UND Alumni Magazine Spring 2022 by UND Alumni Association & Foundation

Spring 2022 | Volume 105 | Issue 2

OUR T IM E

TO FLY

UAS program builds on tradition of preparing the next generation of industry professionals.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

üvirtual school üvirtual meeting üvirtual checkup

A world of care wherever you are. Schedule a video visit with Altru today. Learn more at altru.org/virtualcare

WITH YOUR LOCAL NEWS Become a member for all your local news, UND sports, weather & more. You’ll gain all the benefits of membership: • Unlimited access to the Grand Forks Herald • Full access to all Forum Communications news network sites

UNDalumni.org/magazine

• Complete access to all e-papers, specialty news sites & apps

• Exclusive member events, deals, discounts & contests • Email newsletters delivered to your inbox

STAY CONNECTED & SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS TODAY!

GrandForksHerald.com/subscribe

SARAH KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE

#UND d u o Pr Sarah Nupdal Senior Vice President and Banking Legal Manager

BELL

UNDalumni.org/magazine

www.bell.bank | Member FDIC

As a proud second-generation UND alum, I am continually impressed with the university’s growth and how UND continues to pave the way in providing a first-class education and preparing students to succeed in their careers. I am a more impactful, innovative and effective leader as a result of my time at the flagship university, and I proudly use the skills I learned at UND to provide legal advice and guidance to our Bell Bank teams. I appreciate the values of inclusive community and serving society as a whole that Bell and UND share. Working with Bell, UND students and alumni can be confident their finances – and those of their families – are well taken care of.

3 35043

COVER STORY

Epicenter of UAS UND is positioned as a world leader in rapidly growing UAS industry.

From Alyssa “Wow, I had no idea …” the UND Alumni Magazine team repeated as we developed the main feature of this issue focused on UND’s position as a world leader in Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The groundbreaking program, while being at the forefront of technology, is impacting industry and collaborating across campus to such an extent that it was difficult to encompass everything in this issue. Even so, we hope you learn something new about the great work happening right here at UND. If you have questions or further story ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at alyssak@UNDalumni.net. More stories in this issue you won’t want to miss: •

The next time you hear the song “Freebird,” you can think of your alma mater. UND alumna Carol Chase has been a backup singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd for the past several decades (page 28).

•

Esports as a major? Absolutely! UND is the first university in North Dakota to offer the program. See that and more headlines from UND Today on page 12.

•

A brand-new graduate, Sophia Jensen, who was a student intern here at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, tells how a special alumna mentor continues to guide her (page 33).

•

And one mother shares how her family is carrying on her daughter’s, and their sister’s, legacy right here at UND (page 50). Thanks for reading,

Alyssa Konickson, ’06 Editor, UND Alumni Magazine

ALUMNI IN ACTION

‘The fans make it all worth it’ Alumna finds her voice with legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

INSIDE

ALUMNI IN HISTORY

State’s first literary landmark Prize-winning playwright honored for his contributions to literature, art.

From the CEO

UND Athletics

From the President

On Campus

Features

Alumni Authors

Class Notes

Photo Share

ON THE COVER

Emmelinne Miller, ’22, double majored in Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. She’s pictured here flying a DJI M600 drone outside UND’s Robin Hall on campus. Photo by: Shawna Schill

In Memoriam

Thank you donors

UNDalumni.org/magazine

From DeAnna

A LWAY S R EAD Y

VOL. 105 NO. 2

SPRING 2022

UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION Chief Executive Officer DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86 Vice President of Marketing & Communications Sarah Prout, ’07

UND ALUMNI MAGAZINE Editor Alyssa Konickson, ’06, Associate VP of Marketing & Communications Lead Designer Jenny Wolf, ’03, Director of Creative & Brand Strategy Designer & Photographer Sara Titera, Graphic Designer Associate Editors Milo Smith, Senior Director of Public Relations & Videography Jenn Lukens, Director of Stewardship & Donor Appreciation Contributors, UND Alumni Association & Foundation Jeannie Tvedt, Senior Database Coordinator Melissa Garceau, AVP of Operations Alyssa Anderson, Associate Director of Impact Writing Contributors, UND Marketing & Communications Shawna Schill, ’06; Mike Hess; Patrick Miller; Janelle Vonasek, ’89

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Dr. John Gray, ’87 Vice Chair Jim Poolman, ’92 Directors Darla Adams, ’84, ’85 Lisa Barnes, ’88 Cindy Blikre, ’91 Scott Fredericksen, ’74 Angie Freeman, ’91 Randy Gershman, ’84 Mike Hamerlik, ’84, ’88 Marten Hoekstra, ’82 Jonathan Holth Dr. Michael LeBeau, ’02 Rick Lee, ’78 Chuck MacFarlane,’87 Doug Mark, ’86 Karen Phillips, ’77 Jodi Rolland, ’92 Dave St. Peter, ’89 Pat Sogard, ’82, ’86 Karen Thingelstad, ’89 Kathryn Uhrich, ’86 Chad Wachter Ex Officio Andrew Armacost Dr. Joshua Wynne Nancy Pederson, ’90

Jed Shivers Eric Link DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86

UNDalumni.org/magazine

The UND Alumni Magazine (ISSN 26896753) is published four times a year by the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation 3501 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: UND Alumni Magazine 3501 University Avenue Stop 8157 Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157 For inquiries about advertising, additional copies, submissions, or general comments, contact 800.543.8764, 701.777.5819 or AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net.

BLEED GREEN

Did you know that you can opt to receive your Alumni Magazine electronically instead of in the mail? If you’re interested in going green, email your request to AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net.

TO LAUNCH As I think about the opportunities that lie before today’s students, I remember back to 1986 when I first started working at the University of North Dakota Alumni Association & Foundation. Going on the road to alumni events with John Odegard, then chair of the Department of Aviation (the school had not yet been named for him) was an eye-opening experience. He would talk about the goals for the burgeoning program, building up our fleet of aircraft, and his vision for where we could go (he had just begun talks with astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who would help create the space studies program). Three and a half decades later, UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences continues to build upon John’s dream – from becoming the first university to partner with the U.S. Space Force, to the ongoing international acclaim in the field of unmanned aircraft systems, to our steadfast leadership in equipping aviation industry professionals. I wonder what John would say if he could see us now. As I think about how far we’ve come as a University in the past 30+ years, I can’t help but look forward to the next 30. I wonder how different my grandchildren’s lives will be from my own due to the technological advances and research happening right here at UND. No doubt they’ll be working in and considering careers that I can’t even imagine. This is all thanks to visionaries like John Odegard and others, the many faculty members, staff and students who continue to carry out his vision; and the alumni and industry partners who provide wonderful opportunities for growth and experience. That pioneering spirit has been ingrained from the beginning. The first eight graduates 133 years ago had big dreams for our University – could they have imagined that we would be focusing on space and unmanned aircraft today? Could they have imagined the immense collaboration across all areas of campus? One thing is for certain: today’s University leadership is committed to bringing us forward into the future. This year, thousands of UND alumni and friends had the chance to meet President Andy Armacost as we were able to introduce him and Kathy at events across the country. He shared his own vision for the future of our university, and let me assure you – the future is bright.

WE’RE BACK! Speaking of alumni events, we’ve been having so much fun these past few months – from Women for Philanthropy to the Champions Ball (page 8) to Hawks Hours. And there’s more to come! Check out page 49 for a list of upcoming events.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Our May board meeting welcomed our directors back to campus – some of them for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. I am ever more grateful for their guidance and dedication to UND. I want to thank two board members who have served out their terms and will retire from the board: Cindy Blikre, ’91, and Doug Mark, ’86. A special welcome to our new board members who will start their term on July 1: Kelly (Keeler) Karuso, ’91, Troy Bader, ’85, and Lara (Olsen) Prozinski, ’90.

HOMECOMING 2022! Homecoming week is scheduled for Sept. 26-Oct. 1, and we’d love it if you could join us back on campus! We’ll be celebrating the grand opening of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, among our other usual festivities, such as the UND Athletics Hall of Fame, parade, tailgating, football, and hockey games. Visit UNDalumni.org/homecoming for updated events and hotel block information. The UND Alumni Association’s signature event also happens every year during Homecoming, when we honor the recipients of our Sioux Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership along with the Young Alumni Achievement Award. Our Sioux Award recipients are Jody (Varberg) Feragen, ’78, Jack Marcil, ’63, ’68, Mark Sanford, ’66, ’76, and Sarah Vogel, ’67. Our Young Alumni Achievement recipients are Meghan Compton, ’06, ’10, and Paul Sallach, ’03. You can learn more about each of them in the next issue of the UND Alumni Magazine. I hope to see you on campus during Homecoming week! Sincerely,

UNDalumni.org/magazine

DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86, CFRE UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO deannac@UNDfoundation.org

Student-athlete

spotlight CHANDON PIERRE FOOTBALL

Hometown: Reno, Nevada Area of study: Criminal Justice & Law His scholarship: Travis O’Neel National Championship Scholarship Why UND? I was attracted to UND after my first official visit. I was welcomed with open arms by the coaches, staff, the teammates who hosted me. It just really felt like home – even though it was like negative 30 degrees. Pretty cold, but I was prepared. Chandon’s dream: To represent the underrepresented has been a goal of mine for a while – since I’ve taken interest in law. And since I’ve really paid attention, everything going on around the world related to justice, that’s been something that I’ve been focusing on.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

The support of the UND community: Means the world to me. Without the generosity of all the donors, I honestly don’t know where I’d be in my life. These scholarships give students like me and countless other student-athletes the opportunity to be successful that maybe we otherwise wouldn't have. I also think it’s important to remember that there were studentathletes who came before us, and UND and our athletic department is with us today because of those people.

Best UND memory: That’s easy – winning the 2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference Championship.

“Being able to get a world-class education while playing the sport I love isn’t an opportunity that everybody gets, and I’m very grateful for it.”

North Dakota

CHAMPIONS BALL APRIL 23, 2022

THANK YOU

$335,000+ RAISED FOR UND STUDENT-ATHLETES

SPONSORED BY

A LASTING GIFT

Scan this code to hear the special story behind Chandonʼs scholarship. UNDalumni.org/ball

UNDalumni.org/magazine

From Andy

MUCH TO OFF ER T H E

UAS WORLD

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, an author and Nobel Prize winner, once said, “The truth is that the first changes are so slow they pass almost unnoticed, and you go on seeing yourself as you always were, from the inside, but others observe you from the outside.”

IT CAN BE USEFUL TO CONSIDER HOW WE APPEAR TO OTHERS outside our organization and our state’s borders. In some respects, this applies to the University of North Dakota’s and the state of North Dakota’s involvement in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). We’ve been in this field for so long that it’s easy to overlook how our UAS ecosystem has evolved in a way that makes it unique in the nation. The number of UND alumni who have played important roles in UAS R&D, commercialization, education, and integration goes unnoticed on occasion.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

I got a sense of this earlier in the year when I was invited to chair the UAV Technology USA conference in Arlington, Virginia. Speakers at the event were from all branches of the United States military, the U.K. Royal Air Force, the Canadian RAF and the Australian RAF, as well as the UAS defense industry. They covered topics ranging from emerging technologies to training needs to potential areas of conflict around the world. UND was the only university with a presence at the invitation-only event.

During preparations for the event with our UND team, the question was posed: Why is UND at this conference? While it was likely many attendees had some knowledge of the University through the

John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, ROTC and the Grand Forks Air Force Base, many were probably unaware of the bigger picture in terms of our UAS accomplishments and experience.

We’ve been in this field for so long that it’s easy to overlook how our UAS ecosystem has evolved in a way that makes it unique in the nation. During my opening remarks, I sought to acquaint members of this important audience with what makes UND and North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem stand out nationally and internationally. As I went down the list of firsts we’ve accomplished, our long history in the UAS world, our impressive list of industry and government partnerships, what we provide in terms of research and workforce development, our ongoing association with the U.S. Air Force and Space Force,

UND President Andy Armacost makes a throw with his paper airplane design at the Red Bull Paper Wings event in late February at the Frederick “Fritz” D. Pollard Jr. Athletic Center.

and all the related fields of engineering, education, autonomous systems, computer science, policy, law, medicine and business, telling the story effectively in 10 minutes became my biggest challenge. All this made me realize and appreciate just how much UND and North Dakota have to offer in the civilian and military UAS worlds. Given the positive response our UND team received from conference attendees and the offer from event organizers to participate next year, it demonstrated why it’s imperative to emphasize UND’s history, our experience, our people, and our record of accomplishments. When I viewed our UAS ecosystem from an outsider’s perspective in an attempt to answer the “Why UND?” question, the facts made a compelling case for why our University will continue to play an important role in advancing UAS technology and workforce development.

Andrew Armacost President, University of North Dakota

ON CAMPUS

“At UND, I never felt judged. Everyone was so supportive. And I think because they believed in me, I believed in myself. I found confidence I never knew I had.”

L E A DE R IN A C T ION

FROM FOLLOWER TO LEADER L A UREN McCRE ARY, ’23

Student steps out of her comfort zone to pave the way for others. Lauren McCreary always thought she was more of a follower than a leader. And, in the matters of birth order and college choice, she was right.

UND, I never felt judged. Everyone was so supportive. And I think because they believed in me, I believed in myself. I found confidence I never knew I had.”

A Grand Forks native, McCreary was the fourth and youngest child in the family. Her eldest brother — 10 years her senior — had graduated from UND, as did the brother and sister who followed.

For starters, she underestimated the academic rigor of college and the adjustments that come with sharing communal living space with dozens of your peers.

“They paved the way for me, so when it came to applying for college, UND kind of felt like a nobrainer,” she said. What she didn’t know three years ago was just how far she would come. Today, the UND junior majoring in business management is paving the way for others.

Even so, it wasn’t always easy.

She had been a high school honor student. She’d hung out lots of times with her friends. What could be so different? “Coming in, I really thought I had a good idea of what to expect,” McCreary said with a laugh. “College gave me a real slap in the face. I said, ‘This is tough. This is really difficult.’”

supervisors, who encouraged her to go for the scary risks. They helped the follower turn into a leader. For two years, McCreary worked at the Info Desk in the Chester Fritz Library, one of the most forwardfacing spots on campus. As a student ambassador for University Admissions, she led campus tours. She joined UND’s Women in Business Club and was awarded a videography internship at UND. And most recently, she landed that coveted Walt Disney World College internship in Orlando. Nearly 12,000 students apply to the amusement park’s popular leadership program each year, but only 2,500 make the cut. “I want to show people that even though you’re maybe not as outgoing as someone else, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a leader,” she said. “You just can’t let the fear stop you from trying.” \\\

So, she reached out to her resident assistant, who turned out to be an inspirational role model.

Yet, she’s done it all. And she’s not finished yet.

“Now that I’m an RA, I really want to give back that way and be that person to lean on and make everyone feel welcome and at home.”

LEADERS IN ACTION

McCreary received the same solid support from her professors, academic advisors and campus job

UND.edu/leaders

“My nature is more go-with-the-flow … but I also knew I needed to break out of my comfort bubble and try new things if I was going to get the kind of leadership experience I wanted,” McCreary said. “At

“She totally got me through my freshman year. She talked me through all my struggles and told me about all sorts of help that UND offers. Scan with your phone’s camera app to meet more UND students.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

As a reserved freshman, McCreary said she never dreamed she one day could serve as a student ambassador, be awarded two internships — including one at Walt Disney World — or lead Bek Hall as a resident assistant.

ON CAMPUS

We are #UNDproud

Content courtesy of UND Today, the University of North Dakota’s official news source. Read more and subscribe at blogs.UND.edu/UND-today.

ART ON CAMPUS

ARTISTS MAKE MAGIC IN THE MUG

Sarah Heitkamp, ’14, ’17, said that even while she was a graduate art student at UND, she dreamed of bringing an art gallery to the heart of campus. The Hughes Fine Arts Center always had its own gallery, she said, but that’s just a bit off the beaten path.

GROUNDBRE A K ING PROGR A MS

FIRST ESPORTS BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN N.D.

This fall, the University of North Dakota will be the first among North Dakota’s colleges and universities to offer a Bachelor of Science in Esports, following recent approval by the State Board of Higher Education. This undergraduate degree program, which focuses on competitive gaming, arrives after two years of esports activity and development at the University, including the establishment of North Dakota Varsity Esports — which features students competing against peers across multiple game titles — as well as the introduction of an Esports Coaching minor in fall 2020. Both the esports major and minor are housed in the College of Education & Human Development’s Department of Kinesiology under Sandra Moritz, program director and professor of kinesiology and public health education. Moritz characterized UND’s newest degree program as having a core focus in sport performance, but it is ultimately interdisciplinary between kinesiology, public health, sport business, computer science and communication.

“The space is great, but we just don’t have the traffic there. Unless you’re in the building for another reason, you don’t see it,” Heitkamp, now manager and curator of UND Art Collections, said. “It’s just a challenge, and I think our art students and faculty definitely deserve better exposure.” And that’s exactly what they got with The Memorial Union Gallery — or as it’s affectionately called, The MUG. The all-glass-front gallery located prominently on the main floor of the new Memorial Union has been in operation since the fall, but Heitkamp said it was a few years back when she first saw the blueprints for the Memorial Union and asked if a space tagged as “retail” might be reserved for a gallery instead. The idea was met with immediate enthusiasm from students, faculty and administrators. The next time you’re on campus, just swing a right at the center of the Memorial Union when entering from the north. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

C U LT U R A L E V E N T S

K-POP, HANBOK AND THE CONSUL GENERAL OF KOREA

Nearly 1,000 people took in the sights, tastes and sounds at UND’s inaugural Feel of Korea event.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

The daylong cultural celebration held in November was co-hosted by UND’s Korean Culture Exchange Club and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago — along with UND’s College of Arts & Sciences and International Center. It included K-pop music performances, samulnori drummers – and of course, delicious Korean food.

Joonghwa Lee, associate professor with the UND Department of Communication and faculty advisor to the club, had reached out to the consulate in late September about bringing a little Korean culture to North Dakota. And in just a few short weeks, the grand event went on without a hitch. “It’s always been my dream to make this kind of event happen here and to bring these types of performances to North Dakota,” Lee said. “Some people may say North Dakota is not diverse, and physically, maybe it’s not so diverse. But people here have a desire to expand diversity. They have inclusion on their minds. They have a desire to learn and experience new cultures. I saw it today.”

A T M O S P H E R IC S CI E N C E S

M U LT I DI S CI P L I N A R Y S T U DI E S

WEATHER CHANNEL FEATURES UND SKYCAMS

FELLOWSHIP CONNECTS STUDENTS TO STEM RESEARCH Kinesiology major and future chiropractor Liz Deckert landed a NASA-funded Bridge Fellowship through the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium.

UND atmospheric scientist Aaron Kennedy’s office on the fourth floor of Clifford Hall provides a panoramic view of the western skyline of Grand Forks.

Just a few months into her junior year at UND, the space rookie from Devils Lake was doing cutting-edge research for NASA’s next-generation spacesuit. More specifically, she was testing upper mobility acceleration and range of motion for a spacesuit developed by Final Frontier Design, a company that already has three spacesuit components — boot, hip and waist joints — booked for the next trip to the moon. And though experts have questioned whether the mission will be ready for a 2025 launch, when it eventually does blast off, Artemis 3 is expected to be the first “crewed” lunar landing in more than half a century. The last one was Apollo 17 in 1972.

If he – or anybody else – wants an even better view, they can visit the Department of Atmospheric Sciences YouTube channel, where the Skycam located on the building’s roof is on air 24 hours a day. Video from UND’s Skycam is also regularly featured on the Weather Channel. Sometimes it’s a live view of the current conditions in Grand Forks, and other times it’s recorded video of weather phenomena, ranging from meteors to severe weather events to unusual cloud formations. There’s no formal agreement with the Weather Channel, but Kennedy said shortly after the Skycam went live three years ago, they contacted him about using the livestream. “I told them to make sure you put the University of North Dakota on it — preferably UND Atmospheric Sciences, so prospective students see it.”

MEMOR ABLE E XPERIENCES

FEAST OF NATIONS RETURNS

UND and its student International Organization brought the Feast of Nations back to the Alerus Center this March in grand style after the last in-person event in 2020.

Historically speaking, that’s a pretty big deal. And for 19-year-old Deckert, it’s one giant leap — no matter where her research lands. After all, not everyone can say they played a part in developing the spacesuit that astronauts could wear for the next 20 years.

It was the 60th anniversary of the event, first organized to share a meal and celebrate culture and diversity on campus and around the world, and this year’s theme was “Dazzling Diamonds.” Nearly 1,000 guests — all dressed to the nines in silk and sequins, suits and ties, and all kinds of festive ethnic garments — enjoyed a four-course meal that included delicacies from nations known for their diamond mines. Diners feasted on an Ajvar appetizer from Serbia, Red Borscht soup from Ukraine and either Chicken Ntaba from Congo or Chakalaka from South Africa. For dessert, there was Pavlova and Anzac Biscuits from Australia. The night was filled with upbeat music, beautiful dancing and a spectacular light show.

CAMPUS HONORS

HONORING INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY

The University of North Dakota won the 2022 American Council on Education/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation, a recognition of UND’s commitment to North Dakota, Grand Forks and student success. The award recognizes institutions that have responded to higher education challenges in innovative and creative ways and achieved dramatic changes in a relatively brief period. It includes a $10,000 prize.

As evidence of UND’s commitment, the announcement points first to the campaign that the University undertook with Grand Forks, “Our Town & Gown Story: Two Communities. One Vision. Endless Opportunity.” What began as a cooperative project between the city and the university to fix potholes morphed into a shared vision for a better community, the announcement notes. Moreover, the campaign also led to ongoing widespread engagement and spirited buy-in from individuals, businesses, and other organizations in the Grand Forks area.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

“UND is older than the state it resides in, yet it has regularly strived to find new and innovative ways to make its community a better place to live, learn, work, and play,” ACE and Fidelity Investments state in their announcement of the award.

One professor can touch the lives of many through the opportunities they create. Increasing support for our endowed faculty will allow us to:

Attract and retain outstanding teaching and research faculty

E XCE E DING

EXPECTATIONS

Newly named endowed chair trains teachers in underserved communities to apply engineering to every area of education. BY ALYSSA ANDERSON, ’18 ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT WRITING | UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION

Dr. Frank Bowman has been an asset to the University of North Dakota as a professor and chair for the College of Engineering & Mines (CEM) over the past 16 years. Bowman now holds the Thomas C. Owens Endowed Chair of Chemical Engineering, a title that was fully endowed in March 2022 thanks to gifts from many alumni and friends of the college. The position was named in honor of longtime CEM professor, chair and interim dean, Dr. Tom Owens.

Scan with your phone’s camera app to learn more about creating an endowment at UND. UNDalumni.org/guide-to-giving-endowments

Draw top-notch students who want to work with leading scholars

Bowman formerly held an associate professor title in Owens’ name and received allotted funds for special projects and research. With the funds, he launched Project ExCEED (Exploring Culturally Relevant Engineering Education Design), a joint research study between UND’s College of Education & Human Development and CEM, funded by the National Science Foundation. This project benefits elementary and middle school teachers who teach Native American and rural students in North Dakota. The main goal of Project ExCEED is to help teachers integrate culturally relevant engineering tasks into their classrooms, benefiting underserved communities in our state. Project ExCEED launched in spring of 2021 with eight teachers participating in the professional development sessions. In these sessions they learned to incorporate the engineering design process into their existing curriculum. Bowman is proud of the creativity and adaptability of the teachers and hopes that students begin to see applications of engineering in relevant aspects of their lives. “Engineering is about addressing some sort of real-world problem and finding a solution. In order to do that you need to understand the community and cultural concerns of the people involved, and that’s what we’re doing with this project,” Bowman said.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Bowman is passionate about his students and is always looking for fresh ways to help them

donors from

states

alumni from the

NISTLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION gave more gifts than alumni from any other college or school

Expand the University’s profile and participation across networks

Secure research grants and private support

Foster media attention and bring in national conferences

grow. Aside from launching Project ExCEED, he’s devoted his time to developing highquality online course materials for his classes, allowing his students to have a rich learning experience. The CEM has one of the highest ranked online programs in the nation, which is a big attraction for prospective students to the University.

Two additional endowments were created to fund faculty in the College of Engineering & Mines (CEM). The following were awarded their new titles by Dean Brian Tande for their excellence in teaching and research: The Michael and Sitney Lodoen Endowed Professorship in Civil Engineering was awarded to Dr. Daba Gedafa in March. Gedafa has been on staff since 2011 and has served as chair of the Department of Civil Engineering since 2018. Michael Lodoen, a 1965 CEM graduate, was former owner and president of L & D Construction Co, Inc. He and Sitney live in Cupertino, California.

Bowman is honored to hold the endowed chair position named after Owens, an influential leader within CEM who served the college for 33 years – 23 of them as chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering – before retiring years ago. “Obtaining the endowed position named after Owens is a great honor because Tom was amazing. Even in retirement, he’s still active in helping the department. As we bring in alumni, they’ll still talk about him and the great experiences they had with him as a teacher and mentor,” Bowman said. Through projects like ExCEED, Bowman is carrying on his predecessor’s influence on future generations of engineers. Bowman is eager to follow the results of this project. At this point, his research is focused on improving teachers’ self-efficacy and their integration of culturally relevant engineering instruction. In the future he’s interested in exploring the impact of these teachers on student perceptions as a part of future iterations of the project. \\\

The Tom and Carolyn Hamilton Fellowship was awarded to Dr. Sven Egenhoff in January. Egenhoff is the chair of the Department of Geology & Geological Engineering and director of the Harold Hamm School of Geology & Geological Engineering. Dr. Tom Hamilton, ’67, ’70, ’93, was chairman, CEO and president of Enserch Exploration Inc-EEX. He and Carolyn live in Houston, Texas. \\\ Frank Bowman Thomas C. Owens Endowed Chair of Chemical Engineering

1980s

450

$1.4 M

First-time Giving Hearts Day donors

Alumni from this decade gave the most gifts (thanks, Baby Boomers!)

total gifts

given

Thank you! UNDalumni.org/ghd

UNDalumni.org/magazine

176

BY MILO SMITH

UNDalumni.org/magazine

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION

T HE DRONE

UNIVERSE

With its founder’s wisdom as a guiding principle, UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is at the forefront of the rapidly growing commercial UAS industry.

John D. Odegard didn’t invent the concept of unmanned vehicles – that honor goes to famed inventor Nikola Tesla who filed an 1898 patent for a boat controlled by electromagnetic waves – but he did have a vision for the School of Aerospace Sciences at UND that allowed it to fold unmanned flight neatly into the curriculum of the nation’s foremost aerospace school.

Odegard, who famously founded the program in the late-1960s through grit and determination working out of a closet-sized office in Gamble Hall, wanted to not just teach students to fly, but to produce the next generation of aerospace industry professionals. That vision led the University of North Dakota in 2009 to become the first in the country to offer a bachelor’s degree in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

UNDalumni.org/magazine

A T IM E L IN E :

THE ODEGARD SCHOOL 1969: Formation of UND’s Department of Aviation.

1973: UND flies its first multiengine trainer, a Cessna 310.

In 1967, John Odegard got permission to start a ground school as a preliminary to opening a department of aviation. Would-be pilots learned the basics of flying, weather and mechanics.

U A S AT U N D

FIRST IN

THE SPARK

Jim Higgins, ’99, ’05, a professor in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and a co-founder of Airtonomy, a company that develops software for analyzing data collected by autonomous unmanned systems, says back in the mid2000s many people were skeptical of the future of unmanned aerial systems outside of military use.

Higgins’ company is just one example of the myriad enterprises that are part of the ecosystem anchored on one end by UND’s UAS program and on the other by Grand Forks Air Force Base (GFAFB) and the North Dakota Air National Guard.

“Honestly, I too was skeptical at the time,” said Higgins. “I was thinking, ‘I don’t necessarily see this.’ Boy, was I wrong! A lot of people were. But just having that [UND] leadership and its first-in mentality [was important].” In 2015, the New York Times named North Dakota the “Silicon Valley of Drones.” If anything, the state – and in particular Grand Forks – has become an even stronger epicenter of the drone universe thanks to state, federal, university, and entrepreneurial innovation. For example, UND was the only university invited to the UAV Technology USA Conference in Arlington, Virginia, in February. UND President Andrew Armacost chaired the event, which brought together representatives from all branches of the U.S. military services as well as British, Australian and Canadian Royal Air Forces.

Matt Dunlevy, ’10, ’20, ’21, founder of drone/helicopter data services company SkySkopes, wrote his master’s degree thesis on the history of Unmanned Aerial Systems. He says the tipping point for drone development in the state came when local leaders, including former dean Bruce Smith, convinced the Air Force to give GFAFB a Global Hawk mission as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission process. “The Global Hawk mission sprang forth an entire ecosystem here,” said Dunlevy. “The community got behind it and said, ‘Let’s play to our strengths.’ Without that ecosystem, there is no SkySkopes.”

GROWING AN INDUSTRY “I’m so thankful to our state politicians, our governor, and our congressional delegation because everybody is on board to grow this industry [in North Dakota],” said Tommy Kenville, ’88, cofounder of ISight Drone Services in Grand Forks. “If you count the air base, Grand Sky (a UAS-specific business and aviation park located near GFAFB), and at the other end, the smaller companies like ours, we probably have a couple thousand jobs that are drone-related. You get to a big number pretty fast – and 10 years ago, it was zero.”

215

STUDENTS CURRENTLY SEEKING A UAS MAJOR

STUDENTS SEEKING UAS MINORS

UAS SIMULATORS

TYPES OF SMALL UAS AIRCRAFT FLOWN AT UND

1984: Departments of Aviation, Computer Science and Meteorology moved to CAS I, now called Odegard Hall.

1984: John D. Odegard invites astronaut Buzz Aldrin to come to UND and help develop the space education program.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

1977: The Center for Aerospace Sciences is established to handle growth of atmospheric research and aviation education programs.

BY THE NUMBERS

ISight Drone Services formed from a merger of two small companies in 2016 that together had four employees (three of them being the founders). Now, the company has 30 workers; 26 are UND graduates. “One of the big keys for our own company is that UND had the vision early on to have a UAS major,” said Kenville. “Obviously, they’ve always had a great aviation program, but for them to have the vision to start a drone program … it’s huge. Our company would not be what it is today if it wasn’t for that program.”

“Everything that’s happening with UAS and all the different ways it could go … it’s really fun because it pulls people into aviation that never would have been pulled into aviation before.”

UNDalumni.org/magazine

PAUL SNYDER, ’93, ’06 DIRECTOR OF UAS PROGRAM

ISight focuses on energy, agriculture, and industrial work (“If it’s dirty, dark or dangerous, use a drone,” says Kenville.). Ryan Moriearty, assistant chief pilot at ISight, was one of the earliest employees of the company when he started shortly after graduating from UND in 2016. That same year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) put in place a regulatory framework known as Part 107 for widespread deployment of commercial drones. Prior to 107, commercial usage of drones was banned in the U.S. outside of narrowly allowed use by law enforcement agencies and on some movie and television production sets.

ISight UAS operator Logan Couture, ’21, was on track for a commercial pilot degree when COVID made job prospects dicey. He added a UAS major and hasn’t looked back. “I realized, holy smokes, this is kind of sweet. This is way better than flying for an airline.” Now, Ryan, Logan, and their fellow ISight pilots spend their days flying drones all over the country and world while Kenville looks to hire more of their fellow UND alumni. “We’re going to grow soon to about 40 people,” he said. “My guess is out of the next 10 hires, eight will be from UND.”

EXCITING TIMES Emmelinne Miller (pictured on the cover) hopes to find work in the commercial drone industry when she graduates in May. She is double majoring in Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. She is one of 215 students majoring in the UAS program with another 15 seeking minors. Growing up in St. Louis, Emmelinne flew drones as a hobby and is excited that something she used to do for fun will lead to a career.

That meant for the first eight years of the UND program, actually flying a drone could not be part of the curriculum. Ryan says he and his classmates got flying time by using their own drones on their own time. Given those regulatory restrictions, he wasn’t entirely sure what kind of job he’d be able to find in the industry. “It was tough,” he said. “There were a lot of promises that it was coming. Right as I was getting out of school, the early version of the regulations came out. It was affirmation that it was happening.”

“I’ve gotten to fly a lot of different UAS,” said Emmelinne of the UND program. “I’ve had classes on the theory behind mission planning, uses of drones, and data collection and processing the information you get with a drone.” Director of UAS Program Paul Snyder, ’93, ’06, is envious of the students starting out in the industry today. He says he wishes he was 21 again so he could experience it himself. “Everything that’s happening with UAS and all the different ways it could go … it’s really fun because it pulls people into aviation that never would have been pulled into aviation before,” he said.

1986: Dr. David Webb initiates the founding of the Department of Space Studies as an integral part of the UND College of Aerospace Sciences. 1992: Clifford Hall dedicated.

Emmelinne Miller looks forward to the career possibilities her degree in UAS Management will offer, from building and crop inspections to drone deliveries and beyond.

Snyder says students of today will be a part of some amazing advancements, which could include extended operations (beyond visual line of sight), cargo delivery, unmanned flying taxis, and, someday, pilotless commercial flights. Says Matt Dunlevy, “Drones will prove that they have a huge societal benefit. They are here to seriously increase the quality of life for even those who don’t know anything about them.”

The possibilities seem endless and Snyder says UND wants to remain nimble to meet not only the need for workers in the industry but lead in the way of research and development. There have already been several research projects involving collaboration with other departments on campus like computer science, biology, and engineering. He sees a future where all the various disciplines in the School of Aerospace Sciences – commercial aviation, space studies, air traffic control,

meteorology, and airport management – converge to integrate and advance the UAS industry. “We are here to create that aviation professional; whatever that looks like.” \\\

1996: Department of Space Studies begins offering classes through distance learning via www.space.edu.

1997: Name changed to John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

1995: China Airlines students in the new Jet SPECTRUM program start training in two Beechjet 400 aircraft.

2002: The UND Aerobatics Team is formed, flying two Super Decathlon aerobatic aircraft.

Jim Higgins, ’99, ’05

UAS CAREERS:

ALUMNI IN ACTION Tommy Kenville, ’88

AIRTONOMY

ISIGHT DRONE SERVICES [DRONE SERVICE PROVIDER SPECIALIZING IN AERIAL DATA DELIVERY]

Tommy Kenville, ’88, founded the first private drone company in North Dakota in 2011. In 2016, he merged with another small drone provider to create the company known today as ISight Drone Services.

The company, based in Grand Forks and with offices in Watford City, Fargo, and Minneapolis, has flown drones for clients in 40 states and eight countries. ISight drones have been used to inspect wind blades for defects, do thermal imaging of roofs to look for energy loss, help make sure cellular towers are positioned correctly, and inspect power poles for wear and tear. They are also used extensively in western North Dakota’s oil patch.

“The thing I’m most proud of about building this company is keeping young talent in North Dakota,” said Kenville. “Because every one of these kids would have left if there wouldn’t have been an industry or a job. And now they travel the world, but live here.”

Many of the company’s UAS pilots are also manned commercial pilots so they can fly chase planes when a project requires one (when a drone has to fly beyond line of sight). Of the current 30 employees of the company, 26 are UND graduates.

“I’m proud of that because we’re investing where the kids have come from to make us a good company.” \\\

Kenville believes in the UND program so strongly that his is the first drone company to create a scholarship in the UND UAS program.

[DEVELOPS SOFTWARE FOR ANALYZING DATA COLLECTED BY AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED SYSTEMS]

Airtonomy is a different kind of drone company. It develops software that allows drones to fly autonomously, do the work their payload is programmed for, and return to base—all with just a push of a button.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

May 2011: UND graduates its first five students with degrees in UAS operations.

2009: UND becomes the first university to offer a degree in UAS operations.

SKYSKOPES [DRONE-BASED INSPECTION COMPANY FOCUSED ON SERVICING THE ENERGY SECTOR]

Matt Dunlevy, ’10, ’20, ’21

The company was founded in 2018 by John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Professor Jim Higgins, ’99, ’05, then-UND computer science associate professor Travis Desell, and Josh Riedy. “We’re agnostic to the actual drone,” explains Higgins. “Whatever drone our customer chooses to use, our software will go on board to take care of all the flying automatically, it’ll automate the data collection, and it’ll automate the analysis of that data.” The company has grown over its five-year existence to 45 employees. Higgins says about a dozen are UND graduates with some from the UAS and aviation programs and others from mechanical engineering. “Our average payroll is six figures,” said Higgins. “So, we are hiring folks into really good jobs in the local

community, which is great for the economy and allows us to keep people here.” Airtonomy recently won the $1 million grand prize in the GENIUS NY accelerator competition. Nearly 600 companies took part in what is billed as the largest business accelerator competition for unmanned systems, Internet of Things, and big data startups. “There’s no doubt that served as a big validation for us and our plan,” said Higgins of winning the Shark Tank-like competition. “It has brought in world-class talent to our company, leading roboticists and people with tremendous industry experience. The future’s just really, really bright.” \\\

In 2015, SkySkopes became the first UAS startup in North Dakota to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly commercial UAS. The company was also the first to receive permission to fly at night. Founder Matt Dunlevy, ’10, ’20, ’21, says the idea for the company came to him as he was teaching an entrepreneurship class at UND in 2014. His students were assigned to create a business plan and asked him to show them how it should be done. As he was giving his presentation on his idea for a drone services company, he was suddenly “at a loss for words” as he realized he had a very viable idea. The company started slowly – shooting aerial footage of weddings and for real estate promotion. Eventually, Matt saw potential in the energy sector and went about convincing energy companies that drones could do inspections safely and at a lower cost than traditional

methods, which often involved manned helicopter flights. As they proved the worth of unmanned systems, SkySkopes was the first company in the country to use drones to string power lines, again a job traditionally done by helicopters. As SkySkopes has evolved, its pilots (many are UND alumni) fly helicopters when heavier data collections systems are needed and drones when the payload and vehicle can stay under 55 pounds (the limit set in the FAA’s Part 107 regulations for commercial UAVs). Now, Dunlevy says SkySkopes has offices all over the U.S. with its largest operation in Los Angeles where its pilots do wildfire mitigation missions for electric utility Southern California Edison. He credits the ecosystem that sprung up around the Global Hawk mission at Grand Forks Air Force Base for making SkySkopes a possibility and helping it thrive. “I’ve been all over the place for UAS missions and UAS-related events, and any time North Dakota is brought up, everyone starts smiling and nodding. It’s almost like a right of passage to be in the UAS industry to know that North Dakota has it going on with UAS.” In 2020, SkySkopes was named the top drone service provider in the U.S. \\\

2017: UND acquires its first Robinson R44 Cadet helicopter.

2014: The Northern Plains UAS Test Site opens headquarters.

2016: Robin Hall opens as headquarters for UND’s unmanned aircraft program.

2021: UND is the first university to partner with U.S Space Force. 2019: UND receives notice that it is the first UAS training provider to be approved under ASTM International’s UAS industry standards.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

2015: Grand Sky, the world's first UAS business and aviation park, breaks ground near GFAFB.

A L U M NI

AUTHORS Check out more great reads on our Alumni Authors spotlight at UNDalumni.org/authors.

Sarah Vogel, ’67, is a North Dakota farm advocate, attorney, and author. “The Farmer’s Lawyer” is a memoir about her landmark class action lawsuit, Coleman v. Block. She brought the historic case when she was a young lawyer and single mother, against the federal government, on behalf of 240,000 family farmers facing foreclosure during the 1980s farm crisis. She also served two terms as North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture, and was the first woman in U.S. history to be elected to this position in any state.

James Puppe, ’68, was honored with a 2020 Independent Publisher Book Award in the Midwest - Best Regional NonFiction category for his book, “Dakota Attitude: Interviews from Every Town in North Dakota.”

David Bailly, ..’72, ’76, has published “America ... Still Going,” a followup to his 2019 work “America Going, Going ...”. The books describe how the baby boomers were raised in the heartland by the Greatest Generation, and how those principles have been significantly discarded by subsequent generations, leading to the America of today.

Sharon Drewlo, ’88, a pediatric occupational therapist, wrote “Guide & Grow: Baby’s 1st Year.”

John Truesdell, ’67, has published a factual thriller called “Timeflash: How Fast Momentous Events Transpire in the Lifetime of One Man and His Family.” Barry Dalberto, ’70, has published “Brave Nisayenh Ma'iinga,” a sequel to his 2017 book, “Distant Dreamer.” He is retired, living in a small town near Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

David Espindola, ’87, published a business book titled “The Exponential Era - Strategies to Stay Ahead of the Curve in an Era of Chaotic Changes and Disruptive Forces.”

Denise Lajimodiere, ’78, ’96, ’06, has published a new book of poetry, “His Feathers Were Chains.”

Mike Jacobs, ’70, ’14, authored “The Duck Factory: A History of Waterfowl in North Dakota” and “The Bank of North Dakota | From Surviving to Thriving The First 100 Years.”

Jane Kurtz, ’95, has written “Chickens on the Loose,” a rhyming/counting children’s book inspired by her neighbors’ hilarious stories of backyard flock escapees. Mardeen (Whitty) Schultz, ’90, wrote and published her second children’s book, “Harry the Happy Troll.”

From the bestselling author of “But What if We’re Wrong,” “The Nineties” is a wise and funny reckoning with the decade that gave us slacker/grunge irony about the sin of trying too hard, during the greatest shift in human consciousness of any decade in American history. Chuck Klosterman, ’94, is the bestselling author of eight nonfiction books, two novels, and a short story collection. He has been a columnist for Esquire and ESPN.com and wrote “The Ethicist” column for The New York Times Magazine.

A.L. Bruno, ’97, crafted “Stars Forever Black: Book I of the Star Lion Saga” during the 2020 lockdowns. “On Quiet Fire,” and “Demons of the Dark” are currently in edit. Amalia (Stankavage) Dillin, ’07, released ”Son of Zeus.” She is the author of 22 novels and novellas and a handful of short stories, under three pen names – Amalia Dillin, Amalia Carosella, and Amalia Theresa. Joseph Holt, ’07, published his debut story collection, “Golden Heart Parade,” in September. It was a winner of the Santa Fe Writers Project Book Prize.

Judy (Price) Cook, ’68, wrote a children’s book about change, Ted and Lena’s Giant Fir Tree, during the COVID-19 lockdown. She also published a third edition of her popular memoir about her grandparents who homesteaded in Kidder County, N.D.: “If This Land Could Talk, Homesteading on the Northern Plains.” Judy lives in Southern California. Alastair Browne, ’89, has published his first book, released worldwide by HarperCollins. It is titled “Cosmic Careers,” co-authored by Maryann Karinch.

Elaine (Staael) Haugen, ’59, has had her book posthumously published by her family. “Rings of a Family Tree” is available through Amazon and the Dakota Store in Jamestown.

Jack Knutson, ’74, published a motivational book, “Pay the Price: Your Dreams Are Worth It.” Jamie Stoudt, ’77, published three novels in 2022: “Back Again,” “Don’t Get Caught,” and “Donna Carlasccio.” He lives in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Lisa Hesse, ’87, published her first book “Getting Past the Pandemic: Exercises for Healing the Emotional Trauma of COVID-19.” She works in infection prevention in northern Minnesota. Manuel Moran, ..’92, has released his new book, “Fountain of Health: Regain Your Health, Happiness, and Lose Weight. A Revolution in Health for Everybody.”

Shelly Matthews, ’84, co-authored a two volume commentary on the Gospel of Luke: Luke 1 - 9, and Luke 10-24. Volumes 43 A & 43 B of the Wisdom Commentary Series. She is a professor of New Testament at the Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth.

Gary Eller, ’65, has published a novel titled “True North” set in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota. He lives in Ames, Iowa.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Paul Legler, ’76, has been named a Foreword Indie Book of the Year finalist for his novel “Half the Terrible Things.” He lives in Minneapolis.

Keith Cohen, ’79, ’82, released his debut novel “A Season Unknown.” He is a child and adolescent psychologist practicing in Westwood, Mass.

T IM E OU T UNDalumni.org/magazine

WACIPI 26

Thousands of people from around the country were back at the Hyslop Sports Center in April for the 50th Time Out Wacipi Powwow. The celebration featured drum circles, dancers, handmade arts and crafts, traditional food, and ceremonies to honor graduates and dignitaries.

blogs.UND.edu/UND-today

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Use your phone's camera to scan this code to learn more.

BY MILO SMITH SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION

UNDalumni.org/magazine

“I JUST REALLY THINK THE MUSIC BUSINESS ITSELF KEEPS YOU YOUNG.”

Carol (Schulte) Chase, ’69, kept this newspaper clipping from her junior year at UND in a scrapbook. When she clipped it from the paper, she wrote at the top “the beginning.” “I guess it really was [the beginning],” said Chase while reflecting on the jam session. “I'd never sung with a group of musicians like this before.”

CHASING the

DREAM

CAROL CHASE, ’69, HAS SPENT THE PAST 25 YEARS AS A BACKUP SINGER FOR LEGENDARY SOUTHERN ROCK BAND LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

Carol (Schulte) Chase never wanted an office job. Even as a teen growing up in Stanley, North Dakota, in the 1960s, she wished instead, with all her heart, to be a singer. Little could she know that she would carve out a career in which she wrote a chart-topping country song and spent the past 25 years as a backup singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, one of the most popular southern rock bands of all time. “Most of my friends are doing much different things than me,” said Carol during some downtime from touring in the fall of 2021. “We flew on private planes in 2019 and I was thinking, ‘If my friends could see me now.’”

But the pull of music was just too strong, so it was back to Reno and eventually on to southern California, all in pursuit of that big break. Along the way, she had a daughter and got a divorce, complicating the tricky path to a successful music career. While in California, Carol won out in an audition to be the singer for the Cement, Gravel, and Rock Company band that played at Disney’s Tomorrowland six times a day. After a year-and-a-half, she left Disneyland to sing in a club on Ventura Boulevard and work to advance her career. She landed a record deal, sang in commercials, and got a big break when she wrote “We Belong Together,” which Susie Allanson took to #2 on the country charts in 1978. Not only was the success a validation of her efforts, but the $25,000 she earned kept her afloat. As it turned out, though, songwriting did not come easy to Carol. “My friends, they were all excited,” Carol says of the aftermath of the song’s success. “I had to tell them that that was the only song I’d ever written. ‘I don’t have any more songs!’”

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Upon arriving at UND in the mid-’60s, Carol immediately joined a band she found practicing in a downstairs room at the Memorial Union. After getting married, she dropped out junior year to seek a singing career in Reno, Nevada. When the money ran out, she and her husband moved back to Grand Forks and she finished her degree in Psychology.

PAYING HER DUES

NASHVILLE BOUND Looking to move her daughter out of California, Chase made the decision to pack up and take her ambitions to Nashville. She found success singing backup vocals in studio sessions with some of the biggest names in country music like George Jones, Tanya Tucker, and Ronnie Milsap. She also landed a publishing deal and wrote more music; Milsap and Martina McBride both recorded Chase-penned songs. It was through one of the many connections made throughout her career that she landed the gig as a Honkette (the name given to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s backup singers by vocalist/ songwriter Ronnie Van Zant).

IN THE BAND It was 1996 when Rickey Medlocke, who’d been with Skynyrd in the early ’70s and had just rejoined the band after fronting Blackfoot, called to tell Carol they needed a backup singer. She joined them for a five-week tour of Europe. She quickly learned that singing backup on stage is much different than singing backup in the studio. “One of the guitar players came up to me and said, “You have to sing louder.” I was trying to blend like you would in the studio. It’s totally different. When I get up to the microphone (in a live performance), you are doing your part with the other backup, but you sing loud like you are the lead singer.” The year after the European tour, she was hired back and has been with Skynyrd ever since.

“It’s really great,” says Carol when asked what it’s like to part of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band. “The fans make it all worth it. “I don’t really have a whole bunch of responsibility except you have to sing well. Have a good attitude. Try to look good. And you got it.” The band toured nearly continuously until the COVID-19 pandemic, taking Carol all over the world to perform for crowds as large as 110,000 people (2008 Bama Jam in Enterprise, Alabama). “It’s exciting, you know, all the people there to see you. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know a lot of different people and so I always have friends on my guest list that I can hang out with before the show. So, it's really great. Even if you're having kind of a down day for some reason, you just feel great after that. And there’s always pizza at midnight.” Chase says she is grateful for the career she has carved out for herself, especially when she considers the dreams she had singing with a friend on Main Street in Stanley as a teen. “My daughter asked, “How did you do this?” I said, “I really don’t know.” One thing led to another. I would go to the next gig. I would get a call. It’s something I can’t believe sometimes.”

LESSONS LEARNED Her North Dakota upbringing provided some valuable lessons in how to survive in the music business. “It is pretty amazing when I look back, but I always knew to save my money because you never knew where your next job was coming from. I always took care of myself because if you don’t have your health, you’re not going to be able to do this. And I never forgot where I was from. So, I can be on stage and it’s great, but then when I get off stage, I’m just Carol from North Dakota, which is not bad.” Carol is back on the road this summer. The band started a farewell tour in 2018, but it now appears the band may not be ready to say goodbye. The current tour is called the “Big Wheels Keep on Turnin’ Tour,” and with 35 shows on the schedule for 2022, it’s an indication that the end might not be near. That’s fine with Carol, who believes performing is the fountain of youth.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

“I just really think the music business itself keeps you young. The energy from the people, you just really appreciate it.” \\\

Former UND Alumni Association & Foundation President Earl Strinden introduces Carol at a performance during a 1989 Homecoming celebration.

“I NEVER FORGOT WHERE I WAS FROM. SO, I CAN BE ON STAGE AND IT’S GREAT, BUT THEN WHEN I GET OFF STAGE, I’M JUST CAROL FROM NORTH DAKOTA, WHICH IS NOT BAD.”

FREE AS A BIRD

Scan with your phone’s camera to hear Carol’s take on what it’s like to sing on stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

1983

CL A S S

NOTES Updates from UND alumni around the world. Want to share news with your fellow alumni? Email your updates to AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net or mail them to 3501 University Ave Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202.

1965 Laurel (Wallace) Reuter, ’65, ’67, ’74, ’07, has retired after 50 years as director of the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks.

1967 William Goetz, ’67, former chancellor of the North Dakota University System, received an honorary doctorate of business from North Dakota State University. He lives in Bismarck.

1973 Jace DeCory, ’73, was named the 2021 Crazy Horse Memorial® Educator of the Year. She is a professor emeritus of Black Hills State University (S.D.) where she taught for over 30 years. Joan (Sackreiter) Zook, ’73, came out of retirement to become the Sequim (Wash.) School District interim superintendent.

1975

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Dan Kuntz, ’75, ’78, retired as vice president, general counsel and secretary of MDU Resources Group, Inc. He lives in Bismarck.

Dr. Tom Seaworth, ’75, ’81, ’83, who lives in Detroit Lakes (Minn.) and practices at Perham Health’s New York Mills clinic, has been awarded the prestigious SSgt. Andrew P. Nelson Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service from the Boy Scouts of America.

1976 Meredith Bauman, ’76, retired after a 45-year social work career in elderly care. She is a Distinguished Alumnus of the UND Department of Social Work.

Mike Williams, ’76, ’79, of Maring Williams Law Office, was awarded the Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Service by North Dakota’s Eighth Circuit Bar Association.

1977

Wayne Roen, ’83, retired from 3M Company after a 38-year career in business management and engineering. He lives with his wife, Kris (Fawcett), ’82, in River Falls, Wis.

1984 Lynn Eaton, ’84, was elected to the Ward 5 seat of the Bemidji (Minn.) City Council. Dr. Dennis Hetland, ’84, joined Edward Kirk, DDS, in Wickenburg, Ariz. He formerly operated a dental practice in Fargo for 32 years.

Tina Tungseth, ’77, has retired from the Otter Tail County (Minn.) Sheriff’s Office after a 34-year career working in the County Detention Facility.

Terry Rasmussen, ’84, was elected secretary of Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. She is president of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

1978

Todd Hickel, ’85, has joined Cornerstone Bank as SVP/business banker in Parshall, N.D.

Rhonda Schweitzer, ’78, is a special education teacher at Drayton (N.D.) Public School. Deborah (Berg) Soholt, ’78, was named a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She lives in Sioux Falls, S.D.

1979 Hal Crawford, ’79, has retired after managing and owning a successful car dealership in Devils Lake, N.D., for 42 years.

1985

Dr. Dick Hoistad, ’85, joins Lovelace Medical Group’s Ear, Nose, Throat, and Hearing Center. He is one of two neurotologists in New Mexico.

Nancy (Stegman) Lyskawa, ’85, executive vice president of global client onboarding at Rimini Street in Denver, is a board member of Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Darcy (McGauvran) McKnight, ’85, is the Graduation Specialist at Bremerton High School. She and her husband, Tim, live in Gig Harbor, Wash.

1986 Jennifer (Kohns) Neppel, ’86, is the Chief Investment Officer at Pinnacol Assurance, headquartered in Denver. Janell (Johnson) Regimbal, ’86, was named to the list of Top 25 Women in Business by Prairie Business Magazine for 2022. She is a licensed professional clinical counselor, trained mediator, and skilled trainer who founded and owns Insight to Solutions in Grand Forks.

1987 Brent Finlay, ’87, is president & CEO of the Anaheim (Calif.) YMCA. Brent previously served the Los Angeles Metro YMCA.

F IN D T H E F L A M E

1982 Brad Rinas, ’82, ’90, announced his retirement after a 40-year career in education. Most recently, he served as superintendent of Washburn, N.D., schools.

Dr. Ken Kompelien, ’87, ’88, is dean of the School of Health Sciences, Human Services and Nursing at Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Rhonda Larson, ’87, ’90, was elected Chairperson of the U.S. Wheat Association. She lives in East Grand Forks.

1988 Sheri Haugen Hoffart, ’88, was appointed to the North Dakota Public Service Commission. She resides in Bismarck. Michele Johnson, ’88, ’91, was named one of the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics top lobbyists of 2021. She is the SVP of Government Affairs at Synchrony Financial in Washington, D.C. Peggy Stedman, ’88, has retired after 32 years of service with the CIA.

1989 Evonne (Wolfer) Amundson, ’89, is chief customer success officer for North Dakota Information Technology. Greg Ferch, ’89, was elected to the Idaho House of Representatives and received the Idaho Association of Chiropractic Physicians Chiropractor of the Year Award.

1981 Todd Saylers, ’81, has retired after 35 years managing safety programs for United Pulse Trading Inc., Hess Corporation, Black Hills Corporation, Basin Electric Antelope Valley Station and Dakota Gasification Company Great Plains Synfuels Plant. He lives near Riverdale, N.D.

Dan Kadrmas, ’87, was recognized as a BankBeat 2022 “Amazing Outside Director.” He lives in Fargo.

1990

Laura (Jeffrey) Polovitz, ’06, Evan Wondrasek, ’10, and Forrest Bjerkaas, ’81, were the three lucky winners of UND Alumni Association & Foundation prize packs in our Winter 2021 Find the Flame contest.

They found the flame hidden on the bottom right of the page, in the duck’s plumage. Have you found the flame hidden on the cover of this issue? If so, email AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net.

Eric Cederstrom, ’90, with over 28 years of educational experience, was hired as the Stephensville (Texas) ISD superintendent. Jud E. DeLoss, ’90, ’94, is chief executive officer of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, where he previously served as general counsel. Jud is one of the leading behavioral healthcare attorneys in the country.

A L U M NI IN A C T ION

ADVENTURE AWAITS!

SOPHIA JENSE N, ’22 & KA RE N RUTH, ’82

BY SOPHIA JENSEN

I was 14 when my mom took me to a Girls in Aviation event in my hometown of Lakeville, Minnesota. No one in my family works in aviation, so it was my first exposure to the field. I was able to go up in a Piper Cub through the Young Eagles program and fell in love. While I was there, I met Karen Ruth, ’82, a pilot for Delta. I remember looking at my mom and saying “Wait, I can do that too?!” She told me about an aviation camp held at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport and encouraged me to apply that following summer. I walked away that day knowing that’s what I wanted to do.

Karen has been my mentor ever since that day in 2014. She told me all about UND

I have a lot of people to thank for where I am today, but my fellow alumna Karen Ruth is at the roots of where my journey all started. I found aviation through her. She has always believed in me and continues to support me in everything. I am so grateful for her and all she has done for me. UND has taught me more than I could have imagined: How to be a leader, to overcome challenges, be independent, and to reach for the sky because the sky really is the limit (no pun intended). Thank you to UND for all the lessons I’ve learned and for the lifelong friendships, mentors, connections, and opportunities you’ve given me.

I’ve been fortunate to be involved in Women in Aviation, a tour guide for Admissions and Aerospace, social media ambassador with Aerospace, brand ambassador for Endeavor Air, co-founder of the “Faces of the Industry” event, VP of the nonprofit student leadership organization, VP of the aviation education student outreach program, student mentor for the Student Aviation Advisory Council, and am on the advisory board for Students Encouraging Other Students to Go Higher. I want to continue to give back and be a mentor to those younger than me who share the same passion just like Karen has been for me. She inspires me to be the best pilot and human being every day. I am where I am today because of her. If I went back in time to tell the 14-year-old me who asked if I could do it too, I would say yes, yes you can. Dream big and never, ever give up. Adventure awaits! \\\

UNDalumni.org/magazine

I attended that camp in the summer of 2015 and it solidified my love for aviation. I then began my private pilot training at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and obtained my private pilot’s license in January 2019.

and what the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences has to offer. I toured my junior year and applied that night. Fast forward to today: I’m a proud member of the UND Class of 2022. I work as a flight instructor here at UND and love every second of it. I was accepted into the Delta Propel Program and am planning on going to Endeavor Air once I complete my hours here.

CLASS NOTES

A L U M NI IN A C T ION

USA TODAY WOMAN OF THE YEAR E RICA T HUNDER, ’11 , ’1 4

Kristi Hall-Jiran, ’90, was recognized with Prairie Business Magazine's Top 25 Women in Business award. She serves as executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer of Altru Health System in Grand Forks.

1991 Rosanna (Malouf) Peterson, ’77, ’83, ’91, is the senior judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

1992 Terrie (Birkholz) Dusek, ’92, of Grand Forks, was honored as a Woman of the Month for September 2021 by P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized) for her outstanding contributions and achievements in the field of e-commerce. She is the CEO of Masters of Saving. Becky Lillie, ’92, joined Tessera Therapeutics, based in Cambridge, Mass., as the chief human resources officer.

Erica Thunder has dedicated her life to being an advocate for fellow Indigenous people across the country, earning her the honor of being named among USA TODAY’s Women of the Year for the state of North Dakota.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

She has been North Dakota’s Commissioner of Labor and Human Rights since June 3, 2019, enforcing the state’s labor and human rights laws and educating the public about them.

She previously served as judicial systems administrator for the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, working to improve relationships with state, tribal and federal agencies. She also served as a staff attorney for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in western North Dakota as well as the Ho-Chunk Nation

in Wisconsin, where she also served as project facilitator for its Department of Social Services. Most recently, she served as the Interim Executive Director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission, in addition to her role as commissioner. Erica grew up in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota, attending school in Bottineau. At UND, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a law degree and Indian law certificate from the UND School of Law, where she was vice president of the Criminal Law Association and secretary of the Student Bar Association. Thunder is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. Her tribal and spiritual name is “Te Hinuk,” which translates to “Lady of the Lake.” \\\

Angie (Elsperger) Lord, ’92, ’95, has been recognized among the Prairie Business Top 25 Women in Business. She is an attorney/ shareholder and litigation practice group chair at Vogel Law Firm in Fargo. Kathleen (Weiland), ’93, ’94, and Alex Thompson, ’92, ’93, ’05, opened Encompass Therapy LLC in Hettinger, N.D. They provide in-home physical therapy and recently opened an outpatient clinic.

1993 Twylah (Butler) Blotsky, ’93, president & CEO of Butler Machinery Co., was named to Prairie Business Magazine's Top 25 Women in Business. Jerrod Hanson, ’93, is the Chief Accounting Officer and Senior VP of Alerus Financial.

1994 Andrea (Erdle) Boe, ’94, was promoted to engagement director at Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. She lives in Grand Forks. Jon Erickson, ’94, was promoted to Brigadier General of the North Dakota National Guard. Erickson has served for over 27 years and resides in Bismarck. Becky (Nordine) Mindeman, ’94, received this year’s Top 25 Women in Business award from Prairie Business Magazine. She is SVP of Retail Banking at Gate City Bank in Grand Forks. Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan, ’94, ’97, received the North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal at the conclusion of his three-year tenure as commander of the North Dakota National Guard’s Land Component Command. Ryan is an owner and practicing attorney of Dalsted and Ryan, P.C. with offices in Jamestown and Carrington, N.D. Gretchen Thilmony, ’94, ’98, was appointed as the first female district judge in Becker County, Minn. She strives to use her role to create positive change.

1995 Brig. Gen. Matt Barker, ’95, United States Air Force, is serving as Chief of Staff, Texas Air National Guard, in Camp Mabry. Jason Metz, ’95, is the Information/Security Officer at Aspire Credit Union.

1996 Bill Bullock, ’96, was elected Carbon County Commissioner representing Montana’s Red Lodge District. He is retired after serving 20 years the Montana Highway Patrol as a trooper and field training officer.

Dr. Kenra (Ellenbrecker) Holzer, ’96, ’07, opened Mindful Way LLC, a psychotherapy practice, in LaCrosse, Wis.

Alyssa Westerlund, ’97, is the Director of General Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Martha Eliot Health Center.

Janice (Stone) Jordan, ’96, is the first Coeur d’Alene tribal member to serve as CEO of Marimn Health. The medical center is based in Plummer, Idaho.

1998

Nicole (Cloutier) Poolman, ’88, has retired as a North Dakota state senator, after serving District 7 for nearly a decade. She is an English teacher at Century High School in Bismarck. Ingrid (Luessenheide) Restemayer, ’96, was the featured artist in the exhibition “Talk to Me” at the Susan Hensel Gallery in Minneapolis. Brian Sandvig, ’96, was appointed to the South Dakota Board of Technical Education. He is the the CFO at Valley Queen Cheese Factory in Milbank, S.D.

1997 Jason Gelling, ’97, is a senior scientist with Stantec focusing on Brownfield redevelopment and transactional due diligence projects across the U.S. He works out of Stantec’s Maple Plain, Minn., office. Dr. Diana Kostrzewski, ’97, is the Chief Nursing Administrator and the Associate Dean of Nursing at Bemidji (Minn.) State University. Dr. Scott Lawerence, ’97, ’02, opened a new private practice clinic, Liberty Health, in Detriot Lakes, Minn.

Sonia Neameyer, ’98, joined the Caldwell Analytics team as a master trainer and executive consultant in their Chicago office.

1999 Randy Robinson, ’99, has been promoted to the position of Director, Risk Management Division, Arkansas Insurance Department.

2000 Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, ’00, was elected to a third term on the Westbrook (Maine) City Council and the city’s first female City Council President.

Josh Lunski, ’02, is a partner at Martin Mechanical Design, Inc. Lunksi lives in Grand Forks.

2001

Ben Murphy, ’02, ’05, is co-founder of Dunn Burgers, which recently partnered with other area producers to form 6-in-1 Meats LLC.

Adam Birst, ’01, was named Executive Director of the North Dakota Association of Counties. William Trent, ’01, teaches fifth grade at Belfield (N.D.) Elementary School.

2002 Cody Bartholomew, ’02, was brought on as a partner at Martin Mechanical Design, Inc. He lives in Grand Forks. Kevin Heazlett, ’02, is treasurer of American Crystal Sugar Company based in Moorhead, Minn. Michael LeBeau, ’02, was honored with Minot (N.D.) State University Alumni Association’s Golden Award.

Eric Schmidt, ’02, joins the 2022 University of Washington coaching staff as special teams coordinator and coach of the EDGE position on defense.

2003 Joseph Heringer, ’03, was selected as the Commissioner of the Department of Trust Lands by the North Dakota Board of University and School Lands. Angela Sersha, ’03, is among Prairie Business Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Business. She is Executive Director, Legal, at Sanford Health in Bismarck.

2004 Kristen (Jordan) Burbank, ’04, opened Three Dog Bakery in West Fargo in partnership with Megan Pechin Bergseth and Kelsey Yesteboe. Josh Munro, ’04, was elected to the Board of Directors for the Automobile Dealers Association of North Dakota. He lives in Rolla, N.D., with wife, Jenee, and three children. Kelley Ouradnik, ’04, is the Bowman (N.D.) Elementary School principal. Deanette Piesik, ’04, was promoted to Vice President, mortgage loan officer at Gate City Bank in Williston, N.D. Lance Podoll, ’04, is an educational strategist at Hillsboro (N.D.) High School. Nicholas Simonson, ’04, is an attorney in the Duluth, Minn., office of law firm Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A.

Jay Bushouse, ’00, is managing director - Midwest for Mente Group, a leading aviation advisory and brokerage firm. He has an office in Kansas City, Kan. Jayson Hajdu, ’00, is the new director of communication for College Hockey Inc. He lives in Shawnee, Kan. Dale Hoerauf, ’00, is the Association for Career and Technical Education’s Administrator of the Year. He is director of career and technical education for Bismarck Public Schools, Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy, Central Regional Area Career and Technical Center and Bismarck Adult Learning Center. Megan Thibert Ind, ’00, is a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP’s Chicago office practicing health care and civil litigation.

Conversations with UND’s influential alumni. Beyond the Pages is a virtual conversation series with University of North Dakota alumni from a variety of fields. This is your chance to get a closer look at the changemakers we’ve featured in the UND Alumni Magazine. We’ve recently featured attorney, advocate and author of The Farmer’s Lawyer, Sarah Vogel, ’67. Watch for new episodes on Facebook and YouTube. UNDalumni.org/magazine

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Carla (Kleinwachter) Vita, ’97, is director of the Energy Transition Office at Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Beth (Verwey) Kobbervig, ’98, teaches health sciences at Central Cass (N.D.) High School.

Brent Thompson, ’00, ’03, was named Executive Director of Legal Aid Service of Broward County.

CLASS NOTES

Richard Suggs, ’04, ’11, petroleum resource geologic analyst for the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, received a 2021 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Public Service: the Zezula Award – “One Who Helps.” Katie Tyler, ’04, ’06, has joined NDSU Extension as a specialist and program director for Rural Leadership North Dakota.

A S S E E N O N S OCI A L

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

LANCE WOLKENBROD, ’97 & LACEY ROBB, ’96, ’99 Lance Wolkenbrod, ’97 (Sigma Chi), and Lacey Robb, ’96, ’99, (Alpha Chi Omega) ran the London Marathon on Oct. 3, 2021. They met at a hockey game at the Ralph in 1996 and 20 years later they reunited and are now engaged. The couple plans to run the Chicago, Tokyo, and the Marine Corp marathons next.

CALL FOR INFORMATION!

VETERANS MEMORIAL UNDalumni.org/magazine

The University of North Dakota needs your help!

We are working on a memorial for the UND Memorial Union to honor students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have died in military service to the United States of America.

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE?

Scan the code with your phone or visit qrco.de/bcwglQ to submit names and information.

Brandie (Heilman) Ulland, ’04, ’09, is a professional learning specialist at South East Education Cooperative in Fargo.

2005 Jenny (Ulland) Altendorf, ’05, ’08, is the lead intellectual property specialist/contracts officer at the Energy & Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks. Kara (Fuchs) Gansmann, ’05, ’07, was listed in Business North Carolina Magazine’s 2022 Legal Elite.

2006 Nick Ingolfsland, ’06, is Chief Innovation and Technology Officer at Ulteig in Fargo. Chris Kuper, ’06, is the new Offensive Line Coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Kuper was a two-time All American at UND and was voted the recipient of the Denver Broncos’ Ed Block Courage Award in 2012. Janet (Pabin) Ostrander, ’06, was appointed Senior Director of Campus Center Operations.

2007 Carrie Coen, ’98, ’07, was named Chief Reliability Officer at Pullman Regional Hospital. She lives in Pullman, Wash. Martina (Wolf) Dvorak, ’07, ’17, was the 2021 recipient of the Graciela Wilborn North Dakota Foreign Language Teacher of the Year award from the Foreign Language Association of North Dakota. She is a German teacher for the Great Western ITV Network. Amanda Hauf, ’07, began a nine-month post as a safety engineer at a South Pole research station. Jenny (Bachmeier), ’07, and Jeremy Heidt, ’07, opened Pinnacle Chiropractic and Rehab in West Fargo. Ken Junkert, ’07, is retiring as director of the Administrative Services Division of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture after 32 years with the department.

Trevor Woods, ’08, ’17, is the Executive Director of the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in Grand Forks.

2009 Matthew Anderson, ’09, had his work featured in “From Here to Here,” an exhibition at The Arts Center in Jamestown, N.D. Katie (Anderson) Erickson, ’09, ’17, is a title/literacy instructional coach at Griggs County (N.D.) Central school. Eric Jacobson, ’09, ’17, a family medicine physician, is welcoming new patients at the Essentia Health 52nd Avenue Clinic in Fargo.

Brandon Nordstrom, ’07, joins the Pembina County (N.D.) Memorial Hospital’s Occupational Therapy department.

Mark Kruse, ’09, was inducted to the Letterwinners Hall of Fame at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton. He lives in Stansbury Park, Utah, where he is the General Sales Manager at Tooele Motor Company.

Dr. Jessica Titus, ’07, joined Essentia HealthSt. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minn., where she will specialize in vascular surgery.

Eric Lutzwick, ’09, ’14, adult geriatric nurse practitioner, has rejoined Bismarck’s Mid Dakota Clinic in the internal medicine department.

2008

Brittanie Mostad, ’09, joins the Pembina County (N.D.) Memorial Hospital’s Occupational Therapy department.

Allen Burgad, ’08, is the dean of the School of Education at Valley City (N.D.) State University.

Amy Ross, ’06, is an engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Ashley (Deboer) Engel, ’08, is a shareholder at regional accounting firm Brady Martz. She lives in Grand Forks.

Jacob Sherlock, ’06, attorney, has joined the partnership of Blethen Berens. He resides in Mankato, Minn.

Lisa Martinez, ’08, joined the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute as the Communications Coordinator.

Anthony Weisser, ’06, CPA, is a shareholder at Brady Martz in Grand Forks.

Dr. Joshua Ranum, ’08, was elected president of the North Dakota Medical Association. He held various leadership positions on the NDMA prior to his election as president.

Ryan Norrell, ’09, will serve as general counsel for the North Dakota governor’s office. Brittany (White) Sandvig, ’09, ’13, is a partner in MobilityPlus Rehabilitation, a private practice rehabilitation company in Valley City, N.D.

A L U M NI L E G A CIE S

WE BUILD THE FUTURE D E LTA UPSIL ON FRATE RNITY

Dr. Zachary Smith, ’09, was recently hired as a chiropractor at the Spirit Lake Health Center in Fort Totten, N.D., after nine years in private practice. He also serves as president of the North Dakota Chiropractic Association. Amy Vukelich, ’09, is an electronics technician in the engineering simulation branch of NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

2010 Daniel Dixon, ’10, is an orthopedic surgeon at Avera Orthopedics in Aberdeen, S.D. Amy Falck, ’10, has joined the Sanford Health Wahpeton (N.D.) team, specializing in adult health and internal medicine.

During its 60th year on campus, the Delta Upsilon fraternity is celebrating big with the construction of a new house on campus. The $6.1 million chapter house broke ground last fall, with alumni from each of the fraternity’s six decades on hand to witness the construction, which they are helping to fund. Lynn Luckow, ’71, serves as chair of the fundraising campaign. “Delta Upsilon’s history at the University dates back to 1961 with a formation of a fraternity that was different. That group promoted strong friendship, but also academic excellence. I’m so proud of the legacy we have here at UND. Cary Schilling, ’84, an entrepreneur and real estate graduate from Bismarck, said

the new house “has a beautiful design and curb appeal and will be built to stand for the next 100 years on campus.” Lynn, Cary and Grand Forks doctor Brad Aafedt, ’86, ’88, formed the core fundraising committee in 2019 with the help of a consultant. Fundraising efforts began in 2020 and have since secured pledges of nearly $4 million toward a $5.5 million goal. Dan Muus, ’93, Vice President of Philanthropy at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation and DU alum, pointed to the “Coulee to Columbia” campuswide renovation and building initiative, adding that the new house is a great example of private development in the corridor. Delta Upsilon expects current chapter members to begin moving into the new house in the fall of 2023. \\\

2011 Matt Bakke, ’11, ’13, superintendent of Devils Lake (N.D.) School District, was elected as the Class A East representative for the North Dakota High School Activities Association Board of Directors. Leslie (Riggs) Bieber, ’11, Alexander Public School District superintendent, was selected as North Dakota’s State Superintendent of the Year. Jon Godfread, ’11, North Dakota’s insurance commissioner, was elected to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Sarah (Barry) Nupdal, ’10, ’13, serves as the senior vice president, banking legal manager at Bell Bank at the Lights in West Fargo. She was named to Prairie Business Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Business.

Alex Holen, ’11, teaches math at Hope Page (N.D.) school.

Jeff Payne, ’10, is the middle market group manager at Huntington Bank at Huntington Bancshares Inc., in Minnesota. He holds the rank of Captain in the North Dakota Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force.

Sharon Lisph, ’11, is the public works operations director for the City of Grand Forks.

Brady Pelton, ’10, ’17, was named vice president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, where he previously served as general counsel and director of government affairs. Sarita (Pottorff) Schank, ’10, was recognized by Hart Energy’s 40 under 40 program, a nationwide recognition that honors individuals in the Oil & Gas industry who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, creative problem solving, leadership and community involvement.

Jake Landry, ’11, is the offensive coordinator at the University of St. Thomas (Minn.).

Jacob Nelson, ’11, was hired as the Austin (Minn.) High School head baseball coach. Nan (Pietruszewski) Nelson, ’11, is branch president of United Valley Bank’s Argyle, Minn., location. Ryan Stander, ’11, Minot State University art associate professor, is the first artist in residence at the Taube Museum of Art in Minot, N.D. Mathew Volkmar, ’11, is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Summers Manufacturing. He lives in Devils Lake, N.D.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

The old DU house, located at 505 Princeton St. on campus, was built in the 1970s with HUD funding. The new house will be privately funded and built down the street at 421 Princeton.

Shaun Seaburg, ’10, ’15, has joined the Carris Health Willmar (Minn.) Skylark Clinic as a physical therapist.

CLASS NOTES

A L U M NI IN A C T IO N

40 YEARS OF FISH & WILDLIFE ST E V E WIL L IAMS, ’79

Managing fisheries and wildlife resources isn’t only about following the science, it’s also about understanding public perceptions and managing public expectations, according to Steve Williams, president of the Wildlife Management Institute and a former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Williams, who attended Pennsylvania State University and earned his master’s degree in biology from the University of North Dakota in 1979, came to campus in April to speak to students, faculty and alumni about his 40-year professional career in the fish and wildlife field. The event was sponsored by the UND Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the Department of Biology as part of the Glenn Allen Paur Lecture Series. Williams outlined the changes he’s seen and experienced since the days when he and his wife lived in World War II-era tin huts on campus while pursuing their master’s degrees at UND. “We didn’t have two dimes to rub together, but somehow we found camaraderie,” he recalled. “We were all kind of in the same boat. It was a wonderful, wonderful two years here.”

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Early in his career as a wildlife biologist, the job revolved around protecting and preserving fish and wildlife for anglers and hunters.

“I would collect information, go to my director and say, ‘Here’s the decision we’re going to make because this is what the science tells us to do.’ That’s the way I originally started, and I’ve had quite an education since then.”

Williams described it as a command-and-control approach to managing wildlife resources. “We really focused on traditional wildlife. We were going to produce more wildlife. We told you that’s what we were going to do.”

“We need to start talking about the relevancy of conservation to the American public – to everybody, not just hunters and anglers.” Change is inevitable Although numerous technological changes have occurred to vastly improve wildlife research and data collection, Williams believes the greatest change to how the profession will continue to evolve is recognizing the public’s role in shaping the policies driving the future of wildlife management. “We used to think that people were always going to want to hunt and fish,” Williams explained. “Now that it’s declining, it’s made a lot of agencies take a look at where they’re headed in terms of funding for their

future. We need to start talking about the relevancy of conservation to the American public – to everybody, not just hunters and anglers.” This means seeing fish and wildlife not as resources to be managed, but as part of a public trust and assets to be preserved for the benefit of all Americans. “Those assets are held in the trust, and they’re administered and managed by people who are fish and wildlife agency folks, biologists and federal agency people,” Williams said. “We manage those assets in this trust for the beneficiaries – for everybody in the country. “It’s those folks that are on commissions or boards or legislatures that are the ones at the highest level policy decisions,” Williams noted. “They are the ones making the decisions. Our job is to inform them as best as we can. It’s difficult as you work through your profession how to understand and accept that role, but that is the role we play.” Glenn Allen Paur was a Pisek, N.D., native who graduated cum laude with a B.S. in fisheries and wildlife management from UND, where he served as president of the Fisheries and Wildlife Biology Club, and was a member of the Wildlife Society. He drowned shortly after graduating in 1978 while assisting a UND professor with his research on Leech Lake, Minn. \\\

Brice Welch, ’11, was honored with an American Bankers Association Under 40 in Wealth Management award. He is a vice president wealth advisor for Bremer Bank in Grand Forks.

2012 Dr. Danielle Beyer Langerud, ’12, ’17, ’21, has joined the Sanford Health Grand Forks Clinic. She specializes in psychology and behavioral health. Derrick Deering, ’12, ’15, is the project manager for the construction of UND’s Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. He works for PCL Construction in Grand Forks. Robb Jeffries, ’12, is the night editor for InForum.com and The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Luke Roller, ’12, clinical assistant professor of radiology with the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, has been named Associate Dean for the School’s Southwest Campus in Bismarck. Brittany Upton, ’12, has been named principal of Grimsrud Elementary School in Bismarck. Laurel Wessman, ’12, ’17, has joined the Carris Health Willmar (Minn.) Main Clinic as a dermatologist.

2013 Megan (Meyer) Beck, ’13, is a partner in MobilityPlus Rehabilitation in Valley City, N.D.

Shaun Klee, ’13, is the adult and technical services librarian at Grand Island (Neb.) Public Library.

Traci (Bentrup) Sletmoe, ’13, is a traffic engineer at Bolton & Menk, Inc., in Fargo. She was named a 2022 Top 25 Women in Business by Prairie Business Magazine. Chelsea Traverse, ’13, is the new Barnes County (N.D.) health officer.

2014 Michael Conlan, ’14, was a featured artist in ”From Here to Here,” an exhibition at The Arts Center in Jamestown, N.D. He recently returned home to North Dakota to raise his family and to have greater access to the landscape that inspires his work. Megan Coryell, ’14, has been named Citizen of the Year in Sidney, Mont. Tasha (Fladland) Dahl, ’14, teaches fifth grade at Drayton (N.D.) Public School. Kimmie (Stokes) Lynch, ’14, is an emergency room registered nurse at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, Minn. Courtney Davis Souvannasacd, ’14, ’21, was named a National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Native American 40 Under 40 honoree. Davis Souvannasacd is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and is an outreach coordinator at the UND Center Rural Health’s National Resource Center on Native American Aging.

2015 Liz Donner, ’15, was honored with the AAP’s Section on Early Career Physicians Award for Excellence in Education in 2021, for her work creating a community Facebook platform called “My Friend the Pediatrician.”

Tyler Kline, ’15, is a member of the Director’s Guild of America and is working as an assistant director in film and television. He has worked on over 30 films, television productions, and commercials. He lives and works in Atlanta. Ian Mabry, ’15, is the artist-in-residence in clay at Tennessee Tech University’s Appalachian Center for Craft. Kayla Noah, ’15, is dean of students at Dickinson (N.D.) State University.

2016 Isaiah Frohling, ’16, joined the law office of Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, L.L.P. in Omaha, Neb. Dr. Luke Holkup, ’16, joins the Lake Region Healthcare general surgery team in Fergus Falls, Minn. Rachel Marohl, ’16, joined the obstetrics and gynecology department at the Mid Dakota Clinic’s Center for Women in Bismarck. Elliot Weber, ’16, was hired as account experience liaison by AmerisourceBergen headquartered in Shakopee, Minn.

2017 Austin Alexander, ’17, earned his North Dakota Professional Engineer certification from the North Dakota State Board of Registration. Alexander is a civil engineer with Ackerman Estvold in Williston. Shelly Boucher, ’17, is an early childhood and elementary special education teacher for the Bottineau (N.D.) School District. Jacob Clausen, ’17, is an associate professor in the social science department at Valley City (N.D.) State University.

Kayla Gardner, ’17, was inducted into the inaugural North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame after a successful professional hockey career. Lauren Rogers, ’17, astronomy instructor at Pensacola (Fla.) State College, was honored as the 2020 Outstanding New Faculty Member by the PSC Academy of Teaching Excellence. Ryan Skoog, ’17, physician assistant, joined the Twin Cities Orthopedics and Lakewood orthopedics team at Lakewood Health System in Minnesota. Erica (Strunk) Spurgeon, ’17, is the newest 4-H extension agent in Pulaski County (Ky.).

2018 Austin Artz, ’18, was selected to serve a one-year clerkship with the North Dakota Supreme Court. Mallory Block, ’18, joins Conroy Legal Services in Bottineau as an associate attorney. She will focus on family law. Cameron McFarlin, ’18, joins KLC Engineering LLC in West Fargo, N.D., as the right-of-way associate. Keisha (Bullock) Onyeneho, ’18, a family medicine physician, is excited to welcome new patients at the Essentia Health Moorhead (Minn.) Clinic. Joshua Simmers, ’18, was appointed to the Consensus Council in Bismarck, N.D.

2019 Eli Hicks, ’19, was promoted to business banking representative at Bank First in Green Bay, Wis. Scott Klimek, ’19, is an institutional data analyst in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at Valley City (N.D.) State University.

Michael Prewitt, ’19, has joined the two-time Grammy-nominated band The Special Consensus as its mandolin player. Mitch Strand, ’19, is the new superintendent of Harvey (N.D.) School.

2020 Britni (Haugen) Carlson, ’20, is a special education teacher with the Fargo Public School District. Ellie Gillund, ’20, a certified physician assistant specializing in urgent care, joined the Essentia Health Duluth (Minn.) Clinic. Karalynn Johnson, ’20, PMHNP, APRN, CNP, joined the Sanford Health psychiatry team in Bemidji, Minn. Blake Masteron, ’20, joined the Energy & Environmental Research Center as an IT Support Specialist. Hannah Olson, ’20, is a packaging sales representative at Veritiv Corp. in Rogers, Minn. Andre Steiger, ’20, joined Dassault Systèmes as a Sales Associate in their first-ever Sales Academy program in Waltham, Mass. Cassidy Will, ’20, founded Labradorly Marketing in Grand Forks, specializing in small business marketing throughout the U.S.

2021 Emily Donabauer, ’21, teaches social studies at Tioga (N.D.) High School. Peter Henson, ’21, joined Interstate Engineering’s Jamestown (N.D.) office as a staff engineer. Jared Loing, ’21, is Drayton (N.D.) Public School’s K-12 physical education teacher. Michael Studer, ’21, joined the law firm of Reynolds, Harbott, Knutson & Larson, P.L.L.P. in Crookston, Minn., as an attorney.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Vincent Genareo, ’13, is an assistant dean and associate professor of assessment at Salisbury (Md.) University. He also serves as a program evaluator and researcher for numerous educational grants in Maryland.

Emmett Lynch, ’13, is a real estate broker with REMAX/Lake State Real Estate in Prior Lake, Minn. .

A L U M NI IN HI S T O R Y

LOVE LETTER TO A UNIVERSITY ALUM MA XW EL L AN D ER SO N C L ASS O F 1911

Maxwell L. Anderson, grandson of Maxwell Anderson, discovered a play manuscript and his grandfather’s 1938 diary in the archives of the Department of Special Collections in UND’s Chester Fritz Library.

Two people came to Grand Forks in March to honor the late University of North Dakota alum and famous playwright Maxwell Anderson by establishing the first Literary Landmark in the state of North Dakota.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Each left with a different experience.

For Maxwell L. Anderson, grandson of the prize-winning playwright, his first visit to the state where his grandfather was raised and his father was born became one of discovery. For Joel Vig, returning to Grand Forks, the community where he grew up, and UND, the university from which he graduated in 1976, it was something he described as a Rip Van Winkle experience. “It is exciting and joyful to see my hometown and my University thriving and stronger and better than ever,” he said.

Anderson and Vig spoke during a ceremony at UND’s Burtness Theatre to unveil the plaque from the United for Libraries Literary Landmarks Association recognizing Maxwell Anderson’s contributions as a journalist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and later a movie screenplay writer from the 1920s to the 1950s. Maxwell Anderson was born in Pennsylvania in 1888, graduated from UND in 1911 and died in Connecticut in 1959. During his lifetime, he wrote 55 plays, 32 of which were produced in New York Broadway theaters. Many others were turned into screenplays for films and radio programs.

Special discoveries in special collections In the archives of the Department of Special Collections in UND’s Chester Fritz Library, Anderson’s grandson described how he unexpectedly discovered two

hand-written manuscripts, one for a play his grandfather wrote that he didn’t know existed and another revealing the unknown history of a well-known play. Maxwell L. Anderson, an art historian, author and president of Souls Grown Deep – an organization advocating the inclusion of Southern Black artists in American art history – said, “I’ve spent a lot of time in archives over the years – all over the world – and was thrilled to be here to see archives that touched on my family’s history. “But I did not expect to see in my grandfather’s handwriting, both on a play I’d never heard of and the fact that his storied production, ‘Knickerbocker Holiday,’ began its life as ‘Knickerbocker History,’” Anderson said. “In his own hand, he crossed out the word ‘history’ and supplanted it with the word ‘holiday.’” Another find in UND’s special collection archives was a 1938

diary of the late Maxwell Anderson, which the grandson immediately shared with his brother and nine cousins. “We’re excited to imagine what might come of that script that came out of nowhere,” he said. “It’s all-important to have this collection in the safe, capable hands at UND.” Vig, as UND President Andy Armacost noted, was the person most responsible for launching the effort to establish a Literary Landmark at UND in honor of Maxwell Anderson. With a 40-year career as a stage actor in New York and having little to do during the COVID pandemic, Vig made it his mission to put Literary Landmarks in states where they didn’t exist.

Taking the initiative “I decided to give myself the job of reaching out to several of these states, including my home state of North Dakota,” he said. “I knew of Maxwell Anderson because I attended UND. I

decided to make the push to see if I could get him honored as the first landmark there.” Initially Vig contacted Grand Forks Herald columnist Marilyn Hagerty, who directed him to then UND Interim President Joshua Wynne, currently dean of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences and vice president for Health Affairs. He liked the idea, but let Vig know that incoming-president Armacost would be the best person to lead the project. It took only one phone call to convince Armacost to get onboard. “I give great credit to President Armacost because from the very beginning, he didn’t just say, ‘Oh, that’s a good idea. Let me think about it.’ And he didn’t give it to a committee,” Vig recalled. “I have to give him a pat on the back because that bronze plaque, which will now forever be on the exterior

“By my own standards I have not gone very far or achieved very much, but as a farmer or banker I’d have been a most unhappy man – and so I write this note of grateful appreciation to my alma mater, thanking it for being there when I needed it so badly, and for supplying hope to the current crop of youngsters as they come to it from the windy plains.”

of this building, is going to commemorate a great North Dakotan, a great UND alum and a great writer who has given so much to so many people.” During the ceremony Vig read a letter from Philip Langner, president of The Theatre Guild, founded more than 100 years ago and considered one of the greatest production organizations of the 20th century. Langner compared Maxwell Anderson’s works to those of George Bernard Shaw, Eugene O’Neill, Robert Sherwood and Tennessee Williams.

A top UND graduate During her remarks, DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, noted that 14 years after Maxwell Anderson graduated from UND, he was considered one of the

University’s top 10 graduates. The first two issues of the Alumni Magazine included stories about the plays he brought to the New York stage. “I would say that Maxwell Anderson gave hope to many UND graduates over the years as an example of someone who did great things with a UND degree in hand,” Carlson Zink related. “Even now, 111 years after he graduated, I would strongly suggest that Maxwell Anderson is still among the top graduates of this outstanding University.”

and the events that helped shape our careers and who we are as humans,” Armacost said. “Clearly, the letter was a reflection on how Anderson’s time at UND positively influenced his life. “Let us learn from Maxwell Anderson’s words and his example,” he added. “Let’s make the effort to express our gratitude to those who have educated and inspired us to be a person in our own right.” \\\

Armacost pointed out that Maxwell Anderson is also remembered at UND for his “Love Letter to a University,” which he wrote in 1958 to credit UND for helping launch his writing career. “Throughout our lives, most of us will come to recognize the people, the times, the places,

UND alum and Grand Forks native Joel Vig was credited for launching the effort to have famed playwright Maxwell Anderson recognized on North Dakota’s first Literary Landmark.

EXCERPT FROM MAXWELL ANDERSON’S LOVE LETTER TO A UNIVERSITY

UNDalumni.org/magazine

UN D A L U M NI

PHOTO SHARE Did you get married, have a baby, get a new pet, meet up with classmates, or travel somewhere great? Share it with your UND family. Send a high-resolution photo to AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net to be included in the next UND Alumni Magazine.

10 6

UNDalumni.org/magazine

1. David Duncan, ’73, his children, and his grandchildren, are proud UND fans. 2. Madison (Heisler), ’17, and Ryan Kelly were married July 30, 2021. Mother of the bride was Pam (Kolle) Heisler, ’90, and their wedding party included seven UND alumni. 3. Taylor and Craig Magnus, ’15, celebrated their daughter Isla Beth’s 2nd birthday in December. They live in Albany, Minn.

8 7

4. Julie (Morrison) Peterson, ’16, was married in October in Rome. Her bridesmaids were (left to right) Kaitlin Schmitz (married to Jay Nelson, ’13), Brittany (Reineke) Ronholm, ’17, Dr. Amy Finn, Peterson, Brooke (Pearce) Andrews, ’14, Karlee Penner, and Michon Kysilka, ’13, ’18. 5. Madison (Anderson), ’14, and Jacob Kunz, ’13, welcomed their first child, Penelope Jane, on June 12, 2021. Her grandfather is Richard W. Anderson, ’84. 6. Emily (Onken), ’14, and Ben Cason, ’15, were married on Nov. 13, 2021 in the Twin Cities. The wedding party consisted of seven bridesmaids and seven groomsmen who were also UND grads.

7. Jacy (Olson) Whaley, ’17, and her husband, Ryan, celebrated the holidays with their children, Fighting Hawks Junior Champions Brecken (4) and Hayden (2). The family lives in Fordville, N.D.

8. Margot Jo Entzel was born on July 20, 2021, to Kelly (Munter), ’12, and Kyle Entzel, ’11. She is adored by her big brother, Lewis, and big sister, Solveig. The Entzels live in Grand Forks. 9. On Dec. 21, 2020, Hope (Tschaekofske), ’16, ’17

and Lane Vendsel, ’17, ’21, welcomed their daughter Ingrid Rose. They live in Lenexa, Kansas.

11. During the last weekend of January 2022, 6 college friends met back on the UND campus, enjoying each other's company

12. Kaleen (Skramstad) Peterson, ’08, ’11, and her husband Travis Peterson welcomed their fourth son, Penn Lively, in October 2021. Big brothers are Sullivan, Sawyer, and Turner. The family lives in Valley City, N.D., where Kaleen is Director for Student Academic Services at Valley City State University. 13. Will Robert Marana, pictured with his brother Merritt, was born on Sept. 14 to Danica (Dvergsten) Marana, ’12, ’20 and Joseph Marana, ’10, ’18. 14. Abby (Schoenborn), ’13, and Andrew Cohen had a wedding party full of UND students and alumni (left to right): Tyler Rood, ’12, Erin Barta, ’12, Emily (Burkland) Montgomery, ’11, Abby (Schoenborn) Cohen, ’13, Kate (Schoenborn) Egan, ’17, Kylie Van Den Einde, and Lindsay Escobar, ’13. 15. Ana (Chisholm), ’19, and Benjiman Wilebski, ’20, welcomed their first child, Autumn Loren, on Sept. 25, 2021. The family lives in Grand Forks, where Ana works for the UND Alumni Association & Foundation as our Associate Director of Campaign Writing and Benjiman attends the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences. 16. Jenny Wolf, ’03, and Matt Nelson, ’98, ’16, along with their children Graham and Cora welcomed Louie home in February. The family lives in Grand Forks. 17. Courtney Kiser (Schlosser), ’16, married Austen Kiser on Oct. 2, 2021. 18. Adam, ’11, and Jessica (Leong) Besse, ’12, welcomed their first child, Cameron Robert, in January 2022. Adam is a civil engineer at LHB and Jessica is an air traffic controller at Minneapolis Center. The family lives in Lakeville, Minnesota.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

10. Mark Langemo, ’66, ’72, celebrated his 80th birthday on Dec. 3 with a sky dive over Punta Gorda, Fla. Langemo was a Professor of Business at UND from 1972-1999 and is an Honorary Letterwinner and former UND Teacher of the Year.

and UND hockey. The girls lived together at Bek Hall and everyone met during the first week of school in the fall of 1979. From left to right: Conrad, ’82, and Dawn (Schar) Miller, ’83, Heidi Torkelsen, ’84, Angie (Uhlich) Sundahl, ’83, Lynn (Fraser) Harrie, ’82, Kathy (Hagen), ’83, and Darrell Richter.

MEMORIAM We dedicate these pages to members of the University of North Dakota family who have recently passed away.

1930s George E. Stadstad, ..’36 Grand Forks Thomas C. Glasscock, MD, ’39, ’40 Ponca City, Okla.

1940s

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Helen (Oppegard) Stratte, ’40 Redding, Calif. H. Louise (Paulson) Nord, ’42 Grand Forks Ruth (Flett) Parnell, ..’42 Orrville, Ohio M. Eileen (Donovan) Nelson, ’43 Wahpeton, N.D. Camille (Sturdevant) Tylden, ’43 Cornwall, Pa. Shirley (Muske) Anderson, ’45 Warwick, N.D. Bernita (Erbele) Aaker, ’46 Lake Oswego, Ore. Virginia (Anderson) Clutter, ’46 San Antonio, Tex. Merle (Rhodenbaugh) Marquiss, ’46 Michigan City, Ind. Larry Aasen, ’47 Westport, Conn. Phyllis (Cruden) Berg, ..’47 Rugby, N.D. Dr. Gerald O. Sveen, ..’47 Bemidji, Minn. Lynn W. Aas, ’48, ’49 Minot, N.D. Arthur H. Forman, ’48 Grand Forks Blanche A. (Wentz) Kroeber, ’48 Williston, N.D. E. Hope (Lofthus) Banik, ..’49 Spring, Texas Melvia (Lee) Cheng, ..’49 Louisville, Ky.

James K. Falstad, ’49 San Diego, Calif. Helen E. (Fischer) Hallowell, ..’49 Corning, N.Y. Barbara A. (Billingsley) Montoya, ’49 Concordia, Kan. Gloria P. (Krom) Soiya, ’49 Minneapolis

1950s Darlene E. (Fisk) Alvestad, ’50 Shelby, Mont. Raymond J. Blessum, ’50 Council Bluffs, Iowa Orville E. Hesch, ..’50 Avila Beach, Calif. E. Douglas Larson, ’50 Minneapolis Albert F. Samuelson, MD, ’50, ’54 Bismarck, N.D. Norma E. (Stromberg) Thomson, ’50 Excelsior, Minn. Alvin J. Wittmaier, ..’50 Bismarck, N.D. Carmen (Larson) Bohlman, ..’51 Thompson, N.D. Col. Paul W. Buehler, (USAF RET), ’51 Glen Allen, Va. Jan (Holmquist) Erie, ’51 Fargo Dean C. Graves, ..’51 Albuquerque, N.M. Loria J. (Collette) Kelly, ..’51 Fargo Ray E. Lutovsky, ’51 Chelsea, Mich. Stuart J. McDonald, ..’51 Loveland, Colo. A. J. Charbonneau, ’52 Spring Valley, Minn.

Legendary NBA and University of North Dakota men’s basketball coach Bill Fitch passed away in February at the age of 89. While at UND, Fitch piled up 94 wins over his five seasons as head coach, helping the Fighting Sioux

Ralph D. Nienas, ’52 Portland, Ore. Mary T. (Kelly) Noah, ..’52 Fargo Beulah J. Pullen-Hodson, ..’52 Fargo John B. Arnold, ..’53 Green Valley, Ariz. Marlys M. (Lambertz) Geiger, ..’53 St. Paul, Minn. Frederick W. Harris, ’53 Bovey, Minn. Betty L. (Philipps) McDowall, ’53 West Parry Sound, Ontario James E. McErlane, ’53 Placerville, Calif. Kathryn L. (Mott) Burkholder, ’54 Ames, Iowa LaRae Y. (Robertson) Carlson, ..’54 Bismarck, N.D. Della M. Elhard, ..’54 Bismarck, N.D. Erwin R. Johnson, ’54 Maple Grove, Minn. Terry T. Larson, ’54, ’61 Casa Grande, Ariz. Robert G. Owens, ’54, ’55 Fitchburg, Wis. Dean R. Parke, ’54 Greenwood, Ind. Myra C. (Janke) Rada, ’54 Ellendale, N.D. John W. Scott Jr., ’54 Gilby, N.D. Richard A. Widseth, ’54 Crookston, Minn. Richard H. Alger, ’55 Austin, Minn. Rev. Don Bennett, ’55 Kearney, Neb. Robert R. Samuelson, ’55 Ames, Iowa Kathleen M. (O'Keefe) Sather, ’55 Minneapolis Norman C. Skalicky, ’55, ’13 St. Cloud, Minn. Dr. Fred L. Snyder, ’55, ’58, ’83 Oak Ridge, Tenn. Maxine (Gessner) Frank, ’56 Loveland, Colo. Dennis L. Graham, ..’56 Manhattan, Kan.

reach back-to-back NCAA Division II Final Fours in 1965 and 1966, led by future NBA Hall of Famer Phil Jackson. He was inducted into the UND Hall of Fame in 1993 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the Class of 2019, along

Robert J. Hentges, ..’56 Renton, Wash. Dr. Carol E. (Christensen) Oukrop, ’56 Manhattan, Kan. Dale S. Telle, ’56 Warroad, Minn. Bradley Charnholm, ’57 Mandan, N.D. Duane R. Jensen, ’57, ’58 Colorado Springs, Colo. Donald D. Miller, ’57 Chico, Calif. Michael H. Mulder, ’57 Fort Myers, Fla. F. William Reichart, ’57 Pinehurst, N.C. Wallace E. Boen, ’58 Brockton, Mass. Palmer D. Haug, ’58 Yuba City, Calif. Mary K. (Walz) Isaacson, ..’58 Pelican Rapids, Minn. Kenneth F. Johannson, ’58, ’62 Fargo Patricia L. (Johnston) Johannson, ’58 Fargo Dr. A. Craig Millar, ’58, ’59, ’66 State College, Pa. Gyman C. Okeson, MD, ’58, ’60 Belton, Texas Dr. Donald J. Pfau, ..’58 Minneapolis Gilbert L. Record, ’58, ’60, ’69 Darien, Conn. C. William Sakariassen, ’58 Los Angeles, Calif. Dr. Ronald M. Torgeson, ’58, ’67, ’73 Bismarck, N.D. Margaret E. (Moore) Woodward, ..’58 Fargo Richard N. Youngblood, ’58 St. Paul, Minn. Manferd R. Drugan, ’59 Fargo Sandra C. (Nelson) Dunn, ..’59 East Grand Forks, Minn. Robert C. Eelkema, MD, ’59 Grand Forks

with his 1964-65 and 196566 teams as well as players Phil Jackson, David Lince, Thomas Nesbitt, James Hester and Alex Cooley. Fitch coached in the NBA for 25 seasons, leading the Boston Celtics to an NBA Championship in 1981.

Stanley D. Hjelmstad, ’59 Minneapolis, Minn. Ginger A. (Ihnken) Johnson, ’59 Rockford, Iowa Dale G. Kruckenberg, ..’59 Devils Lake, N.D. Lawrence E. LaCoursiere, ’59 Sun City, Ariz. Dr. Lawrence R. Maier, ’59 Franklin, Tenn. James D. Nye, ’59 Saint Louis Park, Minn. Jane A. (Loman) Russell, ’59 Oneonta, N.Y. Dr. John D. Staples, ’59, ’65 Fort Collins, Colo. Harlan D. Wickum, ..’59 Grandy, N.C. John J. Ziegler, ’59 Hankinson, N.D.

1960s Kent F. Carlson, ’60 Rochert, Minn. James J. Ebsen, ..’60 Fargo Linus V. Kovar, ’60 Goleta, Calif. Bruce C. Lindell, ’60 Littleton, Colo. Ina A. (Lommen) Luadtke, ’60 Leeds, Mass. John K. Normann, ’60 San Tan Valley, Ariz. L. Germaine Nypen, ..’60 Fargo Jon H. Pfaff, ’60 Seattle, Wash. Dale R. Schmid, ’60 Santa Rosa, Calif. John J. Tupa, ’60 Thompson, N.D. Fred I. Bartholomew, ’61 Moorhead, Minn. Dr. Monty J. Budahl, ’61 Watertown, Wis. Leslie E. Christian, ’61 Bottineau, N.D. Richard E. Freis, ..’61 Neenah, Wis. Maurice W. Gonitzke, ..'61 Culbertson, Mont.

He was a great friend and trusted mentor and teacher to so many across the entire basketball community, while his impact on the game, and the lives of those he touched, spanned multiple generations.

Agnes M. (Berg) Hamerlik, ’61, ’91 West Fargo, N.D. Joanne C. (Register) Hubbard, ’61 Bismarck, N.D. Norman J. Paulson, ’61 Maple Grove, Minn. Donald H. Roberge, ..’61 Tulsa, Okla. Michael A. Tanous, ’61 Colorado Springs, Colo. Dr. Henrik Voldal, ’61, ’67 Valley City, N.D. Wynona (Huchette) Wilkins, ..’61 Grand Forks David Lowell Aarvig, ..’62 Grand Forks Myrna B. (Pederson) Birrenkott, ..’62 Fargo Ronald J. Corliss, ..’62 Oakes, N.D. Diane E. (Hildre) Cowdrey, ..’62 Cooperstown, N.D. Dr. Peter A. Fritzell, ’62 Appleton, Wis. Rev. Clarence L. Gall, ’62, ’65 Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Jayne E. (Seymour) Horne, ’62 Hamilton, Ohio Robert A. Johnston, ’62, ’72 Burnsville, Minn. Thomas J. Jones, ..’62 Thunder Bay, Ontario A. Michael Lehrer, ’62 Red Lake Falls, Minn. Ronald P. Olson, ’62 Rugby, N.D. Audrey D. Swanke, ..’62 Duluth, Minn. Dr. Lowell H. Thompson, ’62, ’70 Grand Forks Gail (Pederson) Wigness, ..’62 Arlington, Tex. Dr. Lyle E. Andersen, ’63 Bozeman, Mont. Judith A. (Lund) Fettig, ..’63 Bismarck, N.D. Dr. Dennis D. Gartner, ’63, ’65 Cumberland, Md. Jolanda (Bjerke) Glendenning, ’63 Duluth, Minn.

Nace J. Haugen, ’63, ’68 Chandler, Ariz. Warren Huebner, ..’63 Sun City West, Ariz. Charles A. Israel, ’63 Cando, N.D. Joseph M. Mattson, MD, ’63 Littleton, Colo. Daryl D. McSparron, ’63 Hillsboro, N.D. H. Michael Monkman, ’63, ’66 Portland, Ore. Helen E. (Gillie) Moore, ..’63 Andover, Minn. Mary Beth (Dinusson) Noble, ’63 Fargo Mary K. (Sheldon) Willnow, ..’63 Regent, N.D. Paul J. Zollar, ’63 Minneapolis, Minn. Carol A. (Vandal) Connole, ’64 Mohall, N.D. Dennis D. Martin, ’64 Hawley, Minn. Neil A. McEwen, ’64, ’65 Crosslake, Minn. Lowell D. Nereson, ’64 Detroit Lakes, Minn. Robert L. Neva, ..’64 Fargo Keith A. Rossland, ..’64 Fruita, Colo. Wayne Busse, ’65 Surrey, British Columbia David B. Cory, ’65 Troutdale, Ore. Ronald D. Klipfel, ..’65 Irvine, Calif. Michael A. Kuntz, ’65 Round Rock, Tex. Paul A. Skrede, ..’65 Deephaven, Minn. Dr. Gary L. Smith, ’65 Rome, Ga. Marilyn L. (Peterson) Stenhjem, ’65 Excelsior, Minn. Frederick A. Zieffler, ’65 Hackensack, Minn. Lois A. (Sanders) Barnes, ’66 Wichita Falls, Texas

A self-described “scared farm kid” when he left the family farm in Brocket, N.D., to enter UND, Skalicky

Capt. Walter E. Greene, Ph.D., ’67 McAllen, Tex. Yvonne M. (Spies) Hanley, ’67, ’70 Tempe, Ariz. Janet L. (Grahn) Heidmann, ’67 Gilbert, Ariz. Gelene A. (Gerszewski) Hemminger, ..’67 Gwinner, N.D. Byron G Kaczmarski, ’67 Dayton, Wash. Robert P. Kiefer, ’67 Monticello, Minn. Paul Klipsic Jr., ..’67 Oronoco, Minn. Roy A. Lindvall, ’67 Grand Forks John B. Nielson, ’67, ’69 Ballston Spa, N.Y. A. Paul Pederson, ’67 Minot, N.D. Dr. Robert R. Pyle, ’67 Duluth, Minn. Bonita (Redman) Roth, ’67 West Fargo, N.D. John A. Rutledge, ..’67 Ormond Beach, Fla. Constance (Belsheim) Stennes, ’67 Warroad, Minn. Helen G. (Rasmussen) Tangen, ’67 Bemidji, Minn. James R. Ashland, ’68 Hillsboro, N.D. Stephen A. Bauman, ’68 Woodbridge, Va. Michael A. Bue, ’68 Rochester, Minn. John R. Cook, ..’68 Mohall, N.D. Dr. Rodney A. DeSautel, ’68, ’69, ’77 Minneapolis, Minn. Erdina (Rust) Fiedler, ’68 Dousman, Wis. Marcia (Brown) Guderjahn, ..’68 Devils Lake, N.D. H. Donald Heier, ’68, ’72 Grand Forks William G. Heth, ’68 Dickinson, N.D.

James C.. Hofstrand, ..’68 Leeds, N.D. David D. Hohenstern, ’68 Franklin, Tenn. Barbara A. (Bjornson) Kimball, ..’68 Mound, Minn. Lt. Col. Robert W. Kopp, Ret., ’68 Bossier City, La. Alan J. Miller, ..’68 Brocket, N.D. Daniel J. Romuld, ..’68 Grand Forks David A. Simundson, MD, ’68 Napa, Calif. Terry H. Slotsve, ’68, ’69 Burleson, Texas M. Joan (Bushaw) Smith, ..’68 Grand Forks S. Alex Cooley, ’69 Scottsdale, Ariz. Mary E. (Kronberger) Dugan, ’69, ’70 Towner, N.D. Rodger D. Fraase, ’69 Dickinson, N.D. Luther H. Frette, ’69, ’82 Grand Forks Robert E. Hand, ’69 Minneapolis, Minn. Ronald P. Herring, ’69 Maquoketa, Iowa John J. Hochwalt, MD, ’69 Powell, Ohio Douglas D. Hultberg, ’69 Prairie Du Sac, Wis. Michael E. Keable, ’69 Saint Joseph, Minn. Bonnie L. (Wysocki) Little, ’69 Henning, Minn. Virginia L. Norman, ’69, ’74 St. Paul, Minn. Sharon R. (Thompson) Odders, ’69 Racine, Wis. Dr. E. William Otway, ’69 San Antonio, Texas John E. Robinson, ’69 Sugar Grove, Ill. O. Everett Rom, ’69 Preston, Wash. Larry J. Roth, ’69 West Fargo, N.D.

graduated in 1955 with an accounting degree.

Meanwhile, Skalicky’s keen business and management senses were matched by his decades-long philanthropy, generosity and community spirit. Thanks to his generosity, the Skalicky Tech Incubator near the UND Center for Innovation was named for Norm in 2004.

“He is one of those true North Dakota natives that’s really a great leader and an entrepreneur, who never forgot his home state and never forgot his alma mater,” said DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.

In 1966, Skalicky acquired two small banks that would eventually become Stearns Bank in St. Cloud, Minn. By the 2000s, Skalicky had become one of most successful community bankers in America.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

UND lost an exceptional friend when benefactor and banking leader Norman C. Skalicky passed away Nov. 7 in Maple Grove, Minn.

Verlin M. Belgarde, ..’66 Billings, Mont. Joyce (Anderson) Borlaug, ’66 Havre, Mont. Terrance R. Brenna, ’66 Grand Forks Derrel D. Britsch, ’66 Devils Lake, N.D. Richard K. Everson, ’66 Roseville, Minn. Dale M. Geiss, MD, ’66, ’69 Peoria, Ill. F. Gene Gruber, ’66, ’71 Scranton, N.D. Richard A. Hansen, ’66 Waconia, Minn. Beverly J. Kamphaugh, ..’66 Fargo Paulene S. (Elston) Lentz, ..’66 Mesa, Ariz. Karen B. (Johnson) Mondry, ’66 East Grand Forks, Minn. Dr. Kenneth D. Mukomela, ’66, ’68 Marshall, Minn. Robert J. Otto, ’66 Crystal, N.D. Alan L. Quale, ’66 San Mateo, Calif. Ronald A. Reichert, ’66, ’73 Grand Forks John Ridley, ’66 Garden City, Idaho Wayne O. Solberg, ’66 Fargo David A. Vagneur, MD, ’66, ’68 Minneapolis, Minn. Lee E. Wall, ’66 Green Valley, Ariz. Sandra L. (Jensen) Wogaman, ’66, ’94 East Grand Forks, Minn. Stanley Barta Jr., ..’67 Michigan, N.D. Melvin G. Boehland, ’67 St. Paul, Minn. Myrna M. (Gryte) Conway, ..’67 Bemidji, Minn. Shirley A. (Olson) Filson, ’67 Aneta, N.D.

Delores L. (Erickson) Sampson, ’69, ’70 Bismarck, N.D. Robert E. Skarsgard, ’69 Albuquerque, N.M. Franklin L. Tallon, ’69 Oconomowoc, Wis. Margaret M. (Gisi) Willard, ’69 Fargo

1970s Robert L. Carvell, ’70 Minot, N.D. James F. Chinquist, ’70 St. Paul, Minn. Michael L. Gade, ..’70 Cold Spring, Minn. Kathleen B. (Nelson) Gasparini, ’70 Grand Forks Larry T. Gast, ’70 Battle Lake, Minn. John L. Gilbertson, ’70 International Falls, Minn. William R. Goligoski, ..’70 Superior, Wis. Anne E. Golseth, Ph.D., ..’70 Sonoma, Calif. Charles L. Miller, ..’70 Bismarck, N.D. Stephen G. Nunnink, ’70 Baxter, Minn. Connie L. (Merriman) Oberembt, ’70 Fargo Richard R. Ottenbreit, ’70 Winnipeg, Manitoba Scott D. Reid, ..’70 Boise, Idaho Beverly A. (Johnson) Rosencrans, ..’70 Grand Forks John S. Stjern, ..’70 Grand Forks Dr. Harold E. Stolt, ’70 Minot, N.D. Bruce W. Trager, ’70 Keller, Texas Cecil A. Watson, ..’70 Cavalier, N.D. Paul Westerlund, ’70 Golden Valley, Minn.

Dr. Ronald E D’Orazio, ’71 Bemidji, Minn. Raymond G. Dorsher, ’71 Grand Forks Patrick R. Endres, ..’71 Grand Forks Jeanne (Paul) Gustafson, ’71, ’72 Helena, Mont. Norman R. Holmen, ’71 Saint Augustine, Fla. Dale C. Johnson, ’71 Puposky, Minn. Gregory N. Johnson, ..’71 Carrington, N.D. Chris P. Rogstad, ..’71 Edmonds, Wash. Gerald G. Shaw, ..’71 Murillo, Ontario Richard J. Timm, ..’71 New Smyrna Beach, Fla. David L. Wagner, ..’71 Oakes, N.D. Paula A. (Kreitinger) Weiland, ’71 Naches, Wash. Dr. Ronald M. Block, ’72, ’74 Brentwood, Calif. Charles Richard Bluhm, ’72 Cinnaminson, N.J. Thomas E. Dahlstrom, ’72 Escondido, Calif. Roger A. Fadness, ..’72 West Jordan, Utah Jean E. (Carpenter) Penner, ’72 Mountain Lake, Minn. Larry J. Schaan, ’72 Bossier City, La. Ronald J. Skokun, ’72 The Pas, Manitoba Karla M. (Krank) Azonabor, ’73 Hampstead, N.H. Roberta M. (Ducept) Azure, ..’73 Belcourt, N.D. Barbara Braun, ’73 Bismarck, N.D. Thomas C. Dahlstrom, ’73 Palm Gardens, Fla. Thomas K. Furlong, ..’73 Faribault, Minn. Gary A. Helland, ..’73 Fordville, N.D.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Wayne Stenehjem, ’74, ’77, died unexpectedly on Jan. 28 at age 68.

In January 2001, Wayne was sworn in as North Dakota’s 29th Attorney General. He was re-elected five times and was the longest-serving Attorney General in North Dakota history.

Leo H. Hoffer, ’73 Victorville, Calif. Paul R. Lanes, ..’73 Grand Forks Donna M. Lutz, ’73 Inver Grove Heights, Minn. James L. Nelson, ’73 Spring, Texas Lester J. Rathjen, ’73 Washburn, N.D. Judith G. (Boettcher) Sannes, ’73, ’77 Saint Peter, Minn. Larry D. Weisser, ..’73 Grand Forks Elsie (Gilderhus) Asche, ..’74 Grand Forks Vincent A Borlaug, ’74, ’76 Arlington, Va. Delores A. (Jerome) Brunelle, ’74 Belcourt, N.D. Debra K. (Swenson) Cawley, ’74 Inkster, N.D. Mary C. (Lechner) Clarke, MD, ’74, ’78, ’80 Northfield, Minn. Paul & Dianne Hyndman, ’74 West Fargo, N.D. Nancy J. Keating, ’74 Bismarck, N.D. Gary J. Lee, ’74 Minneapolis Barbara K. (Thompson) Nelson, ..’74 Moorhead, Minn. Mary E. (Laske) Rubbelke, ’74 Minot, N.D. Wayne K. Stenehjem, JD, ’74, ’77 Bismarck, N.D. Carol J. (Rivinius) Wilma, ’74 Bismarck, N.D. Robert S. Arnold, ’75 Ridgeland, Wis. Douglas L. Boknecht, ’75 Bismarck, N.D. Paul V. Ellingson, ’75 Tucker, Ga. Pam L. (Arneson) Fordyce, ’75 Rapid City, S.D. Teri J. Mark, ’75 Carson City, Nev.

The many tributes to Wayne say he embodied North Dakota in a way that made North Dakotans especially proud. Mike Jacobs, ’70, HON’14, former editor and publisher of the Grand Forks Herald, wrote that “already, North Dakota feels emptier without him.”

Dr. Vicki R. Michel, ’75 Devils Lake, N.D. Gretchen Morgenstern, ’75 Salina, Kan. Richard W Shide, ’75 Minnetonka, Minn. Wesley A. Stillwell, ’75 Williston, N.D. John M. Cunningham, ’76 Portland, N.D. Dr. Patrick J. Key, ’76 Hopkins, Minn. Michael J. Kihne, MD, ’76 Sioux Falls, S.D. E. Diane Laub, ’76, ’96 Bismarck, N.D. Col. David W. McClenon, ’76 Cerritos, Calif. Mark G. Renden, ..’76 Bismarck, N.D. Gary C. Rose, ’76 Hazel Green, Ky. Lane M. (Helms) Speake, ..’76 Minneapolis Paul J. Swenson, ..’76 Owatonna, Minn. David J. Birk, ’77, ’80 Centennial, Colo. Rev. Randolph M. Cross, ’77 Fargo Terry J. Haugen, ’77 Williston, N.D. Richard J. Wolfe, ’77 Minneapolis Nancy L. (Welte) Brueckner, ’78, ’93 Niagara, N.D. Tom M. Henning, ’78 Dickinson, N.D. Terri R. Laframboise, ’78 Bismarck, N.D. Ilene H. Lee, ’78 Thompson, N.D. Wayne A. Papke, ’78 Mandan, N.D. Dennis A. Braaten, ’79 Miramar Beach, Fla. James L. Craigmile, ’79 Bismarck, N.D. Harriet E. (Simmet) Cronquist, ’79 Gilby, N.D.

He never forgot his roots in Grand Forks, noted UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO DeAnna Carlson Zink. “I am so thankful to have known him and to have him as a prime example of what can be accomplished with a UND degree,” she said. “What a great role model for our students.”

Dennis D. Dockter, ’79, ’82 Bismarck, N.D. Gail A. Duerre, ..’79 Great Falls, Mont. Patricia J. (Hand) Enstad, ..’79 McVille, N.D. Steven C. Holland, ..’79 Marysville, Wash. Jeffrey A. Martwick, ..’79 McClusky, N.D. Curtis L. Sailer, ..’79 Hazen, N.D. Marianne R. (Wilson) Stennes, ..’79 Grand Forks Brenda J. (Rabe) Vogsland, ..’79 Rio Rancho, N.M. Violet M. (Olson) Wyum, ..’79 Rutland, N.D.

1980s Beverly A. (Parisien) May, ’80 Redlake, Minn. Judith L. (Hammling) Turner, ..’80 Medina, Ohio Ronald P. Zejdlik, ..’80 Grand Forks Loretta K. (Schultz) Askew, ’81 Fargo Blayne W. Blowers, ..’81 Algona, Iowa Nancy (Lynch) Burkland, ..’81 Fargo James P. Corcoran, ’81 Dedham, Mass. Timothy J. Johnson, ’81 Denver, Colo. Veda L. (Boedeker) Krigbaum, ’81 Mayville, N.D. Shirley M. (Nellermoe) LiebenowMcCluhan, ..’81 Fargo Debra L. (Myerchin) Nelson, ..’81 Grand Forks David J. Shoberg, ’81 Kilkenny, Minn. Claudia J. (Peterson) Toprock, ..’81 Grand Forks Kimberly J. (Sand) Werner, ..’81 East Grand Forks, Minn. Gerald P. Cox, ’82 Grand Forks

Stenehjem’s family and friends asked the UND Alumni Association & Foundation to set up a scholarship endowment in his honor. Learn more at UNDalumni.org/wayne.

With one word, the University of North Dakota Remembrance Wall honors those who have gone before us. Bradley C. Knutson, ’86 Madison, Wis. Dennis P. Mischel, ’86 Moneta, Va. K. Warren Volker, MD, ’86, ’93, ’97 Las Vegas, Nev. Gary R. Wentz, ’86, ’88 Grand Forks Marleen (Novella) Ash, ’87 Keego Harbor, Mich. Juanita Gordon-Gibbs, ..’87 Rancho Mirage, Calif. Debra E. (Skaar) Johnson, ’87, ’97

Kathy L. (Peterson) Vasichek, ’91 Manvel, N.D. William F. Kwaak Jr., ’92, ’95 Schaumburg, Ill. David M. Miller, ’92 Carrington, N.D. Gordon A. Brandvold, ’93 Grand Forks Dianne M. (Bondley) Holten, ..’93 Pelican Rapids, Minn. Robert P. Lattergrass, ’93 Belcourt, N.D. Sandra (Gillander) Lunde, ’93

Grand Forks James B. Young, ’83 Palm Coast, Fla. Robert M. Braach, ’84 Helena, Mont. Dr. Teresa G. (Bruce) Delorme, ’84 Bismarck, N.D. William C. Holmes, ..’84 Thief River Falls, Minn. Mark D. Miller, ’84 Howard Lake, Minn. Mark J. Myrvik, ’84 Bentonville, Ark. Alan W. Palmer, ’84 Grand Forks Annette M. (Loe) Rorvig, ’84 McVille, N.D. David L. Drechsel, ’85 Colorado Springs, Colo. Bruce P. Jacobsen, ’85 Monrovia, Calif. John J. Maloney, ..'85, Farmington, Minn. Dr. Barbara A Hauger, ’86 Thief River Falls, Minn.

Grand Forks Dianne (Hoppenworth) Johnston, ’87 Grand Forks Brenda L. (Genetzky) Lemper, ’87 Waterloo, Iowa Jutta K. (Mueller) Platt, ..’89 Colorado Springs, Colo. Vicki L. (Peters) Reimer, ’89, ’90, ’04 Grand Forks Susan C. (Green) Stoa, ’89 Grand Forks Tony E. Telken, ’89 Grand Forks

Michael L. Overby, ’90 St. Paul, Minn. Todd L. Thompson, ’90 Grand Forks William B. Clawson, ’91 Columbus, Ohio Jeffrey H. McKay, ’91 Fargo Cynthia J. (Andringa) Ross, ’91 Crookston, Minn.

Devils Lake, N.D. Rochelle A. (Lenz) Betsch, ’94 Clover, S.C. Allen D. Hanson, ’94 Dassel, Minn. Kerry J. (Froiland) Newland, ’94 Thief River Falls, Minn. Karleen R. Nordquist, ’94 Wayzata, Minn. Stacey (Littlejohn) Rygh, ’94, ’99 Grand Forks Nancy (Byrne) Carter, ..’94 Waterloo, Iowa Mona M. (Lovro) Loe, ’95 Thief River Falls, Minn. Pamela A. McGee Spanjer, ’95 Fargo Roger D. Olson, ’95 McClusky, N.D. Allan J. Harms, ’96 Fargo Russel C. Tullius, ’96 Port Orange, Fla. Corrine A. Morgan, ’97 Park River, N.D.

UND mourns the unexpected loss of Kathleen “Tootsie” Gasparini, who spent over 40 years as a health teacher in Grand Forks Public Schools. Thousands of students learned about living healthier lives and becoming better versions of themselves with Tootsie, who also served as an

educator for her fellow staff members and the community, providing professional development and training for HIV workshops, CPR training, UND classes, and parental education opportunities. She was a Grand Forks Public Schools Hall of Fame Teacher and truly one of a kind.

1990s

2000s Timothy N. Hendrickson, ’00 Bemidji, Minn. Michael E. Hanson, ’01 Bismarck, N.D. Jessica (Rosencrans) Reule, ’04, ’10 Grand Forks Christine M. Crowe-Kuzel, ’05 Bismarck, N.D. Joel D. Kantola, ’05 Cook, Minn. Dr. Lee Anne Block, ’06 Grand Forks Ross Brennan, ’06 West Fargo, N.D. Rebecca J. (Herrera) Blakeney, ’07 Arlington, Texas Una H. Dixon, ’07 Abilene, Texas Callie A. Larson, ..’07 East Grand Forks, Minn. Tobis E. Funk, ’09 Moorhead, Minn. Joshua L. Marthe, ..’09 Emerado, N.D.

2010s Sheila R. (Thill) Boger, ’10 Garrison, N.D. Adam R. Skaare, ’10 Laguna Niguel, Calif. Kimberly J. Cook, ’11 Valley City, N.D. Justin P. Dorscher, ’13 Thief River Falls, Minn. Dr. George J. Ellefson, ’15 Mandan, N.D.

Tootsie could always be found at UND events cheering on every athletic program. She was the wife of longtime North Dakota hockey head coach Gino Gasparini, ’70, who coached at his alma mater from 1978-1994, leading North Dakota to three national championships in the 1980s.

Andrew J. Cook, ..’15 Chisago, Minn.

Current students Amy L. Clough Burlington, N.D. Donghwan Kwark Grand Forks

Former faculty & staff Donald P. Kohns East Grand Forks, Minn. Linda M. (King) Maszk Grand Forks Donald W. McCaffrey Watsonville, Calif. Eugene L. Morrissette Alexandria, Minn. Robert A. Nelson Lakeside, Ore. Peggy L. (Iverson) O'Connell Grand Forks Phyllis (Storbakken) Perkerewicz Grand Forks Richard A. Roberts Grand Forks Marilyn L. Wilkens Grand Forks

Retired staff Ruth E. (Adams) Holweger Grand Forks Eva M. (Johnson) Krogstad Grand Forks Mahlon L. Thompson Buxton, N.D.

In honor of Coach Gasparini and Tootsie's legacies, several former studentathletes established an endowment in their names to support current student-athletes in the hockey program. Find it at UNDalumni.org/ginoand-tootsie-gasparinischolarship-endowment.

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Susan K. (Ormiston) Jaramillo, ’82 Centennial, Colo. E. Craig Laub, ’82 Burnet, Texas Mark S. Waisanen, ’82 Detroit Lakes, Minn. Dorothy (Parisien) Baumgartner, ’83 Belcourt, N.D. Leslie D. Borsheim, ’83 Dickinson, N.D. Sidney Hertz Fiergola, ’83 Louisville, Ky. Lois R. (Lane) Storey, ’83

ETERNAL

FLAME SOCIETY

Casey & Chelsey Ahlers

Paul & Krista Kuhlman

Ameriprise Financial - Legacy Financial Partners

Andrew Lamoureux

Don & Carolyn Andrews

Nichole Lewis

Dr. Beverly Brekke Bailey

Lincoln Therapeutics

Drs. Robert & Michelle Bianco

Jack & Nettie Lindvig

Thomas* & Lynn Biolo

Greg A. Litz

Michael J. Blake, M.D.

Cynthia R. Long*

Brokaw Janitorial Service LLC

Richard & Megan Longnecker

John Clynch Bank Forward

Roger & Sandra Malm

Virginia L. Cole

Howard & Ann Dahl

Theodore L. Crandall, M.D.

Marv Bossart Parkinson's Foundation

Jeffrey & Sonya Gorman

Sandra E. Cunningham

MDS Market Street LLC

David J. & Gay C. Shemorry Williamson

Gail J. Dexter

MicroLink Devices Inc.

John & Cathy Dutzer

Darren & Alli Moquist

Leslie R. Elm

Marci & Dale Myer

David & Jill Engelstad

Gordon & Karen* Myerchin

Robert Flaherty

NITEC LLC

Scott L. Fredericksen

North Dakota Petroleum Council

Alexandra & Dr. Paul German

Northridge Construction, Inc.

Grant W. Gongoll

Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.

THOMAS CLIFFORD CIRCLE $100,000 - $499,999

Richard W. Gray*

Dr. Troy & Kellie Pierce

Dr. Frances F. Gulick

Michael & Ann Porter

Dr. Christopher Anderson & Dr. Allison Clapp

Arlys J. Netland

Chad J. Hansen, M.D.

Vito & Melanie Quaglia

PCL/Community, A Joint Venture

Kerri & Brent Hanson

Marjorie A. Tegtmeier-Radi

Dean & Susan Barsness

PCL/Community Contractors, Inc.

Dr. Alan Hauser & Anne Suh

Dwight A. Richter

Madelyne & Theodore* Camrud

Col. Clark R. Penas, RET

Diane M. Hedler

Heather & Scot Rider

Charles L. Cavanagh

Karen Borlaug Phillips

Warren R. Heen*

Daniel* & Sue Riley

Boyd* & Marlene Christenson

Drs. Jon & Laura Raymond

Drs. Amy Henley & David Cason

Dave & Marisa Robinson

Cirrus Aircraft

Monte Schmaltz & Amy Dahl

James & Charlotte Hill

Jameson J. Rodenbiker

Dr. Dale & Penny Cody

Dave & Karen Senger

Emily & Jonathan Holth

Mark & Sandra Ruelle

Dr. Elton & Patricia Fors

Jerry & Marie Topp

Rod & Janelle Holth

Betty L. Rystad

Randy & Joyce Gershman

Gerald Voegele & Laura Eider

Paula I. Horab

SafetySpect, Inc.

John F., Jr.* & Peggy Williams

Dr. Robert & Deanne Horne

Michael & Jane Sandsmark

LeAnn Zimmerman

Kenneth J. Horner, Jr.

Stanley G. Sateren, M.D.

ISight Drone Services

Marc & Kelly Schmaltz

Randy & Marcia Johnson

Mike & Lisa Schmaltz

Ronald & Darla Johnson

Matt Schober

James & Beth Karnik

Drs. John & Cynthia Shabb

Maria & Colton King

Karen Owens Sinard

Budge Circle

James R. Knudson

Daniel & Kelli Tannahill

Carlen Fee Goehring

Ryan M. Konrath

Jonathan Uhl

President’s Circle

Josh & Sarah Kotelnicki

Brian G. Wilhelmi

Jean Fee Evashevski

Mark & Priscilla Kovar

The UND Alumni Association & Foundation sincerely thanks all alumni and friends who have made gifts and commitments to support students, faculty, programs, and places at UND. The following donors reached a new giving circle in the Eternal Flame Society between October 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. *indicates deceased

WILLIAM BUDGE CIRCLE $1,000,000 - $4,999,999

DR. CORA SMITH $500,000 - $999,999 Arlen & Wendy Nordhagen Donavan & Gail Olson

Dr. Paul & Lois Gillespie in Memory of Dr. Charles & Lorna Gillespie Dr. Karen L. Hoelzer Vilcinskas Katie & Brett Itterman Dr. Michael & Michelle LeBeau

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Dr. Charles & Marlys Nelson

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE $10,000 - $99,999

Correction Notice: In the Year in Review: Gratitude Edition, we unintentionally omitted or incorrectly named the following donors who have generously supported UND. We apologize for this and thank you for your understanding and ongoing support.

Dr. Charles H.* & Margaret* Fee Charles Goehring The Helling Families

Sigrid & Stuart Letcher

1889 LEGACY SOCIETY The 1889 Legacy Society honors alumni and friends who have made a commitment for the future support of the University of North Dakota with estate, planned, or deferred gifts through the UND Foundation. Lynn C. Jorgenson Barnhart

UND A L U M NI A S S OCI AT ION & F OUND AT ION

UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 2

Park River

Carolyn & Mike Becraft Steve L. Burian

Dave & Sandy Gregory Janice & Frank* Hoffarth Lu Jiang

Bismarck

22 Champions Golf Tour Fargo

24 UND Night at Target Field Minneapolis

Gerald M. & Marilyn* B. Skogley

JULY

Arturo F. Urrutia

14 Champions Golf Tour Detroit Lakes

Marilyn & Clyde Vetter Wadhwani Family

15 UND Alumni & Friends Gathering

Drs. Barbara & Timothy Whalen

Detroit Lakes

21 Champions Golf Tour For more information about the Eternal Flame Society, visit UNDalumni.org/EternalFlame

EST. 1883

16 Champions Golf Tour

Dr. Ross & DonnaLee Pettit Michael & Ann Porter

HOMECOMING

Bismarck

Justen Lee Beth M. Nienow

2022

ITY OF NORTH DAKOTA UNIVERS

15 UND Alumni & Friends Gathering

Loering M. Johnson Robert T. Layman

Kim Woods Retirement Social Grand Forks

Rod Dockter Dr. Elton & Patricia Fors

Champions Golf Tour

Grand Forks

AUGUST 23 State of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation Address Gorecki Alumni Center

SEPTEMBER 3

HOMECOMING WEEK [SEPT. 26 - OCT. 1] 27 Blood Drive 28 Downtown Pep Rally 29 Sioux Awards for Distinguished Service & Leadership 30 Nistler College of Business & Public Administration Dedication 30 UND Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet 1

Parade Golden Grad Coffee Tailgating Football vs. Missouri State Hockey exhibition

UND Football vs. Nebraska Lincoln

OCTOBER 29 UND Men’s Hockey Hall of Fame Game Las Vegas

Holiday Cheers Party Gorecki Alumni Center

UNDalumni.org/magazine

DECEMBER

U N D L E G A CIE S

C EL EB R AT I N G

JENNIFER

Mother of UND alumna shares journey of commemorating daughter’s advocacy for those with disabilities. BY JANELLE HOLTH, ’73

On April 13, 1976, our daughter Jennifer Shelley Holth was born. She died on September 8, 2017, from an accidental overdose of prescription medications. Rod and I were present when this beautiful gift entered this world and we were present when she died, leaving us with pain and overwhelming grief. Who was Jennifer? We knew she had a passion to advocate for those less fortunate or with disabilities. During her years at UND, she cared for adults with developmental disabilities and continued that work until her death. In 2007, Christian Scott Winkels was born to Jennifer and her husband, Joe. Christian was screened and determined to be on the autism spectrum at an early age. On hearing this diagnosis, the extreme sadness and grief for their small family felt overwhelming. Jennifer and Joe soon put energy into learning all they could about autism, determining what interventions were available in our community and advocating for Christian’s needs by engaging services. Jennifer was a passionate and a fierce advocate. That was a part of her that we loved. She led the way advocating for Christian. Joe says that he learned to advocate from her, never realizing he would need to carry the mantle as a single parent someday.

How could we remember Jennifer? Often, I would ask my sons and husband for ideas on how to memorialize Jennifer for years to come. I made calls, talked to agencies, and tried to find a place to direct my energy. Our son, Jonathan, suggested talking to Dan Muus at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. During some initial conversations, Dan brought up endowment funding. I remember feeling a lump in my throat, a need to advocate for Jennifer. I remember thinking, “I’m serious about establishing this endowment.” For the first time in four years, our family had a forum to tell Jennifer’s story of passion, advocacy, and love for others. Finally, something felt right when we thought of remembering her legacy. I could breathe without feeling pain, knowing this mission to remember our beautiful daughter would be a reality. On April 2, 2021, the announcement of the Jennifer Holth Winkels Family Scholarship Endowment commemorating Jennifer’s birthday and Autism Awareness Month was released on social media. Family and friends responded with generous contributions. Today, this endowment is fully funded and directed to the UND College of Education & Human Development for the purpose of assisting students who are advancing their education to teach students on the autism spectrum.

Janelle, ’73 (far right) and her husband Rod, ’74 (far left) reside in Grand Forks and help their son-in-law Joe Winkels (third from right), ’08, care for Christian (teal coat). Along with their sons Jonathan (fourth from left) – who serves on the UND Alumni Association Board of Directors – and Jeffrey (second from left), the Holths established an endowment in memory of Jennifer (second from right). Jennifer graduated from UND in 2002 with a degree in sociology.

This endowment will forever share Jennifer’s legacy and life work of advocating for those with disabilities. Our hearts are full of gratitude for family and friends, the University of North Dakota, the Alumni Association & Foundation, and the College of Education & Human Development for supporting us and believing in all that Jennifer’s life had been. Thank you for helping our family move forward, begin to heal and, most importantly, celebrate Jennifer. \\\ To contribute, visit UNDalumni.org/jennifer. To establish your own endowment in honor of a loved one, contact us at 701.777.2611 or reach out to a development officer (UNDalumni.org/staff-directory).

Pifer’s

Pifer’s Services Include: REAL ESTATE

REALTY & AUCTION

“One of America’s Top Brokerage & Auction Companies” - Land Report Magazine 2021

LAND AUCTIONS

Are You Thinking of Buying or Selling Real Estate in Arizona? Brad Qualley is a licensed Realtor with Pifer’s Realty & Auction in the Scottsdale, AZ area. Brad has extensive experience in real estate, banking, and finance. He has a keen pulse on the Arizona real estate market and is on the forefront of new properties coming on the market.

EQUIPMENT AUCTIONS EQUIPMENT APPRAISALS

Brad Qualley

Realtor UND Alumni - Class ‘14 brad@pifers.com 701.317.4177

For Land Sales & Farmland Management in ND, MN, SD, MT, WI call Kevin or Bob! Kevin Pifer

Bob Pifer

Arizona Broker Grand Forks, ND Broker bob@pifers.com 701.371.8538

Pifer’s

1506 29th Ave. S Moorhead, MN 56560

GRAND FORKS, ND

BOZEMAN, MT

BISMARCK, ND MOORHEAD, MN (Corporate Office)

STEELE, ND

BOWMAN, ND

MN SD

EAU CLAIRE, WI SIOUX FALLS, SD

Pifer’s strives to provide you with the best buying & selling experience possible! 10395 E Trailhead Ct. Gold Canyon, AZ 85118

WI JANESVILLE, WI

GOLD CANYON, AZ

Offices in: ND, SD, MN, MT, WI & AZ

UNDalumni.org/magazine

President/Auctioneer UND Alumni - Class ‘81 kpifer@pifers.com 701.238.5810

LAND MANAGEMENT

877.477.3105 www.pifers.com

UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 3501 University Ave Stop 8157 Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157

Want more stories from your alma mater? Let us know how you want to hear from us and update your contact info at UNDalumni.org/updates.

UN L OCK T HE F U T UR E

BY GIVING A GIFT OF REAL ESTATE

You can help open doors for UND students by donating appreciated real estate. A home, vacation property, undeveloped land, farmland, ranch or commercial property can make a great gift to UND through the UND Foundation. BENEFITS ●

Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of the real estate

●

Receive a charitable income tax deduction based on the value of the gift

●

Leave a lasting legacy at the University of North Dakota

UNDalumni.org/magazine

Appreciated property may be given outright or may also be used to create a life-income-producing gift through the UND Foundation. If you have any questions about gifts of real estate, please contact us at 701.777.2611 or giftplanning@UNDfoundation.org.

This information is provided as an educational service to our donors. It is not legal or tax advice. Please consult your own professional advisors on how any charitable gift may affect your own tax situation.