UND Alumni Magazine Spring 2024

• Applied Statistics (M.S.)

• Chemical Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Civil Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Counseling (M.A.)^

• Criminal Justice Studies (M.S.)

• Earth System Science & Policy (M.E.M.)

• Electrical Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Elementary Education (M.Ed.)*

• Energy Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Environmental Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Geological Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Higher Education (M.S.)*

• Instructional Design & Technology (M.S. or M.Ed.)

• Kinesiology (M.S.)

• Mechanical Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Petroleum Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Public Administration (M.P.A.)

• Reading Education (M.S. or M.Ed.)*

• Space Studies (M.S.)

• Special Education (M.S. or M.Ed.)*

• Systems Engineering (M.Eng.)*

• Teaching & Leadership (M.S.)*

• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (M.Ed.)*

BRENT KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE

#UND PROUD

“My biggest learning curve at UND was to balance school, work and a little fun –which today translates to balancing work, kids’ activities and a little fun! I’m using what I learned from UND business classes in my day-to-day work. Bell Bank is a great place for UND grads – as a first job or to build a career.”

Brent Walz SVP, Commercial Real Estate Manager

THE POWER OF SPORT

Sports can transform lives, shaping our values, leadership skills, and work ethic.

In this issue, we explore the many ways UND alumni and students are achieving greatness through athletics. From academic achievement and varsity competitions to securing dream jobs with professional teams, to forging friendships and building community, dive into these pages to see the influence of sports at the University of North Dakota.

LEVEL UP WITH UND ESPORTS

Program puts UND at the head of the class with its groundbreaking academic and athletic offerings.

THE RAIDERS’ DESIGN PRO

Alumna helps shape the Allegiant Stadium experience.

Do you have a UND love story? Tell us about it at AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net.

ALUMNI AUTHORS

EXTRAORDINARY

IMPACT

Sanford Health’s multimillion-dollar gift will benefit education, behavioral health, and athletics.

INSIDE UND ATHLETICS

A RECORD-BREAKING CHAMPIONS BALL

News, updates and history from alumni and friends around the world. 46 29

CLASS NOTES

ALUMNI EVENTS

ALUMNI PHOTO SHARE IN MEMORIAM

VOL. 107 NO. 2 SPRING 2024

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

Sara Everson, Graphic Designer & Social Media Coordinator

Associate Editor

Stephanie Schultz, ’91, Associate Director of Storytelling & Content Strategy Senior Writer

Milo Smith, Senior Director of Public Relations & Videography

Contributors, UND Alumni Association & Foundation

Jeannie Tvedt, Senior Database Coordinator

Melissa Garceau, Associate VP of Operations

Lindsay Benson, ’13, ’14, Data & Software Systems Specialist

Matt Scheerer, Associate Director of Development Communication

Chad O’Shea, ’20, Associate Director of Stewardship Communication

Contributors, University of North Dakota

Shawna Schill, ’06; Mike Hess; Janelle Vonasek, ’89 Contributor

Russell Hons Photography

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair

Jim Poolman, ’92 Vice Chair

Darla (Kleven) Adams, ’84, ’85 Directors

Troy Bader, ’85 Lisa (Schmitz) Barnes, ’88

Twylah (Butler) Blotsky, ’93 Kelly (Keeler) Caruso, ’91

Chris Cooper, ’05, ’08 Kaleb Dschaak, ’20

Scott Fredericksen, ’74 Angie (Hovland) Freeman, ’91

Randy Gershman, ’84 Mike Hamerlik, ’84, ’88

Dr. Michael LeBeau, ’02

Chuck MacFarlane, ’87

Karen (Borlaug) Phillips, ’77 Lara (Olsen) Prozinski, ’90

Jodi Thompson Rolland, ’92 Dave St. Peter, ’89

Pat Sogard, ’82, ’86 Kathryn Uhrich, ’86

Chad Wachter

Ex Officio

Andrew Armacost Karla Mongeon-Stewart

Dr. Joshua Wynne Eric Link

Nancy Pederson, ’90 DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86

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, 701.777.2611 or AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net.

DEAR ALUMNI & FRIENDS,

One can’t deny the impact of sports on our society. Whether you played as a teen, cheer for your favorite collegiate or professional team, or continue an active lifestyle today, athletics and sports enrich many people’s lives.

I have fond memories of my own school sports participation. I was only allowed to play two sports as I had commitments on the family farm near Warren, Minnesota, so I played basketball and ran track for the Warren Ponies.

From those experiences, I learned life lessons that stick with me to this day: the value of teamwork, time management and hard work. They taught me how to handle my role within a team structure and how to be accountable to others.

I also saw how sports could bring a community together. The whole town would come out to cheer us on as we took on our rival school.

At UND, we see that on a much grander scale when the Gophers come to town for hockey or NDSU makes the trip north for a matchup on the field or court, or when any of our teams are playing in the post-season. It’s so much fun and it brings everyone together in support of the Fighting Hawks.

This issue is dedicated to UND sports and careers that our alumni have pursued in the world of sports and fitness. It’s a wonderful topic to dive into given the long history of sports at this flagship university. It’s more than the games themselves; it’s the profound impact sports have on shaping our university’s identity and fostering a sense of unity. From the earliest days when UND fielded its first football team to the recent addition of esports in 2020, sports have been an integral part of our institution’s rich history.

While today’s esports athletes are trailblazers for that program, there are many who left a lasting mark on UND’s athletic legacy. For example, Grace Osborne Rhonemus, born in 1905 in Emerado, North Dakota, defied societal norms to become one of the earliest outstanding female athletes at UND.

She earned acclaim through her remarkable achievements in track and field, basketball, volleyball, and softball (she was named a national champion in track in 1924, paving the way for future generations of female athletes to thrive). For her efforts, Grace, who was dubbed the “Emerado Flash,” was the first woman to be inducted into the UND Athletics Hall of Fame. The UND Female Athlete of the Year Award is named in her honor (given this school year to Yonca Kutluk, women’s track and cross-country).

UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO DeAnna Carlson Zink was honored to lead the coin toss prior to the UND Football team’s win against the Illinois State Redbirds on Nov. 18, 2023. She was joined on the field by her grandsons (at left) William, Henry and Elliot. At right, team captain Ted Mullin is pictured with Junior Champions Club Captain of the Game Calin Roche.

Our student-athletes not only perform at the highest level in competition, but also in the classroom and in the community. This fall, North Dakota Athletics competed in the NCAA Team Works Challenge Championship, where they took third place in the country. From Sept. 1-Dec. 15, North Dakota tallied 3,230 community service hours, with 97% of our student-athletes participating, for an average of about 9.2 hours per athlete. What a wonderful testament to the student-athletes, their coaches and the Greater Grand Forks community!

Forever UND

A commitment to serve and a connection between past, present and future are the foundations of Forever UND: The Campaign for the University of North Dakota. I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made on the campaign since revealing our public phase during Homecoming 2023. Since then, we’ve been traveling around the country to connect with alumni and friends of this great University. I want to thank all of the tremendous alumni who have opened their homes for these gatherings. You make us proud to have your support for this campaign.

Homecoming 2024

Homecoming is another example of the “forever” that is the University of North Dakota, so make plans to attend Homecoming 2024 on September 23-28.

One of the highlights of every Homecoming is our Alumni Honors Banquet. This year’s recipients of the Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership are Chuck Kummeth, ’83; Dr. Monica Mayer, ’95; David Miedema, ’76; Cathy (Wilson) Rydell, ’88; and Suezette Bieri, ’69, and Mike Jacobs, ’70. There will be three recipients of the Young Alumni Achievement Award: Dr. Tiffany (Stratton) Hamilton, ’06; Emily O’Brien, ’15; and Erica (Wondrasek) Thunder, ’11.

You can find information on Homecoming 2024 at our website, UNDalumni.org/events/homecoming. We hope to see you on campus for Homecoming Week!

Thank you for all that you do for UND and its outstanding students!

Sincerely,

#UNDproud THE THINGS THAT MAKE US

For more, subscribe to UND Today at blogs.UND.edu/UND-today.

HALFTIME HARMONY

For the first time, members of the UND Chapter of Special Olympics College performed their own dance number during halftime of a men’s basketball game in January. This was their first solo event. UND dance team co-captain Grace Bartunek organized the event and choreographed the routine as part of her senior capstone project.

WONDERFUL NORTH DAKOTA

Kevin O’Leary, Canadian business executive and television personality best known as “Mr. Wonderful” from the reality show “Shark Tank” visited campus in late January. He discussed the state’s future with drones and artificial intelligence, and fielded questions about business.

QUOTABLE

“So, remember your classmates — yeah, even the annoying ones — they are friends for life. Wash those extra sheets and stock up the fridge because a few of us will crash on your couch.”

Mark Pfeifle, ’97 Founder and President, Off the Record Strategies Winter 2023 UND Commencement Address

BY THE NUMBERS

11

National Flying Championships for UND’s Aerobatic Team. They compete against professional airline, corporate, airshow, military and other competitive pilots.

22

feet below the ocean’s surface: Jules’ Undersea Lodge, an underwater habitat near Key Largo, Fla., where UND researchers explore the sea and conduct outreach in space station-like conditions.

$7.6 million

awarded to UND by the U.S. Army to develop and enhance an innovative Contamination and Sanitation Inspection (CSI) system.

55

teams of middle and high schoolers filled the Memorial Union in February for the VEX Robotics Competition.

$1 million

awarded to UND and the North Dakota Tribal College System by the Mellon Foundation to enhance humanities education and preserve cultural lifeways, Indigenous languages and knowledge.

STAND UP FOR ROSA PARKS

UND held its first Rosa Parks lecture during Black History Month. Art Malloy, UND vice president of student affairs, presented “Politics of Protest.” He spoke of the historical impact of Parks and the coalition-building strategy that made the movement’s victories possible. “The politics of protesting is simply using protest as a means to bring about change,” he said.

From the President ANDY’S FITNESS TIPS

Keeping fit in a role like mine can be tough. Concentrated periods of time are harder to find in the face of busy schedules and trips away from home. Everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by restaurant meals – delicious but calorific.

I am, by no means, in the best shape of my life, but here are a few thoughts on fitness for those who are no longer competing for championship trophies:

• Make it a priority well ahead of those things that consume your time, like email and social media

QUIZ BITS

CALL IT A COMEBACK

What two bachelor’s degree programs will come back to UND in the next two years?

Music Therapy Raptology Journalism Home Economics Music Therapy and Journalism

• Change the mindset: working out is no longer about vanity, but about quality of life and overall health

• Find a consistent time to work out; for me, it’s early in the morning

• Bring your workout gear on the road

• It’s important to focus on cardio, strength, and flexibility (my nemesis)

My workouts are simple: cardio on either the treadmill or elliptical and strength training with adjustable weight dumbbells. As a former college athlete, these workouts are nothing like what we used to do, but that’s part of our evolving lives. Thus, it’s important to find other ways to exercise, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking across campus instead of driving, and even knocking out pushups or stretching in the office. Every little bit helps.

Esports is one the fastestgrowing industries in the world, and UND is playing a clutch role in North Dakota, launching the state’s first esports undergraduate degree in the fall of 2022.

“This interdisciplinary degree program is innovative, challenging, and at the cutting edge of new developments in academic programming across the country,” said Provost Eric Link when it was announced.

The academic program is one of UND’s three esports offerings. The other two are varsity athletics, housed in a new facility, and a recreational program that started the University’s esports journey.

“The programs have the mutual goal to attract students who might not otherwise come to UND, maybe not even attend university,” said Jeff Holm, Vice Provost for Strategic Programming & Special Initiatives. “We are trying to use esports to draw people into areas of workforce need.”

As universities evolve to meet the needs of current students, Holm explained that doesn’t mean getting rid of traditions; it does mean considering new things. “Esports is just one of those things.”

Holm works as a liaison between campus leaders and community partners to meet student demand and address workforce needs. He also supervises the esports varsity athletics programs.

He added that esports programs attract male students, a population declining in higher education settings.

ACADEMIC: Esports is Interdisciplinary

Matt Knutson, who joined the faculty in August 2023, leads the esports degree program, which is housed in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Education & Human Development. Knutson collaborated with departments across campus to expand options within the degree. He designed UND’s esports curriculum around a core of essential classes and specialized tracks, which allows students to tailor their education to their areas of interest.

“Esports is interdisciplinary,” Knutson emphasized. “Students are qualified for jobs in esports coaching through kinesiology. There’s streaming media production and social media through communication. There is the business side – esports entrepreneurship and sports business. We have information systems and world languages. That’s five different options with a sixth recently added in graphic design.”

The most popular specializations at UND are shoutcasting and streaming media production, but Knutson thinks that could change. “Once all the students know the full scope of the revised degree program, I’m curious what that distribution will look like.”

Students may major in or get a certificate in the fully remote esports academic program. The Esports Certificate was added this academic year, equipping students in other disciplines and varsity esports studentathletes with enhanced qualifications for esports-related jobs.

BY STEPHANIE SCHULTZ, ’91

DIRECTOR

STRATEGIC PLAY

By leveling up in Esports, UND is set to provide qualified professionals in related STEM fields.

In UND Esports’ state-of-the-art broadcast room, students produce and stream matches, bringing the excitement of games to off-campus audiences.

MATT KNUTSON

Director, Esports Program

Favorite Game: Super Smash Bros. Melee

VARSITY ATHLETICS:

We’re here and it’s amazing Varsity esports student-athletes practice in UND’s $1.2 million, 3,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility that opened in March 2023. This space houses 41 computers across three rooms: a practice room, a classroom for coaching and instruction, and a competition room. Students can study and relax in the lounge and produce and stream matches in the broadcast studio.

After the facility opened, the number of varsity esports athletes more than doubled: from 35 in spring 2023 to 75 in fall 2023. Twelve UND teams practice at least 12 hours a week on one of eight titles (games). “We used to be happy when UND was able to fill a team for a title. Now almost every title has a full team; some even have three teams,” said Varsity Esports Coach Ryan Kraus, who schedules regular season league games and tournaments, recruits players, picks titles, and guides team captains who serve as title coaches.

“Hyslop closet,” which housed six additional computers.

“Now, we’re here and it is amazing,” Taylor said of the new facility.

UND student-athletes and their coach say competitive gaming enhances social skills. “Esports athletes need to communicate and learn how to work with other people as part of the team,” Kraus said.

“I think our program has done a good job of being a very welcoming group,” Taylor added. “I’m a person of color in a small town in North Dakota. No one here is treating me differently.”

INTRAMURALS:

It feels like a small community

UND’s club program, started in 2019, was the University’s entry into esports, the result of the work of a cross-sectional team of educators, administrators, and students.

“Under the current staffing, we are pretty much at our maximum,” Holm said. “But we would like to be much more competitive; to have one very good, very competitive team for each title.”

UND is accelerating its esports recruiting process. “We have been focused on who’s graduating and looking at colleges,” Holm said. “We’re just starting to look at students in 9th and 10th grades.”

The new facility makes attracting students easier, but Holm said doing everything at once is difficult. “It’s a matter of having time to get things in place. We’ve gotten into some higher profile leagues, and we’re beginning to look at providing scholarship money.”

During its inaugural season in 2020, the team practiced on 12 computers at the Nexus Esports Lounge in the Student Wellness Center. “Nexus was good when we had a much smaller program. But we started to notice growing pains,” Kraus said.

UND junior and esports studentathlete Ethan Taylor said, “I was part of esports through the development.” He practiced at Nexus and the

Kaleb Dschaak, ’20, at the time UND’s student body vice president, was a key part of the team. “At that time, not a lot of colleges were doing esports,” he said. “I was very proud to be a part of that incredible group to bring esports to campus. We had a lot of leadership at the table who were excited about this program.”

That group toured different facilities, gathered information, and opened the Nexus Esports Lounge in the UND Student Wellness Center. “The Wellness Center is really where it started,” said Dschaak, who worked there during his senior year. “The location was intentional to connect an activity known for antiwellness to wellness.”

The name “Nexus,” defined as a series of connections linking two or more things, demonstrates UND’s desire for the space to bring people together and create a sense of community.

“Students who connect with our programming or use our space have gained connections and friendships. It feels like a small community for them,” said UND’s Campus Recreation Coordinator Braeden Mueller. He said many students take advantage of the location, often exercising or participating in different programming offered at the center.

RYAN KRAUS

Coach of UND Varsity Esports Favorite Game: League of Legends

ETHAN TAYLOR, ’25

Varsity esports athlete and accounting major Captain of the Rainbow Six Siege

JEFF HOLM

Vice Provost for Strategic Programming & Special Initiatives

“Now, we’re here and it is amazing.”

ETHAN TAYLOR

UND Valorant team members Simon Mau, Ryker Ellingworth, Noah

Netesh Kishan and Cooper Franks

celebrate their NECC Games Challengers West Division championship. The team was undefeated in regular season play. They’re pictured with their honorary team member, an owl that’s been watching over them all season. At left is the Nexus Esports Lounge in the UND Wellness Center.

Tarbox,

(captain)

POWERING UP THE CLASSROOM: FENWORKS PREPARES

TOMORROW’S

STEM WORKFORCE

Kaleb Dschaak, ’20, is a UND grad who turned his love of gaming into work, launching Fenworks, a company that offers after-school esports and drone programs to K-12 students.

While employed at UND’s Nexus Esports Lounge, Kaleb often received inquiries from educators, highlighting the need for tech programs. He started Fenworks in August 2020 with three employees and a plan to bring esports to area children. Fenworks has since expanded its offerings with programs in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

“We no longer see ourselves as just an esports company, but as the backbone of high-tech activities,” Kaleb said.

“Maybe it’s computers, maybe it’s the internet, maybe it’s drones, maybe it’s lunar Mars racing or hackathons or coding competitions. More activities that have this hightech flavor exist, and they’re so critical.”

Kaleb said Fenworks’ programs have grown quickly because they engage an audience previously neglected. Up to 80% of students participating in Fenworks programs in their schools had never been involved in an extracurricular activity. Statistics show that after participating in esports, students achieve higher GPAs and mark fewer absences. Other benefits include enhanced problem-solving, and improved memory, coordination, and fine motor skills.

“Young people are looking for new things to do; this is how they get involved for the first time; they participate, learn, and experience the thrill of competition with the

support of family and friends,” Kaleb said. “We’re giving them hands-on experience that will drive their careers into industries of the future.”

Fenworks general managers, or coaches, educate parents and students to create structure and balance around gaming. They also prepare kids for the online world. “We can’t run from it,” Kaleb said. “We have to embrace it in a way that is healthy, intentional, and beneficial. That’s what matters.”

Ten UND graduates work for Fenworks. Grace Wagner, ’21, Fenworks director of marketing, was hired as an intern while at UND. She’s seen the company move three times to make room for the expanding staff needed to handle the hundreds of students now participating in Fenworks programs.

“It’s a challenge to market to the different demographics, which include school administrators and teachers, parents, and students,” she said. “Word-of-mouth marketing from satisfied customers has been one of the best ways to get new business.”

Fenworks is also responding to industry partners, school districts, and higher education institutions who ask: Where will the next generation of STEM workers come from? “The answer is programs like Fenworks,” Kaleb said. “Networkers, coders, engineers – all these high-tech activities involve these incredible skills. This is the way that hundreds of students have engaged in these activities.”

Mueller said Nexus has state-of-the-art gaming equipment. “One big thing we take pride in is our ability to connect all different types of gamers, whether that is the computer gamer, Switch gamer, or even Console through our programming and operations.”

Mueller stressed the recreational focus of Nexus. “This space is for every gamer regardless of skill level.”

OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES:

Not all warm fuzzies

While Fighting Hawks gamers are developing friendships and learning communication and strategic skills, UND esports stakeholders recognize it faces some challenging stereotypes.

“Gaming is not all warm fuzzies,” esports assistant professor Knutson said. “Historically, cis men are overrepresented in the competitive sphere, at the professional and collegiate levels, and in high school. Esports isn’t always a welcoming space

for women, who commonly encounter gender-based harassment in gaming, especially online.”

Of the 75 student-athletes on the UND varsity team, nine identify as female.

Isabelle Cross is a freshman on the varsity team. She said it can be uncomfortable playing games surrounded by guys. “But once you get used to the environment and focus on playing the game instead of, ‘I’m a woman playing the game,’ it’s so much easier.”

She said being on the team has been a bonding experience and she shares many inside jokes with her teammates. “I don’t fit the stereotype that ‘gamers are weird’ so it’s easier for me to encourage others to join,” she said. Knutson and Allison Burkman, prevention and education campus coordinator for CVIC (Community Violence Intervention Center) at UND, have worked together to address

the social factors that hurt women’s participation, delivering diversity and inclusion seminars to UND esports title captains and Wellness Center representatives. “Our training teaches participants how to respond to toxicity when it arises, and to harassment in person or through networked communication,” Knutson said.

“Esports is a type of competition in which brute force and brute strength are not relevant factors,” he continued. “As youth esports becomes more commonplace, we can achieve more gender parity.”

Kraus agreed. “Traditional sports have a physical limitation barrier to access,” he said. “In esports, it doesn’t matter who you are, what you are, or whether you have some sort of disability; as long as you can move your hands and you can think, you’re fine.”

START-UP PHASE:

Get Esports on the Radar Esports industry and university statistics indicate a history of rapid growth, but Kraus thinks higher ed is in the “startup phase” of esports. “It’s been around universities for about 10 years. But in the last five years, I’ve seen many colleges invest a lot more. I don’t know of a state that doesn’t have some sort of high school competition.”

Holm agreed that esports didn’t have a presence until 10-15 years ago. “The biggest issue is trying to get it on people’s radar.”

In late February, the UND Memorial Union was the location for both the Minnesota and North Dakota State High School Esports Tournaments, run by Fenworks (see story on previous page). UND esports athletes helped with the event,

guiding hundreds of enthusiastic and highly skilled high school gamers and their supportive families and friends throughout the weekend.

The crowds are a sign of the growing appeal of esports among younger generations and their families. If the students stay on this trajectory, they may be future graduates of UND’s esports degree program and the next generation of workers helping to fill jobs in the $1.72 billion esports industry and related STEM fields. ///

2032, PROJECTED $1.72 billion 2023

$9.29 billion

In February, UND hosted nearly 400 students from 48 high schools attending the North Dakota and Minnesota Esports State Tournaments. Fenworks managed the event.

GLOBAL MARKET VALUE OF ESPORTS

(source: Fortune Business Insights)

GAMER SPEAK: DECODED

Gamers speak a unique language. UND Varsity Esports Coach Ryan Kraus and UND Esports Academic Director Matt Knutson, clutch* players in UND Esports, shared some terms spoken in their esports arenas.

*Clutch: A player’s ability to perform well under extreme pressure or in an important part of a match; the ability to win when winning previously seemed impossible.

TERMS ACCORDING TO RYAN KRAUS

Kraus, often around college athletes, offered casual terms he hears at practice.

AFK // Away From Keyboard. “People say it when someone isn’t doing anything,” Kraus said.

Casual // “This is a great term for people who like to play games but not very often,” he said

EXP // Experience point. A common term in gaming, specifically single-player games. It signifies a character’s growth, but is different from leveling up.

GG // Good game.

Grinding // Playing a lot.

Level up // Moving up to a higher level of the game and being rewarded with extra powers, abilities, strength, and/or weapons.

“‘Level up’ has been around in gaming basically since it started, so many people understand it,” Kraus said.

MATT KNUTSON’S GLOSSARY

Knutson recently finished a paper that includes a glossary. The terms he provided, like his position, are more academic.

Grassroots // A local and/or amateur scene in esports that holds competitions and events, serves as a community hub for players, and provides an entry point into the competitive sphere.

Mods // Modification of the base game, often using that game engine and its assets. Modifications range from simple graphical updates to full-fledged games with fundamentally different rulesets.

Observer // A member of production who operates an ingame perspective during a given match. It is the equivalent of a cameraperson in traditional broadcasting.

Overlay // A display of pertinent information that supplements the in-game video footage, including player names, scores, and/ or timers, and other relevant statistics. It typically occupies the border of a screen.

Patch // A feature update to a videogame that introduces balancing and/or gameplay changes, either indirectly through fixing known issues (“bugs”) or tweaking certain aspects of the game.

Production // The team of workers in charge of creating streaming esports video for an audience of spectators.

Shoutcaster // Calls the action of an esports competition by describing events as they unfold and/or placing the game’s events into a comprehensible narrative.

BY ALYSSA KONICKSON, ’06, EDITOR

In the heart of Las Vegas stands a behemoth of architectural ingenuity, a structure that’s been said to resemble the iconic Death Star from the Star Wars saga. Allegiant Stadium is not just a sports arena; it’s a testament to the city’s boundless energy and the legacy of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.

Behind the scenes at the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders is Cami Bennett, a former University of North Dakota softball star who’s been senior graphic designer for the franchise since 2016, and stuck with it when the Raiders moved from Oakland, California, to Las Vegas in 2020. Cami’s creative vision has left an indelible mark on the Allegiant Stadium experience.

A Stadium Tour

When showing off Allegiant Stadium and her work within it, Cami’s first stop, naturally, is the entrance. Two 30x30 chandeliers outfitted with programmable LED light welcome visitors. Just beyond, the base of the 93-foot-tall Al Davis Memorial Torch is adorned with the names of honored guests who’ve ceremoniously lit the flame.

“I think my favorite spot in the stadium is the torch,” Cami said.

“It’s a tribute back to Al Davis and the history of the Raiders and our fans. Everyone who lights it gets to sign it, and their name is on the torch forever.”

The larger-than-life tribute is one of many features honoring the beloved former coach and franchise owner throughout the stadium. The treatment of those thoughtful symbols, the intentional placements of Raiders’ colors black and silver, and the challenge of contrasting those muted colors with the brightness of the city of Las Vegas are the things that kept Cami up at night while the stadium was taking shape.

Davis’s son, Mark, is the current owner of the Raiders, and according to Cami, had a clear vision of what he wanted the new stadium to embody. “Las Vegas finally gave us this home that we’ve been waiting for, and this whole building is going to be our gift back to Las Vegas,” Cami said. “He wanted you to be walking down the concourse and feel like you’re on the Strip, so that’s where the neon lights come in.”

Allegiant Stadium pays homage to the city’s vibrant culture. On the second-floor concourse, concession stands look like the neon-lit streets of the Strip and depict the iconic landmarks that dot the desert landscape. “We want everything we do in this building to give back to the city,” said Cami. She commissioned more than 100 local artists whose paintings of Raiders Hall of Famers and iconic Vegas scenes are hung throughout the building.

“It was probably one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Cami said.

“It was the perfect partnership.”

Onto the final stop in the Champions Club Lounge before entering field level: A customwallpapered wall with a matte background and the words of “The Autumn Wind,” the Raiders’ fight song, in glossy lettering.

The explanation of her aesthetic choices is simple: “They asked me to do something for this wall, and I love black on black. Everybody seems to really love it.”

Season ticket holders saw a replica of the wall when they opened their commemorative box at the beginning of the 2020 season. It was the stadium’s inaugural season, but fans wouldn’t be able to attend games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a special gesture for Raiders faithful, she created a music boxlike keepsake in which a replica Allegiant Stadium opened to play

“The Autumn Wind.” The gift was so popular that Cami has created a new custom season ticket box for the Raiders’ most faithful fans every year since.

Super Bowl LVIII

In a historic moment that underscored the stadium’s significance, Allegiant Stadium hosted this year’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. The game was the most-watched television event since the moon landing in 1969.

Leading up to the Super Bowl, Cami and her team rebranded their premium offerings such as suites and clubs; they redesigned the website and spruced up their marketing collateral. “We leveled up a little bit,” Cami said. “It was an amazing opportunity for us.”

When you’re the host city, the Super Bowl lasts more than just day of the game. The NFL had moved into the stadium, so she and her colleagues worked from home during the day. Nightly events started almost a full week before the big game, so Cami helped host parties and

concerts throughout the city and was called on to attend a few as a guest.

“I did get to go to NFL Honors, which was incredible,” Cami said, and she attended the NFL Hall of Fame luncheon, a red-carpet event at the Wynn where Raiders Hall of Famer Tim Brown sat with Cami and her team and she had a photo opp with Marcus Allen, who won a Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1984.

After the big game on Feb. 11 that ended in a Chiefs victory, as the NFL worked on getting her home stadium back to normal, Cami and her team started looking to next season.

“We’re calling for a new look that we haven’t done before, and I’m really excited about it,” Cami said.

“It’s what our fans have been asking for, and we have a new coach who really embodies what it means to be a Raider.”

autumn wind

On the previous page, Cami Bennett is pictured on a matte wall with foil lettering in the field-level club lounge, a look she mirrors in the commemorative season ticket boxes she creates every year. The lettering depicts the team’s unique fight song, “Autumn Wind,” (typically spoken as a poem), which also plays when the season ticket boxes are opened.

AUTUMN WIND

The Autumn Wind is a pirate. Blustering in from sea, With a rollicking song, he sweeps along, Swaggering boisterously.

His face is weather beaten.

He wears a hooded sash, With a silver hat about his head, And a bristling black mustache.

He growls as he storms the country, A villain big and bold.

And the trees all shake and quiver and quake, As he robs them of their gold.

The Autumn Wind is a Raider, Pillaging just for fun.

He’ll knock you ’round and upside down, And laugh when he’s conquered and won.

Cami’s dad, Brad Bennett, joined her in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl on Feb. 11.

GO INSIDE

Triumph & Unity

Cami’s design journey started right here at the University of North Dakota. She was a star on the UND Softball team, earning multiple All-Conference honors and competing on the team that won a Great West Conference championship in 2010.

During that time, she designed a team shirt that became a successful fundraiser for the program. Her coach encouraged her to study graphic design, and she earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2014 and her MBA in 2016.

While she pursued her master’s, she worked for UND Athletics as a graphic designer and served on the committee to create the new logo. While challenging, Cami said it prepared her for her role today. “I honestly think that it helped me get this job. I understood how agencies work, and I kind of already had a step up in terms of rebranding.”

From the softball diamond to the design helm of one of the NFL’s iconic new stadiums, Cami’s tour of creative endeavors demonstrates her unwavering passion and dedication to her field of work (and the field of the Raiders). It’s these moments of triumph and unity, with an important role on a successful team, that inspire her work for athletes and fans alike.

Take a tour through the newest NFL stadium with the Raiders’ senior graphic designer Cami Bennett, ’14, ’16.

ALUMNI AUTHORS

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

Robert Hale, ’53, and his daughter, Beth Hale Lindsey, ’78, published “Babykins, the Littlest Elf” and “The Babykins – Elf the Twelfth Coloring Book.” The duo has published several other books including “Glen Meadows Book of Memories” and “Honey Parish.”

Niomi Rohn Phillips, ’61, ’80, published “The Writer and the Engineer.” Niomi is a former lecturer in the UND English Department and Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School.

Gary Eller, ’65, published “True North,” a novel set in North Dakota’s Turtle Mountains, which tells the stories of three clashing farm families as they struggle to survive in a changing world. “True North” is a Bronze Medal Winner for Midwest Best Regional Fiction: 2022 IPPY Awards.

Steve Berg, ’68, published “Lost Colony: The Hennepin Island Murder.” Berg’s book, inspired by true events, takes place 30 years after the neversolved 1986 assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in Stockholm. After two gruesome murders at Swedish American church in Minneapolis, a hasbeen reporter and a female pastor try to crack the case.

William “Bill” Kirk, ’69, published “A Whale of a Tale,” a rhyming story about a boy and whale.

Harvey Dahl, ’70, published “The Assistant Coaches: A Story about Baseball,” the sixth book in the George Grant Series. Dahl has written nine novels under the pen name Jay Henry Peterson.

Ron Baesler, ’71, published “Francisca’s Destiny: A Brazilian Story.” The book is based on Ron’s encounter with a remarkable person while working in Brazil.

Connie Ness, ’72, published “Just Keep Pedaling: A Peace Corps Volunteer in Uruguay.” The first North American to live in tiny Baltasar Brum in Uruguay, Ness writes about the culture clash and the influences of her time there.

Bruce Gjovig, ’74, released “Innovators from North Dakota: The Change Agents!” The book profiles 40 men and women with North Dakota ties who have made an impact on a national level. It is the third in a series about exceptional business professionals in North Dakota.

Gladys (Sondag) “Sunny” Wells, ’74, published “Widows Gone Wild: Our Journey from Loss to Resilience,” recounting how she and her friends, all widowed at a young age, overcame grief and cultivated lifelong friendships.

Rod Jahner, ’75, published “Never Do Anything Just Right,” a humorous memoir chronicling his travels and life.

Ted Kissel, ’76, published “Betrayal in the Casbah.” Col. Mitch Ross risks his life and the lives of others to rescue a downed American pilot being held by terrorists in Algiers.

Jamie Stoudt, ’77, published “The Man Under the Moon,” the story of the first colony on the moon set in 2033.

Arlen Faris, ’78, published “The Way We Were Raised – Poems and Thoughts About Values” and “Twin Buttes – Life and Death on the Dakota Plains.”

Denise Lajimodiere, ’78; ’96, ’06, has published five books over the years, including four books of Poetry: “His Feathers Were Chains” (2020), “Thunderbird” (2017), “Bitter Tears” (2016), and “Dragonfly Dance” (2010). In 2019, she published “Stringing Rosaries: The History, the Unforgivable, and the Healing of Northern Plains American Indian Boarding School Survivors.” Lajimodiere is the North Dakota Poet Laureate.

Robert Primeaux, ’80, wrote “Will Chase: The Sioux Lands.” Written with the input of six elders from three different Sioux reservations, the story follows Will’s effort to save the lands for the Sioux.

Juliet (Rehrig) Cutler, ’96, published “Among the Maasai.” Based on her experiences teaching at the first school for Maasai girls in East Africa, Cutler’s award-winning book explores the lifechanging impact of education on her students. Proceeds from the sale of this book support education and safety for at-risk Maasai girls.

Jack Riedel, ’97, published “The Roaming Rebels,” the story of Zade Theraman’s adventures crossing the solar system in the fifth Millennium with help from the Roaming Rebels.

Anthony Viola, ’98, published “The Law of Devil’s Land.” A 17-year-old outcast unsure of their identity competes in the Annual Imperial Events in a postapocalyptic society.

Mark Dusenbury, ’02, ’12, ’16, published three books of aeronautical knowledge. They include: “The Pilot’s Manual: Multi-Engine Flying” (2015), coauthored by Shaye Daku, ’01, ’14, ’21, and Robert Laux, ’01, ’04; “The Pilot’s Manual: Airline Transport Pilot” (2019), coauthored by Daku; and “Aerodynamics for Aviators” (2016), coauthored by Gary Ullrich and Shelby Balogh, ’06. Dusenbury, Daku, and Ullrich are Associate Professors and Laux is a lecturer at UND’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. Balogh, formerly a lecturer at the Odegard School, is a data and analytics scientist at GE Aviation.

Brent W. Chisholm, ’04, published “O-Dark Thirty, A Literary Journal.” Chisholm’s fiction was featured in the Veteran’s Writing Project Literary Journal, and both his fiction and nonfiction have been featured in Pacific Northwest outdoor magazines. Chisholm currently writes under a pen name for a popular online satire news outlet.

Melvin Marsh, ’07, published “Leaving Bacon Behind: A How-to Guide to Jewish Conversion” that focuses on questions prospective Jews by choice might have. The book won the Silver Award in Religion in Nonfiction Book Awards in December 2023.

Joe Field, ’10, published “Buffalo-Man: The Making of a Chokecherry Legend.” National Park Ranger Casey Clay wants to get out of Chokecherry, N.D., but an unexpected opportunity may keep him there.

Charles McCrary, ’11, published “Sincerely Held: American Secularism and Its Believers,” a novel that explores the relationship between sincerity, religious freedom, and the secular in the United States.

Cory Volk, ’14, published “Win the Line, Win the Edge: A Blueprint for Coaching Football’s Offensive Line.” Volk’s book explains the concepts of teaching and instructional design, and is applicable to any position and any sport.

Chioma Onwumelu, ’17, and Moones Alamooti, ’19, researchers with the UND College of Engineering & Mines, have coauthored a children’s book. Titled “Rock Adventures: A Global Journey of Three Friends,” their story takes young readers on a journey through the fascinating world of rocks and geology.

James (Bob) Hagerty, ’78, published “Yours Truly: An Obituary Writer’s Guide to Telling Your Story.” The Washington Post named it one of 10 noteworthy books published in December 2022.

Hagerty, a Wall Street Journal staff reporter and editor for 40 years with postings in New York, London, Hong Kong, Brussels, and Atlanta, is currently a contributing writer to the Journal and other publications. He believes everyone has interesting stories to tell, and suggests young and middleaged people start keeping notes ask themselves three questions: What am I trying to do with my life? Why? And how is that working out? Hagerty lives in Pittsburgh.

CHAMPIONS

IN THE CLASSROOM, COMMUNITY & COMPETITION

From field to classroom, our 330+ student-athletes excel in every arena. In 2023-24, UND won the NCAA national community service championship, Hockey won the Penrose Cup (National Collegiate Hockey Conference champion), and both Football and Softball had historic wins over NDSU. Meanwhile, we’re gearing up to open three new facilities next year – Albrecht Field, Nodak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center, and Hyslop at Memorial Village.

CROSS COUNTRY

JAMIE BURNS

All-Summit League Second Team

FOOTBALL BO BELQUIST

All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Second Team

BASKETBALL

KACIE BOROWICZ Summit League First Team (3 straight years)

GOLF LILY BREDEMEIER

Hole-in-one was UND Athletics Play of the Year

TRACK & FIELD

LUKE LABATTE

Ranked 9th in NCAA 3,000-meter steeplechase

TRACK & FIELD

KENNA CURRY

Summit League

Indoor Field Athlete of the Year

31st consecutive semester (fall 2023) with a 3.0 overall department GPA

3,230 service hours completed by student-athletes last fall

Ranked #1 in career wins

TENNIS ANDREA JANSSON

“I chose UND because of the incredible support from the community, the amazing facilities, and the large number of fans that come to every game.”

SETTING UP A BRIGHT FUTURE

ELIZABETH NORRIS, ’23, ’25

Hometown: Owosso, Michigan

Area of study: Public Health

Athletic program & position: Setter, UND Women’s Volleyball

Favorite area of campus: My favorite building on campus is O’Kelly Hall. I had many classes in the O’Kelly 61 high-tech classroom. This made it easy to collaborate with classmates and develop a greater understanding for the material.

Academic highlight: The highlight of my academic program was earning my undergraduate degree with honors in three years. Because of this, I’ll be able to complete my graduate program and still be a student-athlete.

Community involvement: I am the president of Student-Athletes for Inclusion and Diversity, a student-athlete group that aims to make every athlete who steps foot on our campus feel welcomed and supported. I have also been a member of Hawkademy, our studentathlete leadership program, which has taught me many lessons that I can apply to all areas of my life.

Biggest athletic accomplishment: In the 2022-2023 season, I set the school record and ranked second nationally in total triple doubles with six in a single season.

Future goals: After graduation, I plan to continue my education through medical school and become a physician, possibly a surgeon.

CHAMPIONS BALL North Dakota

On April 27, more than 800 loyal Fighting Hawks fans descended on the Alerus Center to show their support for UND Athletics. Together, they gave a record

$452,924 in support of UND student-athletes for scholarships and program needs. Thank you for all you do for UND Athletics!

FOREVER UND: THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA

Together, we are undertaking a $500 million comprehensive fundraising campaign to build a UND for the future. Thank you to the alumni and friends who give. Your generosity allows the torch of knowledge to be passed on to those who will lead the way.

62 YEARS

A LIFETIME OF GIVING

Dr. Robert A. Kyle, ’48, made his first gift to the University of North Dakota in April 1962 – almost 18-months before President John F. Kennedy spoke at UND.

Back then, Kyle was less than a decade into what would become a 70-year career at the Mayo Clinic, where he specialized in a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma.

Fast forward 62 years and Dr. Kyle remains a strong supporter of UND, having given each year since 1962. His first gifts started small – $10 a year for the remainder of the decade before keeping with inflation trends – and 40+ years later he and his wife of 70 years, Charlene, established a scholarship endowment.

“I felt that it was appropriate to, quote, ‘pay back,’” recalled Dr. Kyle. “I felt this education at UND was very helpful to me. It got me into medical school and obviously without medical school, you don’t become a doctor.”

Dr. Kyle’s 62 years of giving back to UND makes him one of the longest-living benefactors in the University’s history.

$6.5 MILLION

A GIFT FOR FOREVER SANFORD IMPACTS ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS

In a move aimed at fostering education, behavioral health, and athletic excellence, Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the U.S., has donated $6.5 million to the University of North Dakota. This generous donation will support scholarships and programs in vital areas and help complete UND Athletics’ practice and competition complex.

UND President Andrew Armacost expressed his gratitude, highlighting the far-reaching impact of Sanford Health’s generosity. “The gift from Sanford Health impacts so many important initiatives laid out in our UND LEADS strategic plan,” he said. Indeed, the donation touches various facets of education and healthcare, from funding sports medicine programs to providing scholarships in psychology and clinical psychology education.

A significant portion of Sanford’s gift is $2.5 million to establish three endowments, each receiving 50% in matching funds from the North Dakota Legislature’s Higher Education Challenge Grant Fund to bring the total impact to $3.25 million.

UND will direct the rest of the gift, $4 million, to complete the NoDak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center – an addition to the Fritz Pollard Jr. Athletic Center that will include locker rooms, a weight room, and sports medicine facilities. That project broke ground in August 2023.

Tiffany Lawrence, ’94, Sanford Health Fargo President and CEO, expressed excitement about deepening the company’s partnership with UND, emphasizing the gift’s positive impact on community health and student-athletes. “This multifaceted investment will provide countless opportunities for studentathletes and the future health care workforce.”

She added that the gift underscores Sanford Health’s commitment to addressing behavioral health challenges, a pressing issue in the region.

DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, hailed Sanford Health’s contribution as “transformative.” “This extraordinary gift funds endowments and facilities that will live on well into the future,” she said. “In 100 years, students will still be receiving Sanford Health scholarships.”

Sanford’s gift gets Forever UND: The Campaign for the University of North Dakota a significant step closer to its $500 million goal.

ETERNAL FLAME SOCIETY

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 July 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

*indicates deceased

ADELPHI CIRCLE

$5,000,000+

Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation

Sanford Health

WILLIAM BUDGE CIRCLE

$1,000,000 - $4,999,999

Diane & Daryl* Anderson

Drs. Haldean & Bonnie Dalzell

John R. Fischer, M.D.

Mike Jacobs & Suezette Bieri

Charles Kummeth & Angela Dillow

Mark & Claudia Thompson

Lew Wilson*

DR. CORA SMITH CIRCLE

$500,000 - $999,999

Bio-Techne Corp

George & Barbara Eidsness

Perry & Stacy Mattern

THOMAS CLIFFORD CIRCLE

$100,000 - $499,999

Troy Bader & Gina Sauer

Randall & Shannon Bakke

Todd & Lisa Barnes

Marion A. Birkeland*

Boilermatic Welding Industries, Inc.

Roger Borg

Dr. Harry Brickley

Duncan & K. Rebecca Bridewell

Paul V. Bruce

Drs. Edward & Pam Carlson

Jacquelyn & Christopher Crowhurst

Emerson Process Management, Saint Louis

Robert & Carlene Falos

R. Jon Fitzner

Laurel J. Forsberg

Dennis H. Fossum

Glen Gonsorowski

Arnie & Jane Gregory

Gronowski Family

Donna Hastings & Dr. Jonathan Geiger

THE PERFECT TIME FOR A GIFT OF STOCK!

The Dow Jones and S&P 500 markets have reached new heights this spring, and there’s no better time to make an impact with a gift of stock. You can support your passion at UND with an outright cash donation or by setting up a life income gift. Both options allow you to take advantage of numerous tax benefits like avoiding capital gains.

701.777.2611 | donorrelations@UNDfoundation.org

Allen* & Ardella Hefta

Sam & Mary Johnson

Daniel & Denae Juntunen

Kao Family Foundation

Craig & Dr. Patricia Kipp

Bryan Klipfel & Kathleen Schoen

Dr. Harvey & Diane* Knull

Mark & Priscilla Kovar

Dr. John* & Doris Lambie

Ling Lan Liu

Vicky & Denis McNicholl

Dave & Patti Miedema

Drew & Meghan Molstad

Jeffrey N. Nelson

Robert J. Otto*

W. Brian & Susan Poykko

Lenhard P. Preszler

Clifford D. Richards*

Mark & Sandra Ruelle

SafetySpect, Inc.

FOREVER UND CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

Arch & Mary Simonson

Gerald & Lucy Solberg

Mark F. Streifel

Joseph & Marie Talley

Steve & Maureen Thorpe

Vardon Golf Club

Jason Vasichek

Dr. Robert & Barbara Veitch

E. Thomas & Rita Welch

Craig & Nancy Welken

“My experience as a track and field athlete while a UND student was transformative; I am forever indebted to my head track coach Frank Zazula and UND for that experience. Maybe I can help other student-athletes have similar experiences.”

ROBERT FRANSEN, ’77 BUDGE CIRCLE

PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

$10,000 - $99,999

Ralph & Regina Anavy

Dr. Benjamin & Sen. Michelle Axtman

Dr. Eric* & Laurie Bakke

Adam Bergman

Dr. Terence & Barbara Brenner

Elaine Brinkman

Sheryl L. Britsch

Brosz Engineering

Jesse & Lee Bull

Duncan & Paula Cameron

Rodney & Gayle* Charnholm

Delta Air Lines

Mark & Jill Dickson

Ben & Donna Dove

Adam & Quinn Driscoll

Drs. Gay Dybwad & Joy Bliss

William H. Eelkema, M.D.

Bob & Patricia Feidler

Benjamin Fliginger

Dr. Cynthia Flom-Meland & Scott Meland

Dr. Peter* & Marlys Fritzell

Dean & Barbara Goetz

Dr. Paul L. Gourley

Brant W. Grimes

Jean & Victor Harper

Jared Hartman

RADM Gary & Janet Hartz

J. Michael Hatlelid, M.D.

Kristin Heck

Integrated Steel Solutions Inc.

Johnson Controls Foundation

Bruce & Shirley Johnson

Rick D. Johnson

& Virginia Clark Johnson

Maribeth M. Klettke

“I believe that a new STEM facility is critical for UND and the College of Engineering & Mines. Most important, it will have a significant value to UND and North Dakota in supporting the state’s robust technology industry.”

TERRY SEVERSON, ’65 BUDGE CIRCLE, 1889 LEGACY SOCIETY

Barbara Bina Kolb

Robin Kriedeman

Dr. Elwood Largis

Ralph* & Rosemary* Leidholdt

Eric & Laura Link

Gary & Debbie Lloyd

Nicholas C. Long

Dr. Richard & Karen Ludtke

Art Malloy

Sonja C. Mammola

Jeffrey H. Mandel, M.D.

Mangata Medical Spa

Don Mann

Gregory & Angela Melhus

John & Cindy (Buck) Miklesh

Minto JC’s Charitable Trust

Darrell & Kay* Moon

James Munn, Jr., M.D.

Col. George R. Nagy

Dr. Fadel & Heidi Nammour

National Wild Turkey Federation

NDSPE Educational Foundation

Tara & Terry Nelson

North Dakota Chapter of the American College of Radiology

Northern Valley Electrical Service, Inc.

John Olson

Susan & Jeffrey Olson

Richard L. Peloquin

Greg Reisenauer

Randy & Carmen Richards

Steven M. Riedinger

Richard & Debra Riely

Kelly McMahon Sander

Michael & Rosemarie Scanlan

Brandon & Kim Scheel

Terry & Deborah Schleisman

Daniel & Nikki Schmaltz

Russell Schmitt & Sally Holbrook

Andy Schneider

Hubert Seiler, M.D.

Dr. Dennis U. Spjut

Vernon T. Squires

Kristen K. Stenehjem, M.D.

Karla Mongeon-Stewart & Justin Stewart

Mike B. Stewart

Del Benson Stickney

Patrick & Melissa Streyle

Carrie L. Summerfield

Madeline Sutherland-Meier & Richard Meier

Brian & Desiree Tande

The Paul Lorne Wold Irrevocable Trust

Brockton S. Thomas

Steve A. Walker

Patrick & Elizabeth Ward

Barbara West

Bill & Trish Whalen

Dr. John E. Wold*

Wilma & Raymond Wyatt

Shirley Y. Zahradka*

Benjamin J. Ziegler

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.

Gary* & Olga Anderson

Troy Bader & Gina Sauer

Dean & Susan Barsness

Tim Belmore

Jill & Steve Cholewa

Janice & Clifford d’Autremont

W. Jeremy & Jacqueline Davis

William H. Eelkema, M.D.

Larry & Ruth Isaak

Rory & Jill Johnson

David Lambeth & Cecilia Volden

Dave & Patti Miedema

Laura A. Parsons

Vince & Dr. Lili* Repesh

Dr. Dennis U. Spjut

John E. Woleske

For more information about the Eternal Flame Society, visit go.UNDalumni.org/eternal-flame.

CLASS 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.

1959

Harold “Jim” Anderson, ’59, has been a member of the National Ski Patrol for 62 years. He is also a member of the Rock/Little Switzerland Ski Patrol. He lives in Greendale, Wis.

1962

William Ketter, ’62, CNHI senior vice president for news, was awarded the Wells Key for service to the Society of Professional Journalists.

1965

Richard “Rex” Haugen, ’65, is the namesake of Rex Haugen Court at Pelican Rapids (Minn.) High School, where Haugen was longtime basketball coach.

1967

Barry Bernhard, ’67, Chair of TEC Canada, was appointed to the UND Customer Experience Program Advisory Board. His daughter, Kristine (Bernhard) Juck, ’95, is executive director of Pain Care and Cystic Fibrosis for the Provincial Health Services Authority in British Columbia, Canada.

1974

Greg Lange, ’74, ’78, was honored with the Riverman Award, presented by the Missouri River Joint Water Resource Board in appreciation for a lifetime of leadership, resource management, and water development in the Missouri River corridor. Lange lives in Bismarck.

1982

Thomas Arnold, ’82, ’84, joined West River Health Services in Hettinger, N.D. He specializes in gynecological surgery.

Brad Rinas, ’82, ’90, was named part-time superintendent of Underwood (N.D.) Schools.

1984

Richard Anderson, ’84, of West Fargo High School, was selected 2023 Winter Sports Assistant Coach of the Year by the North Dakota Coaches Association. He is in his 39th year of teaching.

1986

Carrie (Thompson) Widmer, ’86, ’13, joined the behavioral health therapy staff at Northland Community Health Centers, providing service at Northland’s eight federally funded clinics in North Dakota.

Mary Martin, ’74, was honored as a 2023 Wyoming Woman of Influence by the Wyoming Business Report. She was recognized in the Lifetime Achievement category for her 48 years of service to the University of Wyoming and to the state.

1977

Gregory Schaack, ’77, retired after 28 years as CFO for St. Joseph’s/ Candler Health System in Savannah, Ga., where he lives with his wife, Karen.

1978

Arleen (Dorsher) Norton, ’78, retired after 70 years as the organist for St. Michael’s Church in Grand Forks.

1979

Vicki Martin, ’79, retired after 10 years as president of Milwaukee Area Technical College in Wisconsin.

1980

Brad Nygaard, ’80, is a reporter covering public safety, law enforcement, and the court system for the Bismarck Tribune.

1981

Mark Jenson, ’81, received the Marshall Tanick award for teaching excellence at the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Kevin Moug, ’81, retired from his job as chief financial officer and senior vice president at Otter Tail Corporation after 27 years of service to the Fergus Falls, Minn.-based company.

Joel Wall, ’82, retired after 41 years of government service with the U.S. Army and the Department of Homeland Security. He lives in Alexandria, Va.

1983

Mike Fadel, ’83, is executive director-treasurer of the 115,000-member Massachusetts Teachers Association. Fadel lives in Quincy, Mass.

Charles Kummeth, ’83, joined the Orthofix Board of Directors. He is president and CEO of Bio-Techne Corporation, headquartered in Minneapolis.

Robin Bobzien, ’84, is city manager of Aberdeen, S.D., previously serving as public works director/ city engineer for 29 years.

Audrey Stewart-Farol, ’84, retired after 32 years with the U.S. Postal Service and is now a junior deputy auditor for Clay County, Minn. She and her family own a stable of thoroughbred horses and race at tracks in Canada and the United States.

1985

Dale Heglund, ’85, received the lifetime achievement award from the NDSU Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute.

1987

Shannon Holte, ’87, director of social services at Valley Senior Living - Woodside Village in Grand Forks, was named the Long-Term Care Social Worker of the Year by the North Dakota Long Term Care Association.

1988

Garfield Atchison, ’88, is president and CEO at McLaren Northern Michigan, a healthcare system based in Petoskey, Mich.

1989

Derek Dunham, ’89, is president of Varsity, a senior services marketing agency in Hershey, Penn.

FIND THE FLAME

The discerning eyes of many alums found the flame in our last issue. We thought it was sufficiently buried on the left side of the left shoe of Precious Dada, featured on the cover. We thought wrong! Of the many correct answers, we drew three lucky winners. Thomas Thon, ’71, Forrest Bjerkaas ’81, and Paula (Barry) Greene, ’10, will receive a prize pack from the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.

There’s another flame on the cover of this issue. If you find it, email us at AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net. Tell us where it’s located for your chance to win our UND prize pack.

Sharon Rezac Andersen, ’89, ’96, was recognized as an Honored Member of the American Association of University Women after serving as its president for two years. She lives in Green Valley, Ariz.

1990

Julie (Liffrig) Fedorchak, ’90, was named president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Fedorchak, a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner, lives in Mandan, N.D.

1991

Trent Clausen, ’91, is vice president of engineering and construction at Arcadian Infracom, an information infrastructure development company. Clausen lives in Livermore, Calif.

Deanna (Miller) Sellnow, ’91, was appointed chair of the Clemson University Department of Communication in Clemson, S.C.

In the competitive world of professional sports, UND grads

Alex Dorner, ’14, and James Vigil, ’23, document the plays that make the highlights.

While both Alex (pictured at right) and James serve as live content producers, Alex for the National Football League covering the Minnesota Vikings and James with Major League Baseball highlighting the Minnesota Twins, their journeys to this highly sought-after field are quite different.

Alex Takes the Field

Alex is starting his eighth season of capturing and creating Vikings content for the NFL. He found the job only after a long interview process with the Minnesota Vikings didn’t result in an offer. The team recommended he pursue a newly created NFL job. “I still really wanted to work in pro sports, so I applied for the NFL position.”

Alex’s photos and videos have been shared on the social media channels of the NFL and its players, ESPN, and CBS Sports, among others. Collaborating with players is Alex’s favorite part of the job.

“I’ve worked a lot of player events such as Justin Jefferson’s Mini-Camp, the Kirk Cousins QB Clinic, charity events with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, visiting cancer patients with Alexander Mattison, and everything in between,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to contribute to these events and causes that hold a lot of meaning for the players.”

ALUMNI IN ACTION

CAPTURING THE MOMENT ALEX DORNER, ’14, & JAMES VIGIL, ’23

Alex became interested in photography when he landed a job in Austin, Texas, and picked up a camera to explore his new city. His hobby evolved; he learned more advanced forms of photography and videography, and eventually secured jobs in the field. In addition to his more seasonal job with the NFL, Alex is a full-time social media strategist for the University of Minnesota. His team manages the University’s main social media accounts and advises campus-wide social strategy.

As he earned his business degree, Alex gained critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, which he said are essential to his job. “Whether collaborating with players, capturing captivating moments during games, or creating content for various platforms, the lessons and experiences gained from my sports business studies have undoubtedly contributed to my success in this fast-paced field.”

James Steps Up to the Plate

James Vigil works full time as social media manager for Warroad Clothing Co., owned by UND grad and Washington Capitals star T.J. Oshie, ’08. His “bonus” job with the MLB as a live content producer for the Twins is brand new.

“It’s super cool to be a part of MLB,” said James, who had never covered baseball, but grew up playing it. “It is my favorite sport,” he said, “so I know where to look for the plays.”

James, a communication major, brings his mostly self-taught camera skills to the MLB and Oshie’s company, which he practiced as an employee of UND Insider, the University’s media department. “UND is Division I in sports, but it’s a relatively small school in a small town so there’s just a goldmine of opportunity.”

UND has the best arena in college hockey, James said, but big crowds make it difficult for the media to snag a spot close to the action. “Last fall, there was a game at the Ralph that was more packed than usual. Most of the spots to shoot video from were taken. I’m afraid of heights, but the catwalk in the rafters was the only area I could think of that was still available, so I had to quickly overcome my fear.”

The vantage point worked out well. “The angle of a Hunter Johannes goal from up there went viral. I shot from the catwalk every game I covered after that.”

James said that video played a significant role in getting him noticed by the MLB. “I’m so grateful I overcame my fear that night.”

James’ work at UND led to a freelance gig with Warroad, which turned into his full-time job. He still enjoys shooting hockey videos, often traveling to Washington, D.C., to create content featuring Oshie.

“I’ve met some great people and had some great experiences at Warroad,” James said. “Being able to work with professional hockey players, and do shoots with Oshie has been awesome.”

A SLAM DUNK

BENTIU PANOAM, ’21, ’22

In his final season at UND, Bentiu Panoam, ’21, ’22, started all 31 games, achieving his dream of playing NCAA Division I basketball. However, for Bentiu, the real win of his basketball journey is the education he acquired along the way.

“I’ve always been surrounded by good people making sure I was locked in on school,” Bentiu said. “That will lead me to wherever I end up because playing basketball will stop.”

Bentiu’s connection to basketball didn’t end with his playing days. After earning his MBA from UND in 2022, UND Athletics hired him as Director of Basketball Operations. “I like being around numbers and sports, and I’m doing both of those now,” Bentiu said.

Here, he brings his expertise in finance and his love of basketball to a position that keeps him close to the court.

Bentiu’s Game Plan

Bentiu grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, as one of 10 children to South Sudanese immigrants. “We all love playing basketball and we worked out together when we were kids,” he said. “We’re super competitive.”

Bentiu was a standout player at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, earning all-state honors and being named Cook Inlet Conference Player of the Year. To prepare for college play, Bentiu attended Impact Academy in Las Vegas.

He financed his training by working 16-hour days in a fishing cannery over the summer.

After he played one year at Northwest Kansas Tech, UND recruited Bentiu. In his first two years, the point guard played sparingly. He got his chance against in-state rival NDSU in his third year and started 42 consecutive games to end his career.

“Playing at UND was a great experience. I met great people and had great teammates,” he said.

Bentiu, the first in his family to get a four-year college degree, used his fifth year of NCAA eligibility to pursue a master’s degree. “After I got my finance degree and still had a year to play, I thought, ‘Why not get my MBA? It’ll put me in a good position for jobs.’”

For Bentiu and his siblings, basketball is a way to get an education. His older brother and sister both played junior college basketball. A younger brother will transfer from Tulane University to play for UND in the fall. “He’s following my lead – being a good basketball player and student,” Bentiu said. “He’s just making it happen.”

1992

Brenda Chilstrom, ’92, is founder of That Makes Sense OT in Naples, Fla., which was awarded Best Occupational Therapy in the 2023 Best of Naples Awards.

Blake Nicholson, ’92, is editor of the Bismarck Tribune. Nicholson, who has served as secretary/treasurer of the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association since 2002, lives in Mandan, N.D.

1993

Janelle (King) Cheney, ’93, is district supervisor of field services at the Minnesota Department of Corrections in Moorhead, Minn.

Joseph Pelawa, ’93, is a civil engineer at Widseth, an architecture, engineering, environmental, and surveying firm, in Duluth, Minn.

Shaun Riffe, ’93, was awarded a 2022 Regional Emmy by the Upper Midwest Chapter Board of Governors for his work as writer/ producer of the Home for the Holidays campaign for WCCO and the Minnesota Twins, which brings awareness to Veteran homelessness.

Erin (Halvorson) Schuld, ’93, retired from teaching after 28 years, 25 teaching fifth grade. She lives in Cibolo, Texas.

Mary (Whitworth) Whiteside, ’93, retired after 30 years of teaching elementary students: 20 years with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools overseas in Japan and 10 years in Minnesota and North Dakota.

1994

James Haussler, ’94, former Bismarck Public Schools Athletic Director, will be inducted into the North Dakota High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame on June 25.

1995

Charles Black Lance, ’95, was named to the board of directors of the Marshall H. and Nellie Alworth Memorial Fund. He is director of TRIO Student Support Services at Central Lake College in Brainerd, Minn.

1996

Lisa (Michels) Bales, ’96, is principal and COO of Kepp Flores Architects in Austin, Texas.

Cassie Gerhardt, ’96, ’08, was named to the board of directors for Make-A-Wish North Dakota. She is the associate vice president for student affairs at UND and lives in Grand Forks.

Tiffany Hodge, ’96, is a project manager in the Bismarck office of KLJ Engineering LLC.

Kersten (Middleton) Zupfer, ’96, CFO of Regis Corp., was named CFO of the Year 2023 by the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal.

1997

LaTisha (Ulrich) Gietzen, ’97, is Marketing Manager-Mining North America for Kalenborn Abresist Corporation. She lives in Hibbing, Minn.

Ted Sandberg, ’97, was appointed to a judgeship in North Dakota’s Northeast Central Judicial District, composed of Grand Forks and Nelson counties. Sandberg practiced law in Grand Forks for over 25 years.

Paula Suda, ’97, ’04, retired as Hillsboro (N.D.) Public School Superintendent, a job she held for 14 years.

1998

Jon Olafson, ’98, was appointed to Colorado’s 2nd Judicial District Court.

1999

Mike Brookbank, ’99, is an award-winning TV news anchor and host of Good Morning Cleveland, an ABC affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio.

Stephanie Dahl, ’99, joined IMA Healthcare-Fargo. Dahl is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist.

Shawn Ferguson, ’99, vice president of government relations and chief of staff in the Special Olympics International Office of Chairman Timothy Shriver, was awarded the Lions Club International Foundation’s Melvin Jones Fellowship for Dedicated Humanitarian Service. He lives in Washington, D.C.

2000

Brent Keyes, ’00, is director of aviation for Graham Capital Management, L.P., a hedge fund based in Palm Beach, Fla.

Josh Long, ’00, was appointed Chief of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services for Chicago Public Schools.

Pedro Ylisastigui, ’00, was named a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions to the medical field. Ylisastigui is a primary care physician in Lehigh Acres, Fla.

2001

Chris Domitrovich, ’01, serves as deputy commander of the 119th Wing of the North Dakota National Guard, the Happy Hooligans. Domitrovich lives in Fargo.

Adam Gardner, ’01, is deputy director of aviation at Salisbury Regional Airport on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He lives in Salisbury, Md.

2002

Kevin Buettner, ’02, ’04, ’07, ’13, a clinical professor of nursing at UND, was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing.

Brent Ekstrom, ’02, executive director of Lewis & Clark Development Group, was reappointed to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines’ Affordable Housing Advisory Council. Ekstrom, who lives in Bismarck, represents North Dakota.

Ryan Holzwarth, ’02, is a board-certified dermatologist in the Hudson, Wis., office of Tareen Dermatology.

Kent Johnson, ’02, ’03, is assistant city manager in Elmhurst, Ill. He has been city engineer since 2014 and will also continue in that role.

JoAnna (Kaspar) O’Neil, ’02, ’04, a work-based learning coordinator at Pequot Lakes (Minn.) High School, received the Pequot Lakes School Staff of the Year award. She lives in Pequot Lakes with her husband, Michael O’Neil, ’02, ’03, who is Pequot Lakes Middle School principal.

Alex Vournas, ’02, is general manager of Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, which provides services to northwestern North Dakota. He lives in Williston, N.D. 2003

Carl Clemetson, ’03, is the owner of Clemetson Event Services, LLC, which recently purchased the Regency Event Center in Minot, N.D.

Meg (Coffey) Morley, ’03, ’11, was named North Dakota Mother of the Year by American Mothers Inc. Morley practices law at Morley Legal Services in Grand Forks, working as a legal advocate for children, especially those in foster care.

Benjamin Spain, ’03, obtained his CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) board certification. He is a cardiac ICU nurse at Cedars-Sinai, Beverly Hills, and lives in Los Angeles.

ALUMNI IN ACTION

A PLATFORM TO BUILD STRENGTH + COMMUNITY

MADISON PETERSON, ’24, & ADAM SUEDEL, ’07

Madison Peterson is strong. Really strong.

When the UND senior deadlifts – one of three lifts in powerlifting competitions–she can move 430 pounds. That’s about the size of a lion, or four bags of cement.

Maddie has been competing since high school. She loves the challenge of lifting heavy weights and, more importantly, the sense of community that comes with it.

Maddie has had a goal of starting a UND Powerlifting Club since she arrived on campus in 2021. She worked with fellow UND students and like-minded lifters to launch the club in the fall of 2023.

The group aims to be a supportive community for area lifters; it’s made up of UND students and people from the wider community. “Our members are close to half students and half non-students, which is pretty cool,” Maddie said.

The group works out at Ironworks Gym, owned by Adam Suedel, ’07, a lifelong powerlifter. In 2007, he “what I thought would make a great experience for bodybuilders and powerlifters.”

Maddie and Adam said most UND lifters were Ironworks Gym members before they started the club, so meeting there was a natural fit.

Though Adam doesn’t coach the team, his proximity makes him an easy resource. Adam fields questions on everything from lifting techniques to training principles and meet preparation.

Adam’s advice is like gold. Always a skinny kid, he was inspired by an older cousin who took up the sport and was getting bigger and stronger. “Before I even lifted a weight, I was in love with the sport,” Adam said. He competed for 15 years and held 27 state titles, three national records, and one world record in the squat.

Maddie, a certified personal trainer, is also a good source of lifting information for her teammates. For her, powerlifting is more than just lifting heavy. “It’s really rewarding to see the numbers go up, to get stronger, and challenge yourself,” she said. “But as I got into college, it was more about the community of it. I still enjoy the gratification and the numbers, but it’s more about the friends I’ve made and the community around it.”

This year, the UND lifters were tested in two competitions, racking up personal records in the deadlift, the bench press, and the squat. The small team has continued to lift heavier weights while building a community that is as strong as they are.

Paul Tessman, ’03, is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Wis.

Charity (Stephenson) Weeden, ’03, is associate administrator for NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

2006

Emily Carle, ’06, a family nurse practitioner, joined the staff at Richmond (Maine) Area Health Center.

Teri (Sigurdson) LarsonJohnson, ’06, a certified physician assistant and hematology and oncology specialist, joined the Essentia Health-Duluth (Minn.) Clinic.

Melinda Lavine, ’06, an award-winning, multidisciplinary journalist, is features editor for the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune.

Scott Meyer, ’06, was named to the Altru Board of Directors. Meyer is a North Dakota Senator and a Grand Forks mortgage planner.

Josett Monette, ’06, ’09, was named cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. She lives in Albuquerque, N.M.

Tomi Kay Phillips, ’06, was named president of Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates, N.D. Phillips is a U.S. Army Veteran and a Bush Fellow.

2007

Selena Bailey, ’07, was named CFO of the Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RurAL CAP), a statewide nonprofit to empower lowincome Alaskans. She lives in Eagle River, Alaska.

Dillan Knudson, ’07, was named Western Alliance Bank’s head of commercial banking for Arizona. He lives in Phoenix.

Kari (Johnson) Koob, ’07, ’08, is director of accounting and controller for Alerus Financial. Koob lives in Minnetonka, Minn.

2008

Jenny (Dosch) Bladow, ’08, ’09, director of teacher education in UND’s College of Education & Human Development, was appointed to North Dakota’s Task Force for Teacher Retention and Recruitment. She is a member of the Education Standards and Practices Board.

Eric Fenstad, ’08, a cardiologist, joined the Essentia Health St. Joseph’sBrainerd Clinic in Minnesota.

Nicole Gullickson, ’08, a doctor focused on obstetrics, women’s health, pediatrics and sports medicine, joined West River Health Services in Hettinger, N.D.

Joshua Knudson, ’08, is the first general surgeon in North Dakota to perform more than 1,000 roboticassisted surgeries. Knudson works at the Sanford Broadway Same Day Surgery Center in Bismarck.

Lisa Martinez, ’08, is communications manager at the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute in Crookston, Minn.

2009

Paige Helmers, ’09, opened Northern Sight Eyecare in Tisdale, Sask., with her husband, Trevor Styan.

David Piper, ’09, is a shareholder at Ohnstad Twichell Law Firm in West Fargo.

Sam Seafeldt, ’09, is reliever airports manager for the Minnesota-Twin Cities Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Korrine (Johnson) Stephani, ’09, is the first health professional in Grand Forks and one of five in North Dakota to qualify as a certified addiction registered nurse. She is the registered nurse case manager at LaGrave on First.

2010

Andy Foss, ’10, is an accounting assistant at CBE Construction in West Fargo, N.D.

ALUMNI

READY TO RUMBLE SHERRI BONACCI, ’89

A mega-watt sound system blares the latest beats; the overhead lights dim while syncopated LED lights create a rockin’ vibe. Is this the description of a trendy nightclub? No, it’s Rumble Boxing North Loop in Minneapolis.

“I’ve never worked so hard in a 45-minute time period and enjoyed it,” said Rumble owner Sherri Bonacci, ’89. “The workouts go so fast.”

The atmosphere is a far cry from Sherri’s work in corporate America where she was a successful engineer for three decades. She is an inductee of the UND Engineering Alumni Academy and serves on UND’s College of Engineering & Mines Executive Advisory Board.

During the pandemic, Sherri joined Club Pilates, a boutique fitness gym. She had been battling chronic Lyme disease for more than 10 years. She was “amazed” at how good she felt after the workouts. That experience motivated her to seek a new career challenge in the health and wellness industry. After closing her engineering partnership, she learned that Club Pilates had moved onto a new boutique fitness concept – Rumble Boxing.

Eager to bring the concept to her city, Sherri began looking for commercial retail space for the first Rumble Boxing Gym in Minneapolis and in the Upper Midwest. Rumble opened its doors on Jan. 9, 2023.

Sherri said every day is exciting – and busy. Alongside her core team of four, she juggles daily operations, engages in marketing

efforts, and strives to build a strong community presence. She’s at the gym six days a week and feels like she found her calling. “When I’m here, I don’t feel like I’m working. It just feels like I was meant to be doing this.”

Reflecting on her first year as a gym owner, Sherri has learned the rhythms of the fitness market in Minneapolis. She was surprised at how empty the gym was in the summer. January, on the other hand, was bustling with activity. “I sold six new memberships just this morning,” she said on a very cold January day.

Sherri credits her engineering education at UND for providing the skills to have a career that enabled her to invest in the new arena. “It takes some financial fortitude, and I had that in place because of UND.”

For Sherri, running Rumble is more than business; it’s about creating community. “Everyone who comes in here becomes a friend,” she said.

The Rumble brand is starting to gain traction across the nation and Sherri said that extends to her gym where membership is growing. Seems Minnesotans are ready to rumble.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ALUMNI EVENTS

Mia Treuer, ’17, ’21, has had a front-row seat to hundreds of professional sporting events.

It’s a perk of her job as a sports attorney working for teams and companies that represent professional hockey, basketball, and esports teams, sports venues, and more.

When a UND School of Law professor told her that she had a law degree and an MBA, Mia’s game plan started taking shape. Mia didn’t want a traditional legal career and knew having both degrees would give her an advantage when seeking a job.

She started working overtime.

During her second year of law school, Mia enrolled in an online, accelerated MBA at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. She also started networking with sports industry professionals on LinkedIn, which, Mia said, “jump-started my industry knowledge.”

Her extra reps paid off. Mia has scored two jobs, and counting, in the sports industry. “In sports, I see value all the time. When I go to a game, I see the advertising and sponsorships we worked on; I see people having so much fun with their families.”

ALUMNI IN ACTION

A SPORTS ATTORNEY’S GAME PLAN

MIA TREUER, ’17, ’21

Her jobs provide constant learning opportunities. “There are many kinds of law involved in sports. There’s sweepstakes law, which is something you learn in the business. Data privacy is huge; you deal with players’ contracts, collective bargaining agreements, and alcohol laws because sports are a big draw for minors. You have to consider all of these different facets. You work with many departments: finance, global partnerships, strategy, and social media teams, and touch so many parts of the industry. That’s what I love about doing it.”

Mia’s Opening Rounds

Mia first worked in sports as a systems and reporting manager at Monumental Sports & Entertainment in Washington, D.C. Monumental owns eight professional sports teams including the Washington Capitals (NHL), Wizards (NBA), and Mystics (WNBA), the Capitol One Arena, and more. Her most challenging project was working with Caesars Sportsbook to create a jersey patch for the Capitals. Caesars was the first sportsbook to open an in-arena location in the U.S., at Capitol One Arena. “Sports betting is in its infancy, becoming legal in different states,” Mia said. “There are a lot of laws to consider when writing the jersey patch agreement.”

Mia’s role expanded when she worked as Associate Counsel for the Orlando Magic. “I still worked on global partnerships and also handled waivers, NDAs, and contract management systems. It was an allencompassing job.”

While attending games is a highlight, Mia said employers are not looking for crazy fans. “These are businesses that want the best people working for them, people who care about the team and the organization, and who will also be objective and do the necessary work.”

Too much loyalty can get in the way. “I am ride-or-die for the team I’m working for, but if I go to another NBA team, I’m going to be their fan.”

Mia has her next job in this industry lined up. Though she couldn’t divulge the specifics at press time, wherever it is, she will be in the stands cheering on her new favorite team.

Nick Ibarra, ’10, joined the operations team at VISIONBank in Fargo.

Gillian Lavik, ’10, is a general surgeon at McKenzie Health in Watford City, N.D.

Michael McNeff, ’10, ’14, a 12-year employee of the Rugby School District, was named North Dakota’s Superintendent of the Year by the North Dakota Association of School Administrators.

2011

JoLynn Azure, ’11, is a family practitioner with Sanford’s Highway 2 Clinic in Minot, N.D.

Curtis Dublanko, ’11, was inducted into the Leduc Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Dublanko played football in the Canadian Football League, won two powerlifting provincial championships, and now coaches and is president of the District Minor Football Association. He lives in Thorsby, Alberta.

Patrick Joyce, ’11, ’19, is senior business advisor for Alerus Financial in Fargo. Mickayla (Zinsli) Rosard, ’11, has been appointed to a two-year term on the UND Center for Innovation Board of Directors. She is a partner at Groove Capital in Minneapolis, Minn.

Jeff Sands, ’11, was named to School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s 50 Directors Who Make a Difference. He teaches at Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, Minn.

2012

Katie (Crook) Tomaszcyzuk, ’12, was named St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Nurse of the Year. She lives in Boulder, Colo.

2013

Victoria Hicks, ’13, ’16, is a partner at the Johnson Hicks Law Office, P.C., in Fargo.

STAY CONNECTED THROUGH

UND TODAY

Alex Johnson, ’13, is the production superintendent at American Crystal Sugar Company’s Drayton, N.D., factory.

Deidre Pugh, ’13, is a human resources and management instructor at Dakota College at Bottineau (N.D.).

Joseph “JJ” Schlangen, ’13, was appointed president of the central region of United Natural Foods Inc.

Ashley Secord-Holmes, ’13, is director of operations for the University of Minnesota women’s hockey team.

2014

Morris Duffy, ’14, is a physician assistant at Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center’s emergency room. He also sees patients at the Elgin Community Clinic in Elgin, N.D

Erik Kolb, ’14, teaches sixth grade reading and social studies at Jim Hill Middle School in Minot, N.D.

Laura (Tvrdik) Notch, ’14, is a 2023 Minnewaska Area Schools Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. Notch was a standout volleyball and fastpitch softball player. Today, she is a clinical reviewer for Evolent in Alexandria, Minn.

Jose Saavedra, ’14, is director of the Bangor International Airport in Bangor, Maine.

Todd Wahlund, ’14, is vice president and chief financial officer at Otter Tail Corporation in Fergus Falls, Minn.

2015

Sekou Dukuly, ’15, is managing director at the National Port Authority – Liberia.

THREE UND GRADS SELECTED OUTSTANDING YOUNG BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS

Three UND graduates were selected recipients of the 2023 40 under 40, chosen by Prairie Business. The annual award honors young professionals under the age of 40 who are standout business leaders in the Dakotas and western Minnesota.

Tiffany (Holmes) Boespflug, ’06, is a team leader for Grand Forks Public Health; Michael Carlson, ’10, is general counsel for Sterling Management in Fargo; and Alexa (Skjold) Ducioame, ’18, is a project manager for Moore Engineering in West Fargo.

Larry Guggisberg, ’15, received the 2023 Minnesota Association of School Administrators Polaris Leadership Award. Guggisberg, who served Minnesota public schools for 44 years, lives in Roseau, Minn.

Kendell LaRoche, ’15, is a help desk analyst for the Jefferson Center for Mental Health in Denver, Colo.

Juan Martinez, ’15, has been named a partner at Widmer Roel, an accounting firm in Fargo.

Tessa Vaagen, ’15, was appointed a judicial referee and magistrate in North Dakota’s South Central Judicial District. She lives in Bismarck.

2016

Sarah Jo Aymond, ’16, director of instrumental music at Iowa Western Community College, marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City as part of a band comprised of 400 band directors from across the U.S. Aymond lives in Bellevue, Neb.

Katie Mayer, ’16, will become the Grand Forks Children’s Museum Executive Director in July 2024. Museum groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2025.

Jason Trainer, ’16, is vice president of strategic enrollment management at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

2017

Jordan (Hampton) Forgione, ’17, was selected to participate in the 202324 Boston Bruins Diversity and Inclusion Scouting Mentorship Program. Forgione is a Michigan area hockey scout and the girl’s director of Little Caesars AAA Hockey. She lives in Northville, Mich.

Kelsey Gladen, ’17, joined Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Center in Duluth, Minn. She is a pediatric intensivist.

Halie Kraft, ’17, is an occupational health nurse at American Crystal Sugar Company’s Hillsboro, N.D., factory.

Jordan Parise, ’17, is goalie coach at the Park City Ice Miners in Park City, Utah.

Andrea (Watkins) Sailer, ’17, ’19, is a speechlanguage pathologist at LaMoure (N.D.) School.

Drew Sannes, ’17, is hitting coach for the Hickory Crawdads, a minor league baseball team affiliate of the Texas Rangers based in Hickory, N.C.

2018

Austin Artz, ’18, is an associate at Fredrikson & Byron in Bismarck.

Justin Bieber, ’18, and his father, Jeff, farmers in northeastern Montana/ northwestern North Dakota, took second place in the irrigated wheat category at the National Wheat Yield Contest.

Maggie (Godfrey) Melvin, ’18, is director of admissions at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

UND ON THE SEA!

Set sail with the University of North Dakota on an unforgettable journey to the world’s most captivating destinations.

Whether you’re drawn to the sun-kissed beaches of the Mediterranean, the awe-inspiring beauty of the Alaskan wilderness, or the vibrant cultures of Europe, we have a cruise for every explorer.

Visit UNDalumni.org/travel to discover the full lineup of upcoming trips and secure your spot on board!

September 11-21, 2024

Courtyards & Colonnades

Hosted by Steve & Desilee Brekke

Aug. 8-18, 2025

Frontier Adventures

Hosted by Robin & Steve Turner

June 8-16, 2025

Iconic Mediterranean

Brady Oliveira, ’18, a running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, was awarded the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Canadian for the 2023 season.

Matthew Wagner, ’18, is a radiologist at the Essentia Health-Duluth (Minn.) Clinic.

Connor Willits, ’18, is a control systems engineer at American Crystal Sugar Company’s Moorhead, Minn. factory.

2019

Daniel Hoy, ’19, a family medical specialist, joined the Essentia HealthWest Fargo Clinic.

Bryan Johnson, ’19, a certified physician assistant specializing in family medicine, joined Essentia Health-Fosston (Minn.) Clinic.

Sept. 12-21, 2024

Delightful Douro with Lisbon

Hosted by DeAnna Carlson Zink &

Hosted by Mike & Tiffany Mannausau

Aug. 24-Sept. 3, 2025

Bucolic British Isles

Hosted by Nancy Pederson

Wayne Zink

Zachary Kraft, ’19, is a nurse practitioner at St. Luke’s Cardiology Associates in Duluth, Minn.

Micaela (Higlin) Ranisate, ’19, is a business banking officer at Starion Bank in Bismarck.

Brittney Smith, ’19, ’22, is an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner at Essential Health-Fargo.

2020

Kennedy (Chrest) Archer, ’20, is customer service and sales supervisor at Gate City Bank in Grand Forks.

Nicholas Johnson, ’20, is a maintenance engineer at American Crystal Sugar Company’s Crookston, Minn., factory.

Ashlyn Kamrath, ’20, a doctor at Altru Hospital, has an obstetrics/gynecology fellowship at Altru Health System in Grand Forks.

Jordan Lindholm, ’20, joined St. Luke’s Mount Royal Medical Clinic in Duluth, Minn.

Steven Lockhart, ’20, CEO at BrandRep, leads the Orange County, Calif., company’s digital marketing effort.

Brandi (Braukmann) Mosher, ’20, a registered nurse in the memory care unit at Bethany Retirement Living on University, was chosen as Caregiver of the Year by the North Dakota Long Term Care Association. Mosher lives in Fargo.

Nayana (Batham)

Shallbetter, ’20, is a project engineer at Wigen Water Technologies in Chaska, Minn.

Terrill Taylor, ’20, is an assistant professor in the psychology department at the University of Maryland. He lives in Washington, D.C.

SAVE THE DATE

2021

Jordan Kawaguchi, ’21, is a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual in Fargo.

Lane Lindseth, ’21, was named Langdon (N.D.) Area Schools Teacher of the Year. Lane is the director of bands and an early elementary music specialist.

2022

Ashley Dwyer, ’22, is a digital sales coordinator at KTTC in Rochester, Minn.

Ryan Hursh, ’22, is a nurse practitioner at St. Luke’s Interventional Pain Management in Duluth, Minn.

Rainey (Selvig) Muth, ’22, has joined the business law team of Moss & Barnett in Minneapolis.

Jacey Spaeth, ’22, is public health project coordinator at Kittson County (Minn.) Public Health. Spaeth is an AmeriCorps member.

Dillon Vogt, ’22, won a regional Emmy for his work as a meteorologist at WDAY TV in Fargo.

2023

Kaylina Kelley, ’23, is a physician assistant at the Cancer Center of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Madonna McNulty, ’23, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner specializing in hospital medicine, joined Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minn.

Hailey Narlock, ’23, is editor of the Walsh County Record in Grafton, N.D.

UND Gamma Phi Beta Celebration

Saturday, October 19, 2024 | More details to come! gammaphi150@gmail.com

ALUMNI IN ACTION

“Everyone can write poetry!”

That’s the message Bruce Roseland, ’74, ’80, wants to spread during his four-year term as Poet Laureate of South Dakota. Bruce is South Dakota’s 8th Poet Laureate. His term runs from 2023-2027.

“Everyone has the creative spark in them,” Bruce said. “Poetry is a way of communicating about what we value. By listening to others’ poetry, we learn what they value in their lives.”

Bruce has published seven books of free verse poetry; four have received national awards. Writing isn’t the focus of most of Bruce’s days. For 44 years, he has been a rancher in Seneca, S.D., on the land homesteaded by his great-grandfather.

“An education helped me in my everyday work life,” Bruce said. “Knowing I had degrees to fall back on helped give me the courage to endure the farm crisis of the ’80s.”

While driving his tractor through the days and years, Bruce explains, “I had plenty of time to think the deep thought, the long thought; plenty of time to make sense of my world, which all ended up as my poetry.”

Education Paves the Way

Bruce promotes poetry in many ways. He served as president of South Dakota State Poetry Society for three terms. As part of “Poetry on the Road,” a South Dakota State Poetry Society program, Bruce encourages South

ON THE PAGE AND IN THE FIELD BRUCE

ROSELAND, ’74, ’80

Dakotans to write and share their own poems. The group has hosted readings and open mics at 16 locations across the state so far.

Bruce advises, “Get all the education you can. Find your passions in life and learn all about them, but have a day job, a job that pays for the necessities of life. If you’re lucky, one of your passions may become your day job. When a door opens, walk through it; see what that door has to offer.”

One of Bruce’s best-known poems is “A Prairie Prayer.”

A Prairie Prayer

Here, on this arc / of grass, sun and sky, / I will stay and see if I thrive. / Others leave. They say it’s too hard. / I say hammer my spirit thin, / spread it horizon to horizon, / see if I break. / Let the blizzards hit my face; / let my skin feel the winter’s freeze; / let the heat of summer’s extreme / try to sear the flesh from my bones. / Do I have what it takes to survive, / or will I shatter and break? / Hammer me thin, / stretch me from horizon to horizon. / I need to know the character / that lies within. / I want to touch a little further / beyond my reach, / for the something that I seek. / Only then let my spirit be released.

Bruce Roseland’s poetry programs are available through the South Dakota Humanities Speakers’ Bureau.

BREAKING BARRIERS & SETTING RECORDS HORACE JOHNSON, 1939

Horace W. “Hoss” Johnson graduated from UND on June 7, 1939. Johnson, an Olympiclevel athlete, lettered in three sports, is celebrated as one of UND’s all-time greats in track, and is in the UND Athletics Hall of Fame.

After graduation, Johnson became a U.S. Army artillery officer and later, member of the Tuskegee Airman, the storied group of Black pilots and airmen who fought in World War II.

“My father adored the Army and his country,” said Ann Johnson, Horace’s eldest daughter. “He knew in those days that the Black guys had to be in separate barracks – there was no intermingling – but he didn’t resent that. He loved his country and appreciated the opportunity it gave him to be a pilot and do all he did in service to his country.”

Roommates and friends

Few Black students were enrolled at UND when Horace, a 1935 graduate of Globe High School in Globe, Arizona, arrived on campus. Frederick D. “Fritz” Pollard Jr – the 1936 high-hurdles bronze Olympic medalist and namesake for the UND athletics center – and Johnson would become friends and roommates, living in the old Memorial Stadium.

“Even though they weren’t allowed to stay in the dormitories, my dad said everyone at UND treated them like gold,” Ann said.

Horace and Fritz endured racial epithets but displayed the courage and strength of character, so they could realize their dreams of competing at the highest level.

“They were the big people on campus, and everybody loved them because they were so dynamic and so unbelievable in sports,” Ann said.

Horace’s second daughter, Louise Johnson, told similar stories. “When they traveled for games, there were places he couldn’t go because of the segregation laws back then. But if a hotel said he couldn’t sleep there,

then his teammates wouldn’t sleep there either. They would refuse and sleep in the car or on the bus with him.

“They all loved Dad, and they stuck by him,” Louise said.

Hoss: an all-time great in track

Horace lettered in football 1936-38, basketball 1936-39 and track 1936-39. The citation for Johnson’s 1979 induction into the UND Athletics Hall of Fame notes that he was Outstanding North Central Conference Athlete in 1937-38. He set conference records in the long jump and 100-yard dash, and participated in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s meet in 1939.

“Hoss was widely known as an outstanding trackman and ranks among North Dakota’s all-time greats in that sport,” according to the citation. “Johnson was also an outstanding football player … There is no doubt Hoss was one of America’s premier athletes during his college days.”

Horace had Olympic dreams and trained to compete in the 1940 Olympic Decathlon before the games were canceled for Americans.

Top: Horace Johnson (left) and Fritz Pollard. Above: Horace “Hoss” Johnson (#19) lettered in track and field, football and basketball multiple times while at UND. He was widely known as an outstanding trackman and ranked among North Dakota’s all-time greats in that sport. Johnson was inducted into the UND Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.

“He always said if you’re honest and you work hard, you can be anything and do anything you want.”

LOUISE JOHNSON

“That was so hard on him. I’m telling you, he would have won, too,” said Ann Johnson, adding that her father had raced against Olympic great Jesse Owens and lost by only a tenth of a second.

Instead, Johnson took another route. He learned to fly and served his country as a pilot with one of America’s most distinguished military aviation groups – The Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Flying fabric-covered planes

Johnson, then a second lieutenant, was part of a cohort of Black field-artillery officers who served as aerial observers for Black artillery units. These “liaison pilots,” armed with only a .45 pistol or a .30 carbine, flew light, single-engine aircraft, many of the planes covered only in fabric.

According to Wikipedia, they “flew varied and often hazardous missions over nearly every battlefield – medical evacuation from forward areas; delivering munitions, blood plasma, mail and other supplies to front lines; ferrying personnel; flying photographic or intelligence missions; serving as air observers for fighters or bombers; and other critical yet often unpublicized missions.”

Johnson was stationed with the all-Black 93rd Infantry Division in the South Pacific. His eldest daughter has a framed copy of one of the surrender leaflets her father dropped over Japanese troops on the Philippine Islands in late 1944. Leaflet messages – often written in English and Japanese – were meant to induce Japanese troops to surrender by demonstrating the humane treatment that soldiers would receive by Allied Forces.

‘I can’t say enough about my father’

After the war, Johnson served in the Army Reserves and retired as a lieutenant colonel. He married his sweetheart, Felicia McLeod, on Nov. 13, 1942, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned two master’s degrees, and his wife earned three. They had two daughters and a son, all of whom earned their own advanced degrees.

Horace and Felicia were schoolteachers in the Los Angeles area. They had the credentials for their Ph.D.’s but opted not to get them because they feared they’d get nudged toward the principal track, and preferred working in the classroom, their daughters said.

“They loved helping kids,” Louise Johnson said.

Horace’s children remember him as a deeply spiritual and extraordinarily gifted, yet humble man who learned some of his early leadership skills at UND.

“I can’t say enough about my father,” Louise said. “Every day I’m thankful for the things he taught me. He always said if you’re honest and you work hard, you can be anything and do anything you want. Don’t let anything hold you back because hard work will help you overcome any obstacles in your way.”

Horace “Hoss” Johnson (second man from right) and Felicia (in white dress) take part in an outdoor portrait with family. Photo courtesy of Horace Johnson family.

UND ALUMNI 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.

1. Sarah (Martin), ’14, ’15, and Brandon Berger welcomed daughter Lucelia Ellice (with big brother Julian) on March 17, 2023.

2. Kelsey (Lerew), ’21, and Andrew Kohler, ’19, ’20, were married on Sept. 2, 2023, in Moorhead, Minn. The couple met as UND resident assistants and are pictured with fellow UND grads: (top row) Beth Ploof, ’20, Elayna Hall, ’20, Andrew Kohler, ’19, ’20, Austin Keller, ’19, ’22, Emily Keller, ’20, ’22, Curtiss Mueller, ’19, (bottom row) Billy Bowers ’20, Robyn Bauer, ’20, and Kelsey (Lerew) Kohler, ’21.

3. Alyana (Simpron), ’19, ’20, and Eric Gefroh, ’18, were married on Sept. 2, 2023.

The high school and college sweethearts are from Bismarck.

4. Five certified registered nurse anesthetists at Hennepin Healthcare, Level 1 Trauma Center in Minneapolis are UND grads. They include Pat Lian, ’00, Tina (Bren) Locke, ’88, Brady Eilertson, ’15, Erin (Brende) Carlson, ’05, and Andrew Weis, ’10.

5. Luana (Liang), ’22, and Trevor Opsal, ’22, UND flight instructors and commercial aviation graduates, welcomed Elizer on Nov. 11, 2023.

6. UND jammie-clad Becks Scheerer, son of Matthew Scheerer (UND Alumni Association & Foundation staff), was born in January 2024.

7. Kasey Bosch, ’17, is the proud dog owner of Archie, a 2-year-old Corgi.

8. Ericka (Hughes), ’17, and Daniel Niederhaus welcomed Charlotte Marie on October 21, 2023. They live in Minneapolis.

9. At the Olson family reunion in St. Cloud, Minn., six relatives, with collectively nine UND degrees, cheered on our hockey team. They are (left to right): Bradley Olson, ’85, Sonja Olson, ’89, Cheryl Olson, ’74, John Lorenz, ’74, ’76, ’80, Sheila Olson, ’73, and Melody Vachal, ’85, ’86.

10. The Schmisek family watched UND Hockey in December 2023. UND grads include Tara (Schmisek) Helfritz, ’00, (3rd from left); John Schmisek, ’69, (white jersey in back); Ryan Schmisek, ’..94, (far right, black top). John’s wife Wanda made hockey-themed pants for all.

11. Annika (Smed), ’12, and Joel Schwenzfeier, ’11, welcomed Koi Merak. Annika is operations director at Alluma and Joel is the Fighting Hawks Football defensive coordinator.

12. Paige (Archambeau) ’21, and Devin Evavold, ’21, were married on July 22, 2023, in St. Paul, Minn. Devin is a UND medical student.

13. Corissa (Kruse), ’13, ’16, and David Carignan welcomed Caleb David on Oct. 31, 2023. They live in Walhalla, N.D.

14. UND alums introduced their sons to UND Hockey in January. Left to right: James McNelis, son of Sheila (Cassidy), ’14, ’16, and Joey McNelis, ’14; Abe Klabo, son of Michelle (Burns), ’14, ’16, and Zach Klabo, ’15; and Miller Birdsall, son of Kelsey (Lafond), ’17, and Tyler Birdsall, ’14.

15. UND was represented at the Global Peace Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, in January: Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Cassie Gerhardt, ’96, ’08, Student Body Vice President Connor Ferguson, Precious Dada, Student Body President Ella Nelson, Christopher Scott, and Associate Dean of UND’s College of Arts & Sciences Daphne Pederson.

16. Chelsea (Berg), ’20, and Matthew McCreary, ’13, ’17, were married on Dec. 3, 2022, in Grand Forks.

17. Michael Linrud, ’11, and his nephew, Ernie Marcis, celebrated their Leap Year birthdays on Feb. 29.

18. Kevin Praska, ’01, chair of Sertoma of Greater Grand Forks, presented a $5,000 check to Jessica Foley, ’05, for UND’s Communication and Sciences Disorders program. Communicative disorders is the charitable priority of Sertoma, SERvice TO MAnkind.

19. UND alums met in Vegas to watch the Fighting Hawks Men’s Hockey Team take on the University of Minnesota.

20. Erika Horvey, ’16, ’18, and Jordan Clark, ’16, welcomed their first child, Nora Clark, in July 2023.

21. Mike Martin, ’75, ’77, was Shrek for Enderlin, N.D.’s Sunfest Pet Show. Shrek and (borrowed) Donkey won the best costume contest.

IN MEMORIAM

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

1940s

Neil Larson, ..’43 Park River, N. D.

Doris (Goodman) Person, ’46 Lincoln, Calif.

Alice (LeTourneau) Walker, ’46 Clearwater, Fla.

Ellen Vavrina, ..’47

Bloomington, Minn.

Louann (Kropp) Ekren, ’48 Rohnert Park, Calif.

Orma (Podratz) Bedzis, ’49 Lacey, Wash.

Faith (Ferestead) Krueger, ’49 Fosston, Minn.

John Paulsen, ..’49

Fargo

Dennis Sullivan, ..’49

Prior Lake, Minn.

1950s

Albert Fischer, ’50 Ontario, Calif.

Harold Petsinger, ’50 Carrington, N.D.

Vilera (Gedstad) Rood, ’50 Moorhead, Minn.

Floyd Berge, ..’51

Fargo

Axel Korsmoe, ’51

Minneapolis

Kenneth Paris, ..’51

Tappahannock, Va.

James Wright, ’51, ’56 Duluth, Minn.

Everett Eide, ..’52 Madison, Wis.

Harvey Jacobson, ’52, ’56 Oshkosh, Wis.

Robert Nelson, ’53, ’54

Moraga, Calif.

Walter Swingen, ’53

Bemidji, Minn.

James Loehr, ’54

New London, Minn.

Richard McCandless, ’54 Parsons, Kan.

Jeannine Romine, ’54 Minot, N.D.

John Sheehan, ..’54 Marion, Iowa

Harold Huffman, ’55

Santa Fe, N.M.

William Morris, ’55

Englewood, Fla.

David Pilkey, ’55

Park Rapids, Minn.

James Rue, ’55

Grand Forks

Marian (Doyle) Gruenfelder, ’56

Laramie, Wyo.

Sonja (Schmid) Lee, ’56

Minot, N.D.

Dorothy (Edman) Manz, ’56

St. Paul, Minn.

Charles Ordahl, ’56

Newport Beach, Calif.

Dale Randorf, ’56

Placitas, N.M.

Phyllis Ratcliffe-Berg, ’56, ’58

Cooperstown, N.D.

Richard Ryan, ’56, ’62

Chandler, Ariz.

Gerald Skogley, ’56, ’61

Bismarck, N.D.

George Bodmer, ..’57

Sun City Center, Fla.

Ambrose Emard, ’57

Santa Clarita, Calif.

Charles Galambos, ’57

Maurertown, Va.

Mary (Shannon) Hoger, ’57

Fort Worth, Texas

Donald Lucas, ’57

Bismarck, N.D.

Ronald Paskey, ’57

Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Winston Register, ’57

Longboat Key, Fla.

John Sarkinen, ’57

Waverly, Minn.

Gene Tang, ’57

Traverse City, Mich.

Paul Vangerud, ’57

Valley City, N.D.

Sally (Stewart) Bowles, ’58

Eden Prairie, Minn.

Dale Erickson, ’58

Fort Collins, Colo.

Elmer Heupel, ’58

Naperville, Ill.

Ross Jesswein, ..’58

Grants Pass, Ore.

Maxine (Allen) Millar, ’58, ’65

State College, Pa.

Lance Norderhus, ’58

Bloomington, Minn.

Howard Oppegard, ..’58

Valley City, N.D.

Clinton Sorenson, ..’58

Hawley, Minn.

Karl Thorson, ’58

Minnetonka, Minn.

Barrett Williams, ’58, ’60

Tucker, Ga.

Douglas Williams, ’58

Fargo

Jeanine (Gorman) Williamson, ’58

Maple Grove, Minn.

Jerry Wolf, ’58, ’60

Billings, Mont.

Ellen Bennett, ..’59

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Lynne (Rundle) Carlson, ’59

Bowling Green, Ohio

Mary (Gillies) Ferguson, ..’59

Grand Forks

David Fike, ..’59

Lawrenceville, Ga.

John Gilsdorf, ’59, ’60

Medford, Ore.

Delbert Hlavinka, ..’59

Mayville, N.D.

James Miller, ’59

Valley City, N.D.

Richard Moen, ’59

Park Rapids, Minn.

William Strutz, ’59

Bismarck, N.D.

Don Wedwick, ’59

West Chester, Pa.

Ina Williamson, ’59

West Bridgewater, Mass.

1960s

Darrel Bartholomew, ..’60

Mayville, N.D.

Ronald Bergom, ’60, ’61

Eden Prairie, Minn.

Judy Christianson, ’60, ’70

Grand Forks

John Dillon, ’60

Salt Lake City, Utah

Joyce Espeseth, ’60

Towner, N.D.

William Hughes, ..’60

Onanole, Manitoba

Kenneth Kuznia, ..’60

Stephen, Minn.

Mark Laliberte, ..’60

Grand Forks

Lavon (Stokes) Lawrence, ..’60

Carrington, N.D.

Bernard Leclerc, ’60

Fargo

William Ness, ’60

Hudson, Wis.

Delphine (Herman) Peterson, ’60, ’62

Yankton, S.D.

William Pierce, ’60

Canton, Conn.

Clifford Rask, ’60

Albert Lea, Minn.

Catherine (Malo) Rowland, ..’60

Bellevue, Wash.

Paul Steen, ’60

Oxnard, Calif.

Bernard Bernauer, ’61

Maple Grove, Minn.

Bernard Berntson, ’61

Muskegon, Mich.

Larry Brady, ’61, ’74

Minneapolis, Minn.

Benjamin Hahn, ’61

Minneapolis, Minn.

Everett Knudsvig, ’61, ’72

Grand Forks

Diane (Ross) Korb, ’61

Le Sueur, Minn.

Richard Kuball, ’61

Mapleton, Minn.

Don Lindbo, ’61

O’Fallon, Ill.

Ruth (Neilson) Midboe, ’61

Lexington, Ky.

Paul Ness, ’61

Grand Forks

Ronald Schmidt, ’61, ’63

Rapid City, S.D.

Leland Sundberg, ’61

Thief River Falls, Minn.

Henry Blood, ’62

Castle Rock, Colo.

Allan Covlin, ’62

Bismarck, N.D.

Sonja (Trom) Horner, ..’62

Dent, Minn.

Francis Podhola, ’62

Lidgerwood, N.D.

Roger Pratt, ’62

Minneapolis, Minn.

Barbara Tronsgard, ’62

Dahlonega, Ga.

James Bengtson, ..’63

Batavia, Ohio

David Burrows, ’63

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Roger Bye, ’63

St. Cloud, Minn.

Robert Hanson, ’63

Grand Forks

Norma (Schmidt) Jordahl, ..’63

Lamoure, N.D.

Daniel Kennelly, ’63

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Priscilla Schmidt, ’63

Rapid City, S.D.

James Sheridan, ’63

Lake City, Minn.

Paul Stenhjem, ’63, ’72 Excelsior, Minn.

Jerome Beck, ..’64

Mandan, N.D.

Melroy Clark, ’64

Fargo

Leland Ellingson, ’64

Crookston, Minn.

James Greenan, ’64

Kearneysville, W.Va.

Gary Lawrence, ’64, ’67, ’69 Pelican Rapids, Minn.

Jacob Neufeld, ’64, ’68

Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Lyle Thorson, ’64, ’76 Grand Forks

Clair Coughlin, ’65 Minneapolis, Minn.

James Gamble, ..’65 Fridley, Minn.

Jack Hanson, ’65 Minneapolis, Minn.

Thomas Hawley, ..’65 Minneapolis, Minn.

Allen McConnell, ’65, ’66 Greeley, Colo.

Charles Powers, ’65 Canton, Mich.

Leo Pulskamp, ’65

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Alfred Reuter, ’65, ’66 Morgan Hill, Calif.

Janice (Dimmer) Scheuring, ..’65 Fargo

Gordon Schnell, ’65 Dickinson, N.D.

Keith Zacharias, ’65 Houston, Texas

Leroy Copeland, ..’66

West Fargo, N.D.

Judy (Prosser) DeMers, ’66 Grand Forks

Hugh Johnson, ’66 Calgary, Alberta

Gordon Kaisershot, ’66 Dickinson, N.D.

Clarence Miller, ’66 Bellingham, Wash.

Lyle Nelson, ..’66

Mesa, Ariz.

Mati Parres, ’66

Ventura, Calif.

Thomas Rogus, ..’66

Strandquist, Minn.

Daniel Rylance, ’66

Oshkosh, Wis.

Barbara (Rehling) Senneseth, ..’66 St. Paul, Minn.

Cecilia Stoltman, ..’66

Thief River Falls, Minn.

Clarence Weltz, ’66

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Edward Bender, ’67, ’69 Fort Collins, Colo.

Carol (Thompson) Borchert, ..’67 Warren, Minn.

Susan Crawford, ..’67 Rochester, N.Y.

Constance (Kram) Einarson, ..’67

Edmore, N.D.

Charles Gilje, ’67, ’69

Billings, Mont.

Russell Grabinger, ’67

Fargo

Roger Horton, ’67

Santa Barbara, Calif.

Bruce Iwen, ’67 Shoreview, Minn.

Richard Jensen, ’67 Brookings, S.D.

Gloria Kapp, ’67

Palm Springs, Calif.

Leland Stenehjem, Jr., ’67, ’70 Phoenix, Ariz.

Geoffrey Tuckwell, ..’67

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Brian Weed, ’67, ’70

Pacific Grove, Calif.

Joel Barden, ’68, ’69 Columbus, Ohio

James Cramer, ’68 Columbia, Mo.

Lawrence Gregoire, ’68 Red Rock, Texas

Dennis Johnson, ’68 Cavalier, N.D.

Ardella (Verworn) Korynta, ’68

Ham Lake, Minn.

Terry Lodoen, ..’68 Audubon, Minn.

James Lucke, ’68 Rochester, N.Y.

William Nachatilo, ’68, ’73, ’77

Spearfish, S.D.

Deforest Rall, ’68, ’74 Littlefield, Ariz.

Darrell Skramstad, ’68

Watertown, Minn.

Gerald Smith, ’68, ’73 Chandler, Ariz.

Clyde Soderberg, ’68

Buxton, N.D.

Judy (Jarman) Elhard, ’69

Rio Rancho, N.M.

Richard Graham, ’69

Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Michael Hustad, ..’69

Fargo

Thomas Langseth, ’69

Centennial, Colo.

Paula (Hosick) Mills, ’69

Jackson, Mich.

Mary (Miller) Nesset, ’69

Hutchinson, Minn.

Anthony Vandrovec, ’69

Nacogdoches, Texas

H. Jean (Kaercher) Wimpfheimer, ’69

Fargo 1970s

Nancy (Hueneke) Breiland, ’70

Billings, Mont.

Alan Brown, ..’70

Bismarck, N.D.

Gary Brundin, ..’70

East Grand Forks, Minn.

Rebecca Clow, ..’70

Devils Lake, N.D.

Sydney Coppen, ’70

Red Lake, Ontario

Danny Goehring, ’70, ’71

Moorhead, Minn.

Paul Haugen, ..’70

Wing, N.D.

Robert Lee, ’70, ’73

Olympia, Wash.

Glenn Meidinger, ’70

Wasilla, Alaska

Steven Molvig, ’70, ’79

Sequim, Wash.

Lloyd Bakken, ’71, ’79, ’86 Alto, Mich.

Imogene Bjornstad, ’71

Grand Forks

Caroline (Ness) Camrud, ..’71

Buxton, N.D.

Helen (Hofmann) Doeling, ’71

Jamestown, N.D.

Robert Harbottle, ’71

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Lenora (Borud) Jensen, ’71, ’72

Wyndmere, N.D.

Adelaide Johnson, ’71

Minot, N.D.

Mary (Waxweiler) Krump, ..’71

Hankinson, N.D.

Ruth (Rinde) Lawrence, ’71, ’79, ’89

St. Paul, Minn.

Sylvia (Hektner) Likness, ’71

Wahpeton, N.D.

Richard Mahowald, ’71

East Grand Forks, Minn.

Mary Olsen, ’71

Amarillo, Texas

David Quam, ’71

Spring Lake Park, Minn.

Lawrence Schwartz, ’71

Henderson, Nev.

William West, ’71

Minneapolis, Minn.

Larry Wild, ’71

Bismarck, N.D.

Jewels Beebe, ’72

River Falls, Wis.

Marc Boettcher, ..’72

North East, Pa.

Walter Hurst, ..’72

Webb City, Mo.

Gary Redman, ’72

Mission, Kan.

William Schmidt, ’72, ’76

Bismarck, N.D.

Dennis Throndset, ’72, ’85 Langdon, N.D.

Vickie (Stevens) Angen, ..’73

Grand Forks

Craig Caspers, ..’73

Wahpeton, N.D.

James Goldesberry, ’73

Thief River Falls, Minn.

David Gunther, ..’73

Mesa, Ariz.

Julie (Monson) Hoverson, ’73

Cooperstown, N.D.

Andrew Klee, ’73

Rio Rancho, N.M.

Michael Lundby, ’73, ’93 East Grand Forks, Minn.

Claire (Skarperud) Moen, ’73, ’85, ’07

Grand Forks

Lavina (Omvig) Vetter, ’73 East Grand Forks, Minn.

Larry Alexander, ..’74

Devil’s Lake, N.D.

Ronald Arel, ..’74

Bemidji, Minn.

Vernon Gutenkunst, ’74

Valley City, N.D.

Willard Jantzen, ..’74

Valley City, N.D.

Kenneth Johnston, ..’74

Cheyenne, Wyo.

Sheldon Joppru, ..’74

Wayzata, Minn.

Duane Krivarchka, ’74

Lisbon, N.D.

William Morrison, ’74

Marshalltown, Iowa

John Parr, ’74

Olympia, Wash.

DeWayne Pfau, ’74

Cottonwood, Ariz.

Clifton Rodenburg, ’74

Fargo

Randall Schober, ..’74 Valley City, N.D.

Wallace Thompson, ’74, ’79 Bismarck, N.D.

Clarence Bina, ’75, ’82 Bismarck, N.D.

David Jacobson, ’75

Battle Lake, Minn.

Francis McGinnity, ’75 Valley City, N.D.

Connie Nelson, ’75

Churchs Ferry, N.D.

Ronald Reilly, ’75

Dover, N.H.

Zema (Miller) Schaney, ’75 Butler, Pa.

Beata Seil, ’75

Grand Forks

Jean (Roberson) Sullivan, ’75 Bismarck, N.D.

Stephen Blumer, ’76

Minneapolis, Minn.

William Cawley, ’76

Inkster, N.D.

Bruce Duller, ’76, ’82 Minot, N.D.

Sharon Gallagher, ’76

Mandan, N.D.

Loubelle (Easton) Halas, ’76

Grand Forks

Kenneth Quam, ’76

Tolna, N.D.

Eric Bakke, ’77, ’80, ’88 Grand Forks

Thomas Brace, ’77

Canandaigua, N.Y.

Richard Flieth, ..’77

Pharr, Texas

Carolyn (Williams) Wijnholds, ..’77

New Kent, Va.

Jamey Holweger, ..’78 Larimore, N.D.

Ellen (Graff) Myrick, ’78

Grand Forks

Jeffrey Harrington, ..’79 Minneapolis, Minn. Scott Stenvold, ..’79

Fargo

1980s

Terry (Wegenast) Aas, ’80 Eden Prairie, Minn.

Michele (Berggren) Barton, ..’80

St. Paul, Minn.

Diane (Comstock) Carlson, ’80, ’83

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Joyce Hagen, ’80

Grand Forks

Maureen (Peterson) King, ’80 Cavalier, N.D.

Rebecca (Robinson) Wolff, ’80

Brandon, S.D.

Lois (Thomas) Fisher, ’81

Fargo

Iva (Gunderson) Johnson, ..’81

Park River, N.D.

Robert Kennedy, ..’81

Crookston, Minn.

Mary Beth (Carlson) Montplaisir, ’81

Onamia, Minn.

John O’Connor, ’81, ’95

Watford City, N.D.

Thomas Peterson, ..’81

Kandiyohi, Minn.

Cecilia (Kliniske) Durand, ..’82

Grafton, N.D.

Lori Easton, ’82

Green Valley, Ariz.

Bradley Gabel, ..’82

Billings, Mont.

Lori Halvorson, ..’82

Dunseith, N.D.

Eric Hardmeyer, ’82

Bismarck, N.D.

Loren Jones, ’82

Prior Lake, Minn.

Tina Langtry, ’82

Katy, Texas

Wilhelmine (Claseman) Ulven, ’82

Grand Forks

Richard Gessler, ’83

Grand Forks

Sylvia (Sorenson) Mosher, ’83 Fisher, Minn.

Nicky Jolliffe, ’84

Bismarck, N.D.

Tony Roisum, ’84, ’89

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Robert Somerville, ’84

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Michael Terry, ’84

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Harold Ketola, ’85

Maple Plain, Minn.

Jeffrey Linderman, ’85

Grand Forks

Bradley Bail, ’86, ’92

East Grand Forks, Minn.

Daniel Campbell, ’86, ’91

Bismarck, N.D.

Dave Gunther, who served as North Dakota men’s basketball head coach for 18 seasons, passed away on March 16. He was 86.

One of the most successful coaches in UND history, Gunther led the team from 1971-88. His 332 wins rank as second in program history. During his tenure, UND won five North Central Conference titles, eight NCAA Division II tournaments, and three Elite Eights.

“Coach Gunther’s legacy will forever be remembered at UND,” said UND Athletics Director Bill Chaves. “He had a hall of fame career but more importantly was a hall of fame person.”

Gunther was inducted into the UND Athletics Letterwinners Hall of Fame in 1987 as an individual. Five of his teams were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

UND Alumni Association & Foundation Director of Development Steve Brekke was a member of Gunther’s 1982 and 1983 teams. “Playing for UND and Coach Gunther was my dream,” Brekke said. Brekke remembers Gunther as well prepared, with a stellar reputation among coaches. “He preached fundamentals, defense and hustle,” Brekke said. “High school coaches and other college coaches would talk about the things they learned from Coach Gunther.”

WE REMEMBER

COACH GUNTHER’S LEGACY DAVE GUNTHER

Before coming to Grand Forks, Gunther played collegiate basketball at Iowa. He was a three-season starter for the Hawkeyes from 1956-59. When he left Iowa, he was tied as the program’s all-time scorer with 1,188 points and ranked among the top-20 nationally in points scored as a senior.

Gunther played professional basketball for three years, which included a year in the NBA as a member of the San Francisco Warriors in 1962. Following his playing days, Gunther began a coaching career that spanned over three decades with Wayne State (Neb.), North Dakota, Buena Vista University (Iowa) and Bemidji State.

Brekke said Gunther’s influence reached further than the basketball community. He was well respected in Grand Forks and throughout the state. “He loved his players and loved hearing from them,” Brekke said. “He created a family atmosphere. We had a tight-knit group of people; a lot of us still stay together.”

UND men’s basketball head coach Paul Sather said Gunther’s sports mentality held strong. “You could still see the fire and competitive spirit when he visited our practices.”

Sather continued, “Coach Gunther was a larger-than-life person that impacted everyone he came in contact with. Kind, generous, with an easy smile that always put people at ease. We’re really going to miss not seeing Coach in the Betty or out at lunch. He was a special guy.”

Gregory Larson, ’86

Torrance, Calif.

Kirsten (Halvorsen) Meyer, ’86

Hastings, Minn.

Colleen Thompson, ’86

Crookston, Minn.

Dale Bergum, ’87

Grand Forks

Patrick Ebertz, ’87

St. Cloud, Minn.

Paul Lofthus, ’87

Grand Forks

Michele (Adams) Tuinstra, ’87

Mapleton, N.D.

Griffith Matthews, ’88, ’92

Rothschild, Wis.

Jill Gillette, ..’89

New Town, N.D.

Erik Kjelland, ’89

Woodland Park, Colo.

Dolores (Vee) Quick, ’89

Fergus Falls, Minn.

1990s

Joseph Judd, ’91

Fargo

Lawrence Lannoo, ’91, ’93

Glenboro, Manitoba

Stephen Saari, ..’91

Bemidji, Minn.

Sandra (Neumann) Kyllo, ’92

Larimore, N.D.

Kathryn Robinson, ’92

Ventura, Calif.

Cheryl Pankow, ’94

Willmar, Minn.

James Stein, ’95

Springfield, Va.

Andrew Morin, ’96, ’97

St. Michael, N.D.

Anita (Meester) Sunde, ’96

Fargo

Jennifer (Gerou) Zastoupil, ’97

East Grand Forks, Minn.

Brendan Link, ’98

Spearfish, S.D.

Karen (Knaus) Pickett, ’98

Grand Forks

Betty (Manning) Stone, ..’98

New Tazewell, Tenn.

2000s

Brent Gerhardt, ’00

Grand Forks

Heather Kramer, ’00 Langdon, N.D.

Meghan (Leng) Narhus, ’01

Raleigh, N.C.

Katie Richards, ’02, ’03

Mayville, N.D.

Donna (Hafner) Bonderud, ’05, ’12

Jamestown, N.D.

Justin Mondor, ..’06

Grand Forks

Melanie Geltz, ’09 Waterloo, Iowa

2010s

Isaac Perala, ’10

Grand Forks

Jordan Kramer

Grand Forks

2020s

Brendon Bowersox, ..’22 Spring Hill, Tenn.

Current Students

Dusti GoodBird

New Town, N.D.

Steve Bakken

Grand Forks

Verlon Gooding

Roswell, Ga. Iroba Okonta

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Melodie (Trandem) Pochmara

Fargo

Hayden Wolf Bismarck

Andrew Zimmerman

Sandpoint, Idaho

William Madsen

Grand Forks

Faculty & Staff

Peggy (Sommerfeld) Schulz

East Grand Forks, Minn.

Former Faculty & Staff

John Bratton

East Grand Forks, Minn.

George Frein

Fort Worth, Texas

Rolando Gamboa

Grand Forks

Sudha Joshi

Madison, Wis.

Wayne McCormick

Huntington Beach, Calif.

Robert Rosenthal

Riverside, Calif.

Mona (Robertson) Shilling

Grand Forks

Bonita Snyder

Sartell, Minn.

Scot Stradley

Glyndon, Minn.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM UND ATHLETICS ON PAGE 26

WINNING TEAMS FROM HOCKEY

TO ESPORTS, our programs set us apart.