Financial in Bismarck, where she and her husband, Mel, reside.

1989 Karen (Howell) Crane, ’89, was named associate director of annual progress fund and major gifts at Jamestown State College in Jamestown, N.D., where she resides.

1990s

Remember when, in 1992, Studio One, UND’s student-produced news and information talk show, was named the best college-produced news/public affairs/ magazine show in the nation by the National Association of College Broadcasters?

1990 Jeff Beach, ..’90, was named city editor of the Bowling Green Daily News in Ohio. He and his wife, Sarah (Olimb), ’99, reside in Lexington, Ky. Gerald “Jud” DeLoss, ’90, ’94, joined Krieg DeVault LLP law firm in Chicago. He is also chairman

of the American Health Lawyers Association, Health Information & Technology Practice Group. He and his wife, Joanne, reside in Deerfield, Ill.

Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

1979

Chad Lahman, ’90, is director of aviation for Level 3 Communications. He and his wife, Lori, reside in Westminster, Colo.

1991 Denise Banaszewski, ’91, is an attorney with Stokes Lawrence PS. She resides in Seattle.

Margaret (Pearce) Dahlberg, ’91, ’96, is vice president of academic affairs at Valley City State University. She and her husband, Paul, ’97, reside in Valley City, N.D. Rick Fillbrandt, ’91, is grain originator/merchandiser for Crete Grain Company in Oakes, N.D. He and his wife, Tracy, are relocating from Bismarck to Oakes.

Brian Hoffart, ’91, was promoted to director of land surveying at Widseth Smith Nolting. He and his wife, Tina (Hible), ’92, live in Grand Forks.

Jay LaBine, ’91, is medical director with Priority Health in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he and his wife, Gayle, reside.

Jim Snyder, ’91, is president and market manager for Bremer Bank in Crookston, Minn. He and his wife, Michelle, reside in Thief River Falls, Minn.

1992 Stein Cass, ’92, is an engineering manager for Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation. He and his wife, Therese, reside in Longmont, Colo. s um m er 2010

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Tom Hauge, ’92, is director of sales and aviation insurance broker for Wings Insurance. He resides in Chaska, Minn.

Marc Kurz, ’93, is a research manager with UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks. He resides in Thompson, N.D.

1993

Ben Sclair, ’93, is publisher of General Aviation News. He and his wife, Debbie (Nisbet), ’92, live in Lakewood, Wash.

Darren Anderson, ’93, is assistant director of Hector International Airport in Fargo, where he resides with his wife, Sheri (Reinholz), ’93.

Neil Brackin, ’93, is director of air transportation for General Mills.

He and his wife, Kelly, reside in Minnetonka, Minn.

Kari (Drevecky) Harris, ’93, ’94, a physical therapist, practices at St. Anne Arundel Health Systems in Annapolis, Md. She and her husband, Tom, reside in Crofton, Md. Doug Holloway, ’93, joined CoreLink Administrative Solutions as vice president of compliance and audit. He and his wife, Andrea (Lindstrom), ’99, reside in West Fargo, N.D.

Chris Wolf, ’93, is a relationship manager for Alerus Financial in Grand Forks, where he resides with his wife, Penny.

1994 Matt Coleman, ’94, is an instructor pilot with Boeing. He lives in Seattle.

Ben Jacobson, ’94, was named Missouri Valley Coach of the Year for the second straight season. He resides in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with his wife, Dawn (Dakken), ’98.

Kari Larson, ’94, is a residential sales associate at Park Co. Realtors in Fargo, where she resides.

Jeanne (Devine) Narum, ’94, ’97, is compliance director in internal audit at Noridian Administrative Services in Fargo, where she and her husband, Christopher, live.

1995 Mark Ritter, ’95, is an occupational therapist with Verde Valley Medical Center’s EntireCare Rehab & Sports Medicine Experts in Cottonwood and Dry Creek, Ariz. He and his wife, Lori (Coey), ’95, reside in Cottonwood, Ariz.

Serena Townsend, ’95, is a first officer with Delta Air Lines. She lives in Newnan, Ga.

1996 Karrie Krear-Klostermeier, ’96, is an air traffic control specialist at the Minneapolis Terminal Radar Approach Center. She lives in Farmington, Minn., with her husband, Steve, ’95.

1997 T. Kevin Gray, ’97, ’02, joined St. Alexius Minot Medical Clinic, specializing in family medicine.

He is board-certified in family medicine and resides in Minot, N.D.

1998 Jason Basil, ’98, is a first officer for Southwest Airlines based at Chicago Midway Airport. He and his wife, Cynthia (Hurtt), ’98, reside in Granger, Ind. Amy Jo (Stinar) Rivera, ’98, received her administration degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She is lead teacher at East Union Elementary School in Chaska, Minn. She and her husband, Rick, reside in Shakopee, Minn.

Terry A. (Vivian) Trogdon, ’98, is a partner with Gerlach Beaumier & Trogdon law firm in Duluth, Minn., where she and her husband, Steven, reside.

>>> Little sioux fans You’re never too young to be a Fighting Sioux fan! Ella Springer (left), daughter of Bill, ’07, and Dawn (Satermo) Springer, ’04, Burnsville, Minn., and Madeline VerDouw (right), daughter of Brian, ’05, and Darcy (Satermo) VerDouw, ’05, Bismarck, aren’t even two-years-old yet, and are already cheering on their favorite team! That-a-way girls!

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Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

>>> An Unflinching Love Lieutenant General Vern “Rusty” Findley II has what anyone would agree is a big job. As vice commander of air mobility command for the entire U.S. Air Force (USAF), he’s the No. 2 man on a team of over 100,000 airmen. He and his command are responsible for the bulk of the USAF’s strategic transportation assets and mission. In simple terms, if an Air Force base has big airplanes, Findley’s command is in charge operating combat delivery and strategic airlift, air refueling, and aeromedical and special mission aircraft for national interests. “I’ve been able to get to where I am today with the help of a lot of people, both older and younger.

It’s one of those things – when you’re in the military, you’re on a great big team. You’ll never be successful if you don’t have great people to work with and work for,” the three-star lieutenant general said, adding that his current command has an aircraft taking off every 90 seconds, 24/7, 365 days a year, somewhere around the world.

Throughout his 34-year career, Findley has served all over the world. He was deployed to Baghdad for a year during Operation Iraqi Freedom, commanded an expeditionary combat unit during the Kosovo War and served in Saudi Arabia, to name a few. As commander of the 437th Airlift Wing following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, his unit provided vital support to Operation Enduring Freedom, airdropping daily humanitarian rations over Afghanistan on the first night of the war and tactically inserting the first non-special forces into a covert dirt airfield of Kandahar, Afghanistan. “I have counted every day since September 11, 2001. We are at Day 3,128 [on April, 5]. It serves as a daily reminder of what we’re being asked to do and why. I’ve seen the generation below me and the one below them in action as they do the bulk of the work, and they really are the next greatest generation,” Findley said.

While he’s been far away from home much of his career, Findley has had two tours at the Grand Forks Air Force Base over the years, one from 1978-81 and again from 199900. While here, he developed many friendships including one with John Marshall, ’59, ’62, whom he thinks of like a brother to this day. He also took the opportunity to further his education and earned a master’s degree in business administration in 1983. “I think in my heart, no matter where I go, Grand Forks and UND are always there. My daughter, Amanda, graduated from UND in 2005. My sister-in-law, Suzanne Anderson, is the registrar there. I think UND has been a big part of my success.”

Grant Weller, ’98, is deputy chief, AFOG C3 Division, for the Air Force Operations Group at the Pentagon. He and his wife, Marie, live in Springfield, Va.

2000s

Remember when, in 2002, UND competed in varsity women’s hockey for the first time in school history?

It’s a success he never would have imagined growing up.

Joining the military was not something Findley had planned for himself. In fact, he says he joined the ROTC program to get a scholarship and an education. At the time, the opportunity to serve his country was a bonus. Oh, how quickly his motivation changed. “If I would have thought back 34 years ago to this position, I never would have thought I’d have the honor of serving our United States Air Force in this capacity. Before going to war, I had a great and unflinching love for this country and what we stand for, but I think having the opportunity and ability to defend our freedoms the way I have in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq strengthened the feelings that were already there,” he said.

In his current position, Findley spends most of his time “guarding the flag pole” at the command headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He enjoys being able to spend more time at home with his wife, Sandra, while continuing to serve his country to the best of his ability every day. “I was talking to a young lieutenant the other day and I told him, ‘I’ll switch places with you today if I can do another 34 years of service.’”  LEANNA IHRY

2000 Sean Barnhart, ’00, is director of ministries at Park River Bible Camp. He lives in Northwood, N.D., with his wife, Anne.

Tracey (Magsam) Knutson, ’00, ’03, became a shareholder

in the law firm Johannson, Rust, Stock, Rasmusson and Knutson in Crookston, Minn., where she resides with her husband, Justin.

Mark Friese, ’00, an attorney with Vogel Law Firm, was appointed as criminal justice s um m er 2010

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>>> like father, like son Greg Zick, ’95, and his son, Grant, cheered on the Fighting Sioux as they took on the Minnesota Gophers during a WCHA playoff game on March 12. The two were glad to see the Sioux win, 6-0. Greg and his wife, Sandra, and family live in Maple Grove, Minn.

act panel attorney district representative, representing indigent clients in criminal defense matters in the federal court. He and his wife, Roxanne, reside in Argusville, N.D. Tami (Iverson) Parker, ’00, is a physical therapist at MeritCare Mayville Union Hospital. She and her husband, Scott, reside in Newfolden, Minn.

2001 Andy Arnott, ’01, is an air traffic controller at KCCR in Concord, Calif. He lives in Sacramento, Calif.

Barbara Lee, ’01, is employed by Lockheed Martin Corporation. She lives in Ladera Ranch, Calif.

2002 Adam Humpal, ’02, works at the terminal radar approach control for the Chicago area and resides in Joliet, Ill., with his wife, Paula (Benjamin) ’02.

Jerrid Sebesta, ’02, a meteorologist, joined the weather team at KARE 11 in Minneapolis, 38 Ἅ lu m n i R e v ie w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . or g

where he resides with his wife, Emily.

John Shockley, ’02, was named a shareholder with Ohnstad Twichell law firm in West Fargo. He and his wife, Kirsten, ’02, reside in Mapleton, N.D.

2004 Adam Baker, ’04, was promoted to station manager III for Delta Air Lines in Dayton, Ohio. This is his fourth promotion since being hired

by Northwest Airlines in 2005. He resides in Englewood, Ohio.

Ronald Smith, ’02, is regional aircraft sales director for Pilatus.

He and his wife, Sunniva (Hoff), ’02, reside in Boise, Idaho.

Matthew Hoffman, ’04, was selected by his peers as one of the Top 100 attorneys in Nevada through a survey conducted by Nevada Business Magazine. He and his wife, Sara, reside in Las Vegas.

Jaime (Chisholm) Tellmann, ’02, was promoted to manager at Brady, Martz and Associates in Grand Forks, where she resides with her husband, Andy.

Jeff Kluenker, ’04, is a captain for Ameriflight. He resides in Roseville, Calif.

Susan Wefald, ’02, was appointed to the AARP North Dakota Executive Council. She and her husband, Robert, ’64, reside in Bismarck.

2003 Joshua Axt, ’03, ’05, is an assistant chief flight instructor for helicopters at UND. He lives in Grand Forks with his wife, Kassandra.

Mark Larsen, ’04, is a project manager for the Operations Service Group with the National Business Aviation Association. He lives in Bethesda, Md.

2005 Robin Carriere, ’05, was promoted to mortgage shipper and closer for Alerus Financial. She and her husband, Steven, live in Grand Forks.

Joshua Christofferson, ’05,

was promoted to firefighter with Engine Co. 802 for the Fargo Fire Department. He and his wife, Jennifer (Boll), ’03, live in Fargo.

Kathleen Crane, ’05, was selected by the University of Mary to head its campus in Italy, acting as liaison between the university and the Handmaids of Charity, which owns the campus facility.

She will be moving from Maryland to Bismarck.

Jenni Glick, ’05, is assistant director of clubs for the Northwestern Alumni Association at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. She lives in Chicago.

Christina Sambor, ’05, is an associate attorney with Larson Latham Huettl LLP law firm in Bismarck, where she lives.

William Thomason, ’05, ’08, is an associate attorney at Larson Latham Huettl LLP law firm in Bismarck, where he resides.

2006 Jackie Stebbins, ’06, ’09, is an associate attorney with David R.

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Services in Grand Forks, where he resides with his wife, Erin (Austin), ’07.

Kevin Todd, ’06, is a staff accountant with Pulakos CPAs, a group of certified public accountants and consultants in Albuquerque, N.M., where he resides.

David Griswold, ’07, joined the sports department at the Jamestown Sun in Jamestown, N.D., where he resides.

2007 Jordan Grasser, ’07, ’08, is a design engineer for Advanced Engineering and Environment

Matthew Headley, ’07, is chief of legal assistance and claims at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, heading a three-person team that deals with a wide range of issues important to soldiers away from home. When he is not deployed with the North

Dakota National Guard, he lives in Bemidji, Minn.

Katherine Herzog, ’07, is an assistant director for the Downtown Business Association in Bismarck, where she lives.

Jenna (Barke) Solem, ’07, is a graphic artist with Minnkota Power in Grand Forks, where she resides with her husband, Cory.

Alex Warehime, ’07, is a speech therapist with Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence, Kan. She

earned a master’s degree in speech and language pathology from the University of Kansas in May 2009.

Alex lives in Lawrence.

Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

Bliss LLC law office in Bismarck, where she and her husband, Sean, reside.

2008 Jordan Engel, ’08, is specializing in imaging and copier sales at Fireside Office Solutions in Bismarck, where he lives.

Nicole (Hoffarth) Frize, ’08, is an inside sales representative with Avenue Right in Fargo, where she resides with her husband, Chase, ’06.

>>> DANCING WITH THE STARS arizona Heather (Robb) Novak, ’96, an Arizona realtor, recently took on a new challenge by competing in Dancing with the Stars Arizona. All money raised through the event supported the Arizona Kidney Foundation. Heather was paired up with a local dance instructor and spent about two months vigorously training for the competition.

She was chosen, among nine other women, based on her involvement in the community. Heather said she has always been quite active through running and tennis, so getting in shape for the competition wasn’t too difficult. Heather and her husband, Bob, and son, Sam, live in Paradise Valley, Ariz. The Fargo native says to this day she is proud to be a Sioux fan and even mentioned her alma mater in her Dancing with the Stars biography!

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Steinar Opstad, HON ’08, was decorated by King Harald V with the Medal of Merit in Gold for his service to Norway. The ceremony was held in Sarpsborg, Norway, a

sister city to Grand Forks.

Christopher Rausch, ’08, is an associate at Vogel Law Firm in Bismarck, where he lives and practices criminal defense and general litigation.

Brady Trenbeath, ’08, was promoted to loan officer for Bank

Embracing Diversity in the Military Entering the armed forces is first and foremost about serving one’s country. But it’s also much more than that. In reflecting on her time spent with the U.S. Air Force in foreign countries such as Greece, Japan and Germany, Colonel Brenda McEleney, ’80, noted that one of the best parts of her experience has been the cross section of people she has met. “In the military, you learn to live and work and play with people from everywhere,” she said. “We’re very diverse from all states, and ethnic and racial groups. You bring them together and you learn so much from each other.”

As the deputy command surgeon and command nurse for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, McEleney has met many people. Much like a chief operating officer, she oversees 11 medical treatment facilities throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Spain, and Norway, which provide health care to active duty military members in the Air Force, Army and Navy, and their families. She has come a long way from her farm days growing up in Forbes, N.D., population 64.

With a diverse group of people, there are also challenges in the form of culture and language. “Let’s say you’re at Ramstein and you can’t get a particular kind of surgery you need,” McEleney explained. “You may be referred to a German facility.

So you get there and the people are very well-trained and the equipment is excellent, but the equipment and language are different, so there are barriers there.” To ease any confusion, most of her facilities have patient liaisons, residents of each respective country who can speak the language and go with U.S. patients to the hospitals and clinics to help them understand why the heath care is different. “Then it’s not so scary,” she said.

McEleney is certainly not averse to challenges. When she was deployed for 70 days to Romania at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, she was put in charge of a medical unit that took care of troops going into Iraq from the north. However, when she first arrived at the base, there were no buildings, phone lines, electricity or running water. “In a medical treatment facility, how do you treat infections with no running water?” she wondered. The experience of coming up with an alternative plan — putting up tents and ordering hand sanitizer until better infrastructure could be set up — taught her to be creative.

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Forward in Grand Forks. He lives in East Grand Forks, Minn.

2009 Jeffrey “JJ” Ferguson, ’09, joined Choice Financial as a customer service representative in Grand Forks, where he resides.

Aaron Fornshell, ’09, joined Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc. as an engineering intern in Grand Forks, where he resides.

Mike Ruthig, ’09, is an account executive with Trojan Promotions, a Grand Forks-owned promotional marketing company. He lives in Grand Forks. ■

>>>

Sara Keller, ’08, joined Cumulus Broadcasting as a sales consultant for its five radio stations. She lives in Bismarck.

“Even if you don’t have the resources you need, you make sure you’re providing adequate care to patients,” she said.

McEleney said she first learned to overcome tough situations at UND. “We had really high standards in the College of Nursing,” she said. “You learned to strive for that, and it just becomes something you expect in yourself. When providing excellent care becomes a regular everyday thing, it is easy to do.”

What started as a way to pay for college tuition is near the end as McEleney plans to retire from the military this year after 30 years of service. She said she won’t take too much time off before she begins humanitarian and missionary work through volunteering. “I may just take some time off and be fully retired and let my husband [Dennis] take care of me a little bit,” she joked. “Sometimes he’ll say what great things I’ve been able to do, and I agree, but I just think of myself as little Brenda Martin from Forbes.”  JESSICA SOBOLIK

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Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

celebrations and additions If you would like your addition or celebration to be included in the next Alumni Review, please send a high-resolution photo to alumnireview@undalumni.net. Photos will be published in the order in which they were received, space permitting, and at the discretion of Alumni Review staff. We look forward to helping you celebrate! *We do not accept Facebook or mobile uploads.

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1995

[1] Chad Preabt, ’95, and wife Maureen, Chicago, a daughter, Leah Vail, Oct. 22. Leah joins big brother Owen, 4.

1999

[2] William Palmer, ’99, and wife Kati (Drellack), ’00, Superior, Wis., a son, James, Nov. 27.

2000

3

[3] Richard Bushaw, ’00, and wife Heather (Stadstad), ’99, Grand Forks, a daughter, Brynn Leigh, Feb. 21.

4

2001

[4] Jesse Gravdahl, ’01, and wife Jessica, Larimore, N.D., a son, Jack Henry, Feb. 12.

2002

[5] Peter Kriegler, ’02, and wife Tessa (Midstokke), ’04, Walnut Creek, Calif., a son, Lucas Miles, June 30.

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6

2003

[6] Jonathan Frazier, ’03, and wife Mandie (Aus), ’03, Austin, Texas, a daughter, Vivian Jenae, Feb. 12. Vivian joins big brother Anderson Lee, 18 months.

[7] Alex Hoime, ’03, and wife Laura, Berthoud, Colo., a son, Thomas Ron, Feb. 2.

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8

9

[8] George Reisdorf, ’03, ’07, and wife Erin (Stevenson), ’03, Grand Forks, a son, George Franklin, Sept. 25.

2004

[9] Brian Fisher, ’04, and wife Amanda (Heth), ’03, ’05, Dickinson, N.D., a daughter, Avery Mariah, Feb. 2.

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[10] Natalie Newman Muth, ’04, and husband Carson, Grand Forks, a daughter, Ella Nicole, Aug. 15.

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10

12

2005

[11] Courtney ( Johnson) Linghor, ’05, and husband Jeremy, Argusville, N.D., a son, Wyatt Lyndon, Dec. 31.

2006

[12] Joshua Eken, ’06, ’10, and wife Molly (Schultz), ’05, ’07, Grand Forks, a daughter, Lily Katherine, May

29, 2009.

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[13] Jory Nissen, ’06, and wife Kylie (Behm), ’04, Grand Forks, a daughter, Kamryn Jean, Dec. 22.

2007

[14] Ashley (Haugen) Toops, ’07, and husband Skip, Grand Forks, a daughter, Kora Mae, March 9.

Kora joins big brother Link Allen, 14 months.

2008

[15] Matthew Fetsch, ’08, and wife Kyla (Anderson), ’03, ’06, Grafton, N.D., a daughter, Cadence, April 6, 2009. Cadence joins big brother, Trevor, 2 1/2.

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celebrations

2006

[16] Tyler Tupa, ’06, and Emily Tobin, ’06, were married Sept. 4 in Grand Forks. The two met while working for UND’s student‐run television show, Studio One. Several Studio One alumni and friends attended the wedding. Pictured back row, from left: Monte Koshel, ’93; Cory Morlock, ..’05; Aaron Swanson, ’07; Jon Nowacki, ’05; Rob Parrish, ’08; Greg Enkers; Darren Lien, ’07; Alicia Sandbakken, ’07, and Fred Remer. Second row, from left: Tyler Tupa; Emily (Tobin) Tupa; Sarah Spencer, ’04; Amanda Nelson, ’07; Amber Michaela Schatz, ’05, and Melinda Lavine, ’06.

The newlyweds reside in Fargo, where Emily works for the sales and catering office at Ramada Plaza Suites and Tyler is an information technology specialist for Cetero Research.

2008

[17] Nathan Adams, ’08, married Shai Boe at the Hopper‐Danley Chapel on the UND campus on Aug. 8. The reception and dance were held at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Nathan is technical lead for the Office Word team at Microsoft in Fargo, where Shai is attending NDSU to obtain a pharmacy degree.

The couple resides in Fargo. Pictured from left: Paige Adams (current UND student); Mandee Hayes; Katie Clark; Shai (Boe) Adams; Nathan Adams; Carter Woodley; Jordan Buhr, ’09; and Nick Boe. ■ 42 Ἅ lu m n i R e v ie w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . or g

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in me m o r i a m 1920s

1950s

Moses P. Clouse, ..’28, Minot, N.D.

Alexander D. MacGibbon, ’50, Muncie, Ind. Harold J. Haubrich, ’51, Hallock, Minn.

Allen C. Nelson, ’51, ’56, Perris, Calif.

Lyle W. Schwoebel, ..’51, Portland, Ore. Rudolph E. Ziegler, ’51, Ellicott City, Md. Louis J. Hoppa, ’52, Rochester, Minn.

Donald K. Neal, ’52, Grand Forks Victor D. Sletten, ’52, ’61, Argyle, Minn.

Paul H. Potter, ..’53, Granite Bay, British Columbia, Canada Meredith K. (Anstrom) Baarstad, ’55, ’64, Chandler, Ariz.

Robert N. Campbell, ’56, Green Valley, Ariz.

Arnold J. Silbernagel, ..’56, Mesa, Ariz.

Charles R. White, ’56, ’62, Medical Lake, Wash.

Robert D. Roehrich, ’57, Richmond, Texas George W. Severn, ’57, Bemidji, Minn.

William H.R. Clark, ’58, El Dorado, Calif.

Alan K. Grindberg, ’58, ’66, Bismarck Norton D. Pladsen, ’58, Caldwell, Ind. John F. Behl, ..’59, Fergus Falls, Minn.

Jerry J. Keller, ’59, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Raymond R. Schale, ’59, St. Augustine, Fla.

1930s Leona V. (Booth) Gustafson, ’31, Minneapolis Wilma (Bond) McCarthy, ..’32, Seattle Phyllis (Auman) Worsley, ..’32, Boise, Idaho Mary E. (Brennan) Harstad, ’35, Glendive, Mont.

Lois I. (Thoraldson) Miller, ..’38, Monroe, Wash.

Robert J. Bodelson, ..’39, Monroe, Wash.

1940s Aida L. (Bateman) Colwell, ..’40, Spokane, Wash.

Eunice G. (Schmidt) Spruance, ..’40, Las Vegas Eileen G. (Cochrane) Quesnell, ’41, Twin Falls, Idaho Don V. Smith, ’41, ’42, Tucson, Ariz.

Walter S. Styer, ’41, Brooklyn Center, Minn.

Clifford J. Thomforde, ’41, Grand Forks Kenneth S. DeVillers, ..’42, Kensal, N.D. Matthew R. Sheppard, ’42, Valley City, N.D. Howard A. Slaatte, ’42, Cary, N.C. Ervin T. Staveteig, ..’42, McHenry, Ill. Lillian G. (Froiland) Ulvedal, ’42, Eugene, Ore. Robert G. Halliwell, ’43, Anaheim, Calif.

Mildred J. (Hildremyr) Hogg, ’44, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Mary V. (Dahl) Promen, ’44, Lima, Ohio Avonne C. (Skarsbo) Goodman, ..’47, Bemidji, Minn.

Donald E. McCullagh, ’47, Fargo Wallace L. Anderson, ’48, Houston Bonnie J. (Overland) Geiermann, ..’48, Hudson, Ohio Wilma G. (McDonald) Faini, ’48, Lexington Park, Md. Beverly J. (Peterson) Robards, ’48, Taylors, S.C. Betty M. (Molzahn) Van Liere, ’48, Brownsville, Texas Jean B. (Orth) Loepp, ’49, St. Paul, Minn.

Howard C. Levi, ’49, Aberdeen, S.D. Charles L. Lewis, ’49, ’52, ’55, Lancaster, Pa.

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1960s Mae E. (Wickstrom) Heggar, ’60, Grand Forks Llaney C. Norby, ’60, Kennebunkport, Maine John J. Schmitz, ’60, Thief River Falls, Minn.

Juel C. Thompson, ’60, St. Charles, Minn.

Susanne A. Tjornhom, ’60, ’67, Woodbury, Minn.

Jerome S. Bixby, ..’61, Fair Oaks, Calif.

Willard D. Larson, ’61, ’64, Woodbury, Minn.

Robert E. Nelson‐Kortland, ’61, ’64, ’69, Reno, Nev. Guy F. Woods, ’61, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Lester S. Ketterling, ’62, ’64, Mesa, Ariz.

Leo M. Reinbold, ’62, Bismarck Elmer O. Lindstrom, ’63, Lisbon, N.D. Bruce C. Meland, ’63, Mesa, Ariz.

Alvin F. Wagner, ’63, Anamoose, N.D. Jerry D. Dietrich, ’64, Grand Forks Richard A. Gehrke, ’64, San Jose, Calif.

Robert H. McWilliams, ’64, ’68, ’71, Bemidji,

Minn.

Janis A. (Montgomery) Rossell, ’64, Great Falls, Mont.

Gordon W. Dewald, ’65, ’68, ’72, Rochester, Minn.

John R. Gronvold, ’65, Tuttle, N.D. Arlyn M. Christianson, ..’66, Williston, N.D. Beverly A. (Helland) Grandbois, ..’66, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

James P. Heising, ’66, Fargo John R. Borland, ’67, Moorhead, Minn.

Donn A. Carlson, ’67, Kearney, Neb. Mary T. (Gallagher) Dahlen, ..’67, Tucson, Ariz.

John E. McElroy, ’67, Topeka, Kan. DuWayne H. Muth, ’67, Dilworth, Minn.

Geneva (Goodwill) Thompson Englebretson, ’67, ’73, Millersburg, Ohio Clayton M. Restad, ’68, Thief River Falls, Minn.

Susan J. (Hanson) Sand, ’68, Minneapolis Gary D. Sorenson, ’68, ’69, Hibbing, Minn.

Henry B. Unruh, ’68, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Don E. Baumann, ’69, Howard Lake, Minn.

Bob D. Dykes, ’69, Richland, Wash.

Lynda K. (Black) Lingvay, ’69, Whiting, Ind. Lyle K. Loritz, ’69, Auburn, Wash.

Norman R. Russell, ’69, Bridgeport, Ohio

1970s Bessie T. (Saude) Huso, ..’70, Aneta, N.D. Dennis Kosmatka, ’70, Park River, N.D. Nadine (Taylor) Ashby, ’71, Sunnyvale, Calif.

David S. Ryan, ’70, Devils Lake, N.D. Harry D. Whye, ..’70, Bellevue, Neb. Thomas W. Pierce, ’71, Rochert, Minn.

William J. Lawrence, ’72, Bemidji, Minn.

Richard M. Ellingson, ’73, Fargo Robert C. Fagerlund, ’73, Red Wing, Minn.

Lenora I. Nagel, ’73, Tampa, Fla. Craig L. Pesek, ..’73, Elk River, Minn.

Robert T. Roberts, ’73, Devils Lake, N.D. Vivian F. (Fox) Pankey, ’74, Dalton, Ga. Edward D. Kraft, ’74, Dickinson, N.D. David D. Kuehn, ’74, El Paso, Texas Daniel M. Hellerud, ’75, Karlstad, Minn.

2000s

James L. Johnson, ’75, Claremont, Calif.

Karen A. (Martin) Kocurek, ’75, Buffalo, Wyo. Sanford E. Soper, ’75, Grand Forks Robert G. Walsh, ’75, Minot, N.D. JoAnn L. (Mork) Meisner, ’76, Moorhead, Minn.

Roberta B. (Baird) Senn, ’76, Dickinson, N.D. Daryl R. Fee, ..’79, Moorhead, Minn.

Todd W. Foss, ’76, ’79, Fargo Bradley J. Burgum, ’77, Casselton, N.D. Gerald S. Fortman, ’77, Grand Forks

Maude A. Starr, ’01, Williston, N.D. Daniel A. Krippes, ’05, Buffalo Grove, Ill. Jeremy J. Kuiper, ..’09, Spirit Lake, Iowa

Faculty Siegfried Detke

Retired Faculty/Staff Elizabeth S. (Liuska) Koller Clifford J. Thomforde, ’41, Grand Forks John E. Jorstad, Springdale, Ark. Lloyd M. Nordling, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Thelma E. Willett, Grand Forks

1980s Robert B. Tollerud, ..’81, Maple Grove, Minn.

Mary E. Kelsch, ’84, New York City

Friends

1990s

Richard D. Anderson, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Sylvia G. (Vathing) Anderson, Sun City, Ariz.

Edwin J. Berge, Alsen, N.D.

Pamela M. (Hanley) Solseng, ’95, Fargo Michael J. Schultze, ’97, Lubbock, Texas

Invest in UND

Fern H. (Danielson) Bergh, Grand Forks Orville D. Carlson, Gilby, N.D. Richard C. Crandall, Chico, Calif.

Gerd D. Ebel, Bismarck Evelyn L. Fallon, West Chester, Pa. Abe L. Fox, Bismarck Helen L. (Haugen) Galegher, Thompson, N.D. Jeanne Gramer, Crookston, Minn.

James V. Halteman, Peoria, Ariz.

Robert W. Hart, Grand Forks June M. (Sticklemyer) Hennessy, Grand Forks Jeanette M. (Viney) Meyers, Lathrop, Mo. Alice A. (Sandgren) Olson‐Byron, Cavalier, N.D. Linda L. (O’Hara) Ramsey, Angora, Minn.

Juanne (Eide) Reichert, Crookston, Minn.

Vivian Truwe, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Thelma E. Willett, Grand Forks John E. Jorstad, Springdale, Ark. Lloyd M. Nordling, East Grand Forks, Minn.

BETTER BANK THAN YOUR

AND GET RATES

HOW DO CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES WORK?

WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT RATES?

In exchange for your irrevocable gift of cash or other acceptable assets, the University of North Dakota Foundation agrees to provide you an income stream for your lifetime.

The following chart illustrates the payments for a single annuitant with a gift of $10,000. Contact us for a personalized illustration based on your age(s) and gift amount.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE?

Anyone over the age of 65 who would like to contribute $10,000 or more may fund a charitable gift annuity. This vehicle may be of interest to donors who have low-yielding, appreciated assets, who would prefer a potentially higher, fixed annual income.

ARE THERE TAX BENEFITS?

Establishing a gift annuity generates a charitable tax deduction, saving you taxes. Part of each annuity payment is taxed as ordinary income, part may be taxed as capital gains if appreciated property is used, and a portion may be tax-free.

IS MY GIFT ANNUITY SAFE IN THESE UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES?

Payments streaming from your charitable gift annuity are not affected by the stock market or the general economy. Your annuity payments will always remain fixed, regardless of market fluctuations.

Age

Rate

Annual payment for a $10,000 gift

65

5.3%

$530

70

5.7%

$570

75

6.3%

$630

80

7.1%

$710

85

8.1%

$810

Rates effective as of February 1, 2009. Rates are subject to change.

TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT:

Katie Itterman Director of Gift Planning University of North Dakota Foundation 800.543.8764 or 701.740.5568 katiei@undfoundation.org w w w.und f o u n dat i o n .o rg

s um m er 2010

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Be

Future Ready.

Learn ONLINE!

Online Graduate Certificates and Degrees l Arts & Sciences l Business & Public Administration l Education & Human Development l Engineering l And More!

Get Started Today! www.distance.und.edu/alumni Toll Free: 1.800.342.8230

Online & Distance Education 46 Ἅ lu m n i R e v ie w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . or g

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OCTOBER 4-10

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Alumni Association Blogspot ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

www.undalumni.org

go

UND: On Target with the Minnesota Twins The University of North Dakota invites you to join UND alumni and friends, students, and faculty and staff for a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, July 31 in the NEW Target Field.

Pre‐game activities are being planned. Visit www.und.edu/twins for updates and ticket information.

For questions please call Dawn Botsford at 701.777.6393.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

100 Years of Ceramics Centennial Celebration The ceramics program at UND is alive, thriving and 100 years old. There are only a handful of clay programs in the USA that can boast that length of history. The events planned for the Ceramics Centennial highlight the historic and contemporary ceramics program at UND. The retrospective exhibition titled 50/50: The Cable Years/The Contemporary Years opened the celebration this spring. Two internationally recognized clay artists, Robert Archambeau and John Glick, conducted workshops in April, along with the dedication of the newly developed Myra Fine Arts Foundry and Kiln Yard. Launching of online access to the historic UND pottery collection in May and the North Dakota Pottery Collectors Society annual June convention in Grand Forks are a few of the other events planned. For a full schedule of events, times and places visit www.pottery.und.edu ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You're Invited The UND Alumni Association Annual Meeting is Thursday, June 24, at 10 a.m., at the J. Lloyd Stone Alumni Center. All alumni and friends are welcome. s um m er 2010

Alumni Review University of North Dakota Alumni Association 3100 University Ave Stop 8157 Grand Forks, ND 58202�8157

Baltic

Treasures Oceania CruisesCopenhagen to Stockholm June 10-21, 2011

From $3,699 per person double occupancy (Including airfare) Sail away on Oceania Cruises’ newest ship Marina to a selection of the loveliest sights Northern Europe has to offer. Enjoy upscale amenities, a beautifully-appointed stateroom, and the finest cuisine at sea on this grand vessel.

Your journey begins on Copenhagen and sails the northern seas to beautiful ports in Germany, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Finland. Discover distant monarchies, Baroque palaces, stunning harbors, and romantic canals on this magnificent journey through the legendary Baltic Sea.

TO BOOk yOur Trip or to view other Alumni Travel options go to www.undalumni.org and click on Events & Travel.

Or call 800.842.9023.