ALUMNI REVIEW Summer 2019
University of North Dakota Alumni Association
ALL
BUSINESS
A generous donor and the North Dakota Legislature kickstart a campaign to build a new College of Business & Public Administration building.
p. 6
Rendering by: JLG Architects
ALUMNI REVIEW University of North Dakota Alumni Association
VOL. 102 NO. 2 | SUMMER 2019 CEO DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86 Editor
Milo Smith
Associate Editor Leanna Ihry, ’02
IN THIS ISSUE
Designer
Sam Melquist Contributing Writers David Dodds, ’98 Brenda Haugen, ’88 Patrick C. Miller Connor Murphy, ’15 Jan Orvik ’95 Dima Williams Contributing Photographers Sam Melquist Shawna Noel Schill, ’06 Milo Smith
UND Alumni Association & Foundation Board of Directors Chair
Sara Garland, ’68, ’72 Vice Chair
Dr. John Gray, ’87 Directors
Darla Adams, ’84, ’85; Lisa Barnes, ’88; Cindy Blikre, ’91; Angie Freeman, ’91; Phil Gisi, ’82; Mike Hamerlik, ’84, ’88; Marten Hoekstra, ’82; Jonathan Holth; Linda Laskowski, ’72, ’73; Dr. Michael LeBeau, ’02; Rick Lee, ’78; Doug Mark, ’86; Chuck MacFarlane, ’87; Rob Mitchell, ’74; Carrie McIntyre Panetta, ’88; Karen Phillips, ’77; Doug Podolak, ’72; Jim Poolman, ’92; Jodi Rolland, ’92; Karen Thingelstad, 89; and Chad Wachter.
FEATURES
Ex Officio
Dr. Tom DiLorenzo; Nancy Peterson, ’90; Jed Shivers; Dr. Joshua Wynne, and DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86. The University of North Dakota Alumni Review (USPS 018089: ISSN 0895-5409) is published three times a year by the University of North Dakota Alumni Association, 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 the Alumni Review, 3501 University Avenue, Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157. For inquiries about advertising, additional copies, reprints, submissions, or general comments, contact 800.543.8764, 701.777.0831 or alumnireview@UNDalumni.net.
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Alumni and staff share fond memories of the "heart of campus."
Campus gets an upgrade.
Memorial Union Memories BY BRENDA HAUGEN
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Construction Update BY MILO SMITH
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COVER STORY
BUILDING THE FUTURE Lead donor and North Dakota lawmakers set a new future for the CoBPA. BY MILO SMITH
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DEPARTMENTS
39 Campus News
Message from DeAnna
41 Dean's Corner
24 Homecoming Calendar 26 Sioux Award Honorees 34 Young Alumni Achievement Recipients 38 President's Letter
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Fashion World Peter Nygård , ’64, built a fashion empire on values shaped by a childhood encounter involving toast.
44 Record Breaking Year 48 Alumni News
54 Additions & Celebrations 56 In Memoriam 58 The Wrap
ON THE COVER
An architectural rendering of what a new CoBPA could look like at the corner of University Ave. and Centennial Dr. Rendering by JLG Architects
BY MILO SMITH
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D E A N NA’S L ET T ER
UND Provost Tom DiLorenzo (left) and DeAnna Carlson Zink (right) with the recipients of Spring Commencement honorary degrees: (from l – r) aviation pioneer Clay Lacy, former U.S. Senator from North Dakota Heidi Heitkamp, ’77, and actor Josh Duhamel. Photo by Milo Smith
Dear Alumni & Friends, There has been a lot of change on campus since the spring issue of the Alumni Review. The biggest news is the resignation of Mark Kennedy as president of the University of North Dakota. Mark is now the president of the University of Colorado system after serving UND for just under three years. He was an active partner in our fundraising efforts during his time here and helped set UND on a path that will bring good things to our students and student-athletes. I wish Mark well in his new endeavor. Dr. Joshua Wynne, vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, has taken on the role of interim president. Dr. Wynne is a dedicated professional who has been a great partner of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. He is someone who truly cares about the University, its students, our alumni and our community. Meanwhile, the presidential search committee is led by Dr. Casey Ryan, retired president of Grand Forks’ Altru Health System, and Dennis Elbert, ’68, ’72, former dean of the UND College of Business & Public Administration. I was honored to be asked to be on the committee along with a number of other alumni, faculty and staff representatives, and the UND student president Gracie Lian.
CoBPA Building As you’ll read on the following pages, we are embarking on a major capital campaign: a new College of Business & Public Administration building. We are so thankful to North Dakota lawmakers and Gov. Doug Burgum’s office for approving a matching fund to help us fundraise for a new building. The story is on p. 6.
Record Year! We set a record for fundraising during the fiscal year that ended June 30 with more than $67 million in donations! Special thanks to all our alumni and friends for making UND a part of your philanthropic lives. We are blessed by your commitment to UND students and so thankful for all that you do for them. You can read more about the record year on p. 44.
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Board of Directors I’d like to welcome five new members to our UND Alumni Association & Foundation Board of Directors. Joining the board as of July 1 are Karen (Dean) Thingelstad, ’89, VP/CFO Minnkota Power Cooperative; Darla (Kleven) Adams, ’84, ’85, retired UND Associate Dean of Nursing; Chuck MacFarlane, ’87, President/CEO Otter Tail Corporation; Lisa (Schmitz) Barnes, ’88, retired Director of Engineering Business Management at Honeywell Aerospace Engineering Technology; and Angie (Hovland) Freeman, ’91, Chief Human Resources Officer at CH Robinson Worldwide. I am always so humbled and thankful when alumni and friends of UND accept a position on our Board of Directors. Ours is a working board; we rely heavily on them for guidance on our strategic priorities and the day-to-day operation of our vital organization. A special thanks also to outgoing board members Cathy Rydell, ’88, and Fernanda Philbrick, ’94, ’96. Their outstanding leadership will be missed!
Homecoming 2019 I hope you’ll be able to join us for Homecoming 2019 Sept. 30 – Oct. 5. You can see a schedule of events on p. 24 and read the biographies of our Sioux Award and Young Alumni Achievement Award recipients beginning on p. 26. We are in our second century of hosting UND Homecoming and I dare to say we throw a pretty good party! Make plans now to attend. Thank you for everything you do to support your alma mater and the students that follow in your footsteps. Sincerely, DeAnna Carlson Zink, '86, CFRE UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO deannac@UNDfoundation.org
GREG KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE
#UNDproud
UND provided an excellent and well-rounded foundation. My math and statistics classes were the first coursework I relied upon as I entered investment management. (I am sure some of my instructors might ask how this could be the case.) I’m happy to put those skills to work as I oversee the overall investment strategy for Bell Bank Investment Management clients. And I’m proud that Bell’s growth continues to offer UND students new opportunities. – Greg Sweeney, CFA Chief Investment Officer
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Member FDIC
F E ATURE
BUIL DING T HE
FUTURE
With a lead gift, an anonymous donor kickstarts a campaign to build a new College of Business & Public Administration building. By Milo Smith /// Renderings by JLG Architects
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“Who will walk through the halls over the next 50 years? Will it be your grandchild, your nephew or the neighbor girl down the street? This is more than a building. It is for our leaders of tomorrow who will do good in the world.” DEANNA CARLSON ZINK, ’86 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, UND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION
DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, was about to reveal a secret. It was March 11, 2019, and Carlson Zink was preparing to go before the North Dakota House Appropriations Committee to ask lawmakers to create a $20 million matching fund to help her organization fundraise for a new College of Business & Public Administration building on the UND campus. If approved, the state would provide $20 million and alumni and friends of the University would donate $50 million. The secret she revealed to lawmakers during her testimony that day was that an anonymous alumnus was prepared to donate the lead gift to the building if lawmakers would approve the matching fund to help secure more donations to the project. “It was a bit nerve-wracking,” said Carlson Zink. “We were making our request midsession because of the fast-moving nature
of the fundraising process. We had a donor willing to make this incredible gift to UND, but they felt strongly that the building should be a public-private partnership, so that’s the request I made to committee members that day.”
variables involved in dealing with the legislative process,” said Carlson Zink. “I’m very thankful to state lawmakers for seeing the value of partnering with our alumni and friends to make the project happen.”
Carlson Zink wasn’t done talking to lawmakers about the project; a week later she provided testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee. This time the news was out about the generous anonymous donor, but Carlson Zink had a new surprise to share with lawmakers: 21 alumni signed a letter pledging that they were “willing and committed to be donors on this capital project, but feel strongly there should be a partnership with the state to elevate our flagship institution into the future.”
A New Start
In the waning days of the 2019 Legislative session, lawmakers approved the $20 million match for the project. “We made a very strong case for this publicprivate partnership, but there are so many
Gamble Hall, current home of the College of Business & Public Administration (CoBPA), was built in 1968. At the time, there were a thousand students taking business classes all over campus. The new building brought them, and 45 faculty and staff members, together under one roof. Over the intervening 50 years, enrollment in the state’s first accredited business school has ballooned to more than 2,000 students and there are now more than 75 members of the faculty and staff. “Gamble Hall has been an exceptional home for our students, staff and faculty, and I know our alumni have many fond memories of UNDalumni.org
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the building,” said Amy Henley, dean of the CoPBA. “But it is now 50 years old and we have simply outgrown it. We have a hard time servicing all our students in the current space.” Teaching methods have changed in recent years as well and Gamble Hall is not set up to handle the technological and physical-space needs of the modern classroom model. “Lecture hall classrooms no longer work for the way professors are teaching,” said Lauren Vetter, who graduated with a degree in Public Administration in the spring of 2018. “Flexible seating and workspaces are so important for effective group work and class participation.” “New technology can improve standard lecture practices to free up time and resources,” said Dr. Chih Ming Tan, professor and Page
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Endowed Chair in Applied Economics. “Educators can then devote that time to small-group, one-on-one discussions aimed at making sure the material in those recorded lectures is understood.” The new building is slated to be built on the corner of the quad between the Chester Fritz Library and Merrifield (skywalks would connect the three buildings). It would include a state-of-the-art mix of small, medium and large spaces that would be configurable for business competitions, career fairs, symposiums, simulations and conferences. The building will empower the next generation of business leaders by giving them a place for hands-on learning where they can hone their creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership, and cognitive flexibility. It will also be the
most technologically advanced building on campus. Online education is just one student experience that will benefit from the high-tech classrooms and meeting spaces.
Quick Decisions The new building will also match perception with reality for prospective students. It’s been said that a high schooler on a campus tour makes a decision within seven minutes whether they want to attend the school. Administrators, faculty and current students say there is a disconnect between the current facility and the quality of the programs housed within Gamble Hall. “The perception that a potential student forms happens very quickly when they enter our building and I don't believe that our physical
IM A GINE A
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
Here, online and on-campus CoBPA students collaborate in real time. They work on an e-commerce project, create solutions, and talk to each other in breakout sessions.
space is reflective of the exceptional education and opportunities that we will provide,” said Dean Amy Henley. "I'm very excited about the potential for a new building to help tell the story of who we are. A visitor will see a hub of student activity, student success services, conference, networking and engagement spaces; everything needed to help our students succeed.” “Gamble Hall no longer represents the reputation of our business and public administration students,” said Carlson Zink. “My message to potential donors is that we need a facility that helps us educate students of 2070, not 1970.” Carlson Zink says there is a sense of urgency to getting a new building for the CoBPA. “We are losing ground. We are losing students to other universities that have upgraded their
facilities,” she said. “In addition, we are losing the tradition and legacy of our outstanding business school. The longer we wait, the more the gap grows.”
A Historic Gift With the Legislature’s approval of a matching program, talks resumed with the lead gift donor. In June, the paperwork was signed on the lead gift for the building: the largest ever given to an academic building project at UND. “It is so rewarding to work with a donor so passionate about the student experience at UND that they would give such a momentous gift to the college that gave them their start,” said Kim Woods, ’82, UNDAAF Associate Vice President/Senior Director of Development for the CoBPA.
Work Ahead There is still a lot of fundraising ahead and a short timeline to secure commitments. “Our internal deadline to raise the $50 million in private donations is June 30 so that we can break ground by the fall," said Carlson Zink. "We know it will be challenging, but I’m confident that our alumni and friends have an intense desire to see the College and its students thrive.” /// If you would like join us in building a new CoBPA building or would like more information on the project, please contact Kim Woods at 701.777.4106 or kimw@UNDfoundation.org.
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F E ATURE
ME MORI A L UNION
MEMORIES
With the demolition of the Memorial Union to make way for a student-funded replacement, staff and alumni share memories of the “heart of campus.” By Brenda Haugen /// Photographs courtesy of Elywn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
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The Memorial Union has always been the place to see and be seen. Whether it was students touring the University with parents, alumni stopping in the bookstore to pick up a new sweatshirt during Homecoming weekend, or just every day for students, staff, faculty and community members. “There was always a lot of student traffic in the Union,” said Chuck Flemmer, who attended UND in the 1980s. Back then, the Union was still home to the bookstore, one of the biggest drivers of foot traffic in the building. Gordon Henry, who started at the university as a student in 1965 and worked his way up to vice president for Student Affairs, said a study at the time found 12,000 people entered the Union in one day. Many stopped in the bookstore simply to buy gum, a greeting card, or a Blue Book for a test.
and went on to become North Dakota’s most highly decorated World War II veteran. He was wounded in action several times. The last wound was inflicted by a shell that exploded near him, which damaged his brain and left him paralyzed on his right side. Yet, Elbert said, Ringsak completed law school at UND by correspondence after the war. “The Memorial Union aspect was always a powerful influence to me,” said Elbert, a member of UND’s Army ROTC. “That’s where we were commissioned. So when we graduated and were commissioned officers in the military, all of the commissioning ceremonies were done in the ballroom. And the tradition is, as an officer, when you render your first salute to a noncommissioned officer, you do the salute and then you hand them a silver dollar. So then that was part of the Memorial
“I fought very hard to save that bowling alley, but it’s a battle I lost,” said Henry, an avid bowler. “It got faculty involved with students. There were a lot of faculty teams that included students. A department would have two or three faculty and two or three students on its team.” Just outside the bowling area, a game room including well-used pool tables was found. Nearby, students could grab a quick bite at the deli, which served a variety of sandwiches, including an incredible, albeit unusual one, with tuna and green olives, as well as sweet treats, such as its legendary Special K bars. They could also join their friends for what was mustsee TV at noon. “The TV lounges all over campus would fill up with people watching ‘Days of Our Lives’
“It was busy,” he said. “There were always people in there browsing around.” The Union served as the heart of the campus. In fact, according to the building’s former Associate Director Bonnie Solberg, that was actually the Union’s slogan. “In the ’80s, I can remember that on the main floor at noon when everybody was in there during the winter, you couldn’t walk from one end of the Union to the other,” she said. “It was the place to be. It was packed and buzzing.”
Honoring Sacrifices Dedicated May 18, 1951, the $350,000 Memorial Student Union was named to honor UND students who had died in World War II. In 1964, in keeping with trends across the country, the building was renamed the University Center. It became the UND Memorial Union in 1978, bringing it back to the theme of honoring those who had served their country, as many UND students had done. Pictures of former students who lost their lives while serving in the military hang in the second floor’s Memorial Room. The second floor hall also is home to another special memorial. “To me, one of the most powerful spots in the Union is the memorial to Elton Ringsak on the second floor,” said Denny Elbert, a UND graduate and former professor and dean. Those who see it can’t help but be touched at the sight of Ringsak’s helmet, which shows a clear hole through it. Originally from Grafton, North Dakota, Ringsak graduated from UND’s Army ROTC program in 1937
Union memory for all of us who went through that back in the day.”
and other soap operas in between classes,” Flemmer said.
Meeting Space
Those who wanted a nice sit-down meal at a reasonable price opted for lunch in the Centennial Dining Room. Though open to anyone, it tended to be a little oasis during busy days for UND faculty and staff.
When the Memorial Union was first built, the ballroom was twice the size of the space in the Armory, which had proved too small for the many events UND held there, including dances and athletic activities. The new Union also included meeting rooms, a store, lounges, dining rooms, snack bars and an eight-lane bowling alley. The flood of 1997 destroyed the bowling alley, and though it wasn’t used as much as it had been in previous years, its loss was felt.
“People talked about it for years after it closed,” Solberg said. “A lot of faculty liked to go down there. Staff liked to go down there. Certainly students were welcome to go down there, but they never felt like it was their space,” said Marsha Nelson, who worked in the Union for 47 years, lastly as UNDalumni.org
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director for facility operations. “And the other side of that then was the Terrace Cafeteria.” Students definitely felt at home in the Terrace, but those who only wanted a light snack could grab a bag of popcorn, which initially cost just a quarter. “The popcorn machine—or the smell of popcorn—is one of the things people think of when they think of the Union,” Solberg said.
Barber Shop Need a haircut? You could accomplish that at the Union as well. The building’s longest lasting tenant—more than 50 years—was Tom & Jerry’s Campus Barbershop. At its height of popularity, the barbershop—complete with a pillar outside its door painted like a barber pole and a real moving barber pole inside—boasted five barber chairs. Rendering: WTW Architects
A NE W UNION Replacement to be heart of campus life A new, 158,000 square-foot, three-story Memorial Union was approved by students in a November 2018 vote. When it opens spring of 2021, it will include: •
Expanded study and meeting space, including a large ballroom with lecture space for 1,000 and banquet seating for 650. There will also be a multipurpose room with retractable seating for 300.
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Improved dining and cafe options, multiple retail spaces and entertainment areas.
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Indoor/outdoor gathering spaces.
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New affinity zones for the International Center, Multicultural Center and Pride Center as well as resource and collaboration space for student organizations.
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Improved drop-off area and accessible entrances.
“The barbershop was a central location and a hub of information,” Elbert said. “In the military, you have a division level G2, that’s your intelligence gathering units. [The barbershop] had the G2 on campus. They knew all the secrets. They knew what was going on whether it was academics or athletics or whatever.” According to Tom Dryburgh, the “Tom” of Tom & Jerry’s, he and his business partner, Jerry Pokrzywinski, mainly just heard a lot of sports talk in the barbershop. But he does have a picture of him and Jerry holding the Nickel Trophy just after it disappeared from Fargo. The ROTC Ranger group brought it for them to see, Dryburgh recalled. By its nature, the barbershop drew members of the community to campus. “We had a lot of downtown business—attorneys, doctors—and a lot of professors and students,” Dryburgh said. “In the ’60s and ’70s, ROTC, athletes— we got to know just about all of them. It was a good job.” UND’s presidents also patronized the establishment. Dryburgh said he particularly remembers George Starcher and Tom Clifford, who had very different personalities. “Dr. Starcher was a different kind of person,” Dryburgh said. “He’d come in, and he’d be
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wearing his top hat and his coat, and there could be 10 guys waiting for haircuts, and he’d say, ‘I’m next in the chair.’ He wouldn’t call for an appointment or anything. He’d just get in. Tom Clifford was just the opposite. He’d call for an appointment, and then when he’d show up, he would tell the people there that he’d called for an appointment. He’d hate to cut in front of them.”
question about any topic—a big task before smart phones!”
The hours at the barbershop were often long, but Dryburgh obviously enjoyed his work. The barbershop’s official hours were 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but it wasn’t unusual for the staff to be there after 7 p.m.
Students, faculty, and staff also could cash personal checks at the Union’s Service Desk on the first floor. “There really were no ATMs,” Flemmer recalled.
“As long as people would be in the shop waiting at 5:30 when we closed, we’d say, ‘As long as you’re in here, you can get a cut,’” he said.
Info Center Ask graduates who went to school before the Internet existed and one of the most valuable services many will remember is the Info Center. “The Info Center was a huge thing in the Union,” Flemmer said. “It would answer any
Back before email and texting, a public address system was used to spread announcements in the Union. “My friend Chris Reali was the ‘voice of the union,’ always making announcements over the PA system,” Flemmer said.
office was located on the main floor right in the middle of the Memorial Union. It’s a great space where the president and vice president can hold private meetings, an office space for group meetings, and workspace for other officers, committee chairs, and student senators.” Flemmer was student body vice president in the mid-1980s. He recalled many good debates on topics current at the time.
The Memorial Union has served as the heart of Student Government as well. Along with housing the Student Government offices, the Union also was home to the group’s meetings.
“The Senate and the Board of Student Publications were always butting heads over the autonomy of the Dakota Student,” he recalled. “And there was always controversy on if the Honors Program should have a Senate seat since they were the only academic senator that didn't represent a college.”
Grant Hauschild earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from UND in 2011 and served as student body vice president.
The Student Government held its meetings in the River Valley Room on the second floor of the Union.
“My favorite place is the Student Government office because it was the place where I learned leadership skills, hung out with my closest friends, and worked to make a difference at the university I cared about,” he said. “Our
“The best meetings happened when a large number of guests would come to watch because something important was being debated and voted on,” Hauschild said. “For instance, during my time in Student UNDalumni.org
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Government, we created the Student Organization Funding Agency—SOFA— to help distribute funds to student organizations that needed it. I had the opportunity to chair the committee that recommended the creation of the committee while I was a junior, and we approved the creation of the committee in the Student Senate when I was vice president. It was really rewarding to see that project come full circle.” It wasn’t unheard of for Student Government meetings to go until the wee hours of the morning. “There was one meeting that went until 2 a.m. because we were debating the budget. One senator, I won’t name names, was a real stickler for the details and requested that we go through the budget line-by-line,” Hauschild remembered. “By the end of it, everyone was a little hysterical and having a lot of fun. I think we all learned a whole lot about the importance of taking budgeting seriously!”
Memorial Union Wedding The second floor of the Memorial Union included a number of meeting rooms, but one holds a particularly special place in the hearts of two UND graduates because they got married there. “We didn’t really know where else to do it, and you could reserve the rooms [for free], so it seemed logical,” said Sashaa Murphy. Sashaa and her husband, Colonel Jason Murphy, graduated from high school in Monticello, Minnesota, in 1991. Jason proposed to Sashaa while they were seniors in high school, and Sashaa accepted. They both came to UND as students that fall. “We didn’t like dorm living apart,” said Jason, who now serves as a professor of Military Science for the Army ROTC at UND. “Family was a little concerned about us moving out the dorms and not being married, so we said, ‘Well, we’re going to get married eventually, so why not now?” Knowing churches are usually booked months in advance, the 18-year-olds reserved a meeting room on the Union’s
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“The Memorial Union aspect was always a powerful influence on me.” DENNY ELBERT second floor for December 14, 1991—during finals week—and got a justice of the peace to perform the ceremony. “It was the ultimate final test,” Jason said with a laugh. The ceremony was simple. Sashaa wore a white skirt and blazer, and Jason wore a suit. “I think my mother or somebody brought flowers, so I had a small bouquet,” Sashaa recalled. The couple’s guests included their best man, maid of honor, and a handful of family who traveled from Monticello for the ceremony the couple had planned just two weeks in advance. “It was also the weekend there was a blizzard,” Jason recalled. “They closed the highway right behind our maid of honor and best man,” Sashaa added. “They barely made it here.” The Murphys held a big church wedding the following summer, but they still recall their union in the Union fondly. In fact, they recently entered the building’s front door and climbed the stairs to the second floor, turned right, and slipped inside the first room on the left.
registration—before the advent of computers— to blood drives, dances, and even the annual showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” an audience-participation event that left quite a mess for Union staff to clean up each year.
a group of people who had ideas, dreams, resources, and all liked to try things no one had tried before. Our mission was to develop a theme or idea for each Founders Day event that showcased the history of UND.”
The ballroom also hosted the Writers Conference, which drew large crowds and some world-renowned authors.
Some of the those themes included U.S. presidential visits to UND; Theatre Arts; monuments and sculptures around campus; the old buildings and architecture on campus; UND’s 125th birthday; and the 50th Anniversary of the Chester Fritz Library— complete with a tree built out of books.
“That was the big thing in March,” Nelson said. “Truman Capote was here. James Earl Ray was here. There were some huge names. John Little [of the English Department] started the Writers Conference. He was a hoot. He came from Mississippi, and he still had the Southern drawl after being here 25 years. But he did a good job and brought in these writers.” The Nursing School’s pinning, Feast of Nations, and the Madrigal Dinner were all held at the Union as well. The latter included a five-course meal and performances by the Concert Choir and Varsity Bards. It served as a fundraiser for the Choral Department, Solberg explained.
Multi-Use
Founders Day also ranked among the biggest annual events held at the Memorial Union. Honoring faculty and staff who had retired or who had served the university at least 25 years as well as annual UND award winners, the yearly festivities drew large crowds. The spacious ballroom was transformed each year into a celebratory space by a group that came to be known as the Design on a Dime team.
But the second floor wasn’t just for meetings, studying—and weddings. For a time, the lecture bowl hosted free movies and a myriad of speakers. For bigger crowds, the ballroom was used. It housed everything from student
“Design on a Dime evolved because we had a very minimal decorating budget for Founders Day,” explained Dawn Botsford, a retired member of the team and of the Office of Ceremonies and Special Events. “We found
“The room looks exactly the same,” Sashaa said. “When we did the college visit with our son, I made him look.”
Through the years, the Union changed with the times. Business and organizations would come and go. The Union also underwent several physical changes. Since its original construction in 1951, more space was needed and two major additions became reality—the east addition in 1964 and the west addition in 1983. Many less major renovations and improvements occurred as well. But through it all, the Union remained the heart of campus, as it was originally intended. “That’s a constant theme—a place to gather,” Solberg said. “That’s what it was then, that’s what it is now, and that’s what it will be in the future.” ///
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F E ATURE
Steam Plant
CA MPU S
In order to move the aging steam plant away from the quad, a private/public partnership with Johnson Controls has a new plant being constructed off of Campus Road near other Facilities buildings. As part of the project, crews have been laying new steam pipes this summer to connect to the new plant, which could be operational by spring 2020.
CONSTRUCTION
The summer of 2019 might go down as one of the busiest ever for construction projects on campus. Here’s a sampling of what’s being built or renovated. By Milo Smith /// Photography by Milo Smith
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Chester Fritz Library
A $10 million partial renovation of the library began in late 2018. It includes updates to the front and rear entrances to improve wayfinding in the building, upgrades to the reading room (power and data outlets, new carpet, etc.), and installation of a sprinkler system throughout the building. A café facility will be added to the ground floor, and university IT staff will relocate to the CFL.
Stone House
This historic structure is being renovated thanks to a $3 million gift from Hal, ’66, and Dr. Kathy Gershman. It will be an engagement center for graduate and international students when completed this fall. Built in 1903, the Oxford House was the home to UND President Webster Merrifield. The renovation will restore the mail floor parlor, music room and dining room to their original turn-of-the-century grace. The rest of the building will provide flexible space for student collaboration and engagement.
Projects on the Horizon
University Avenue
The main road through campus is getting a major facelift this summer. The entire length of the street from the coulee to Columbia Road has been torn up to be replaced. The stretch from the coulee to 42nd Street is also being renovated, but has remained open to traffic. The project includes new pedestrian lighting, landscaping, irrigation, sidewalks, raised medians, and a signaled intersection at Oxford and Centennial. The goal is to improve pedestrian safety and boost the efficiency of vehicle traffic during peak hours.
•
CoBPA building project
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Phase 2 of High Performance Center
•
Babcock Hall renovation to include Big Data Hub
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Aerospace Flight Operations Center
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Merrifield renovation
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Gustafson renovation
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Carnegie renovation
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Twamley renovation
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F E ATURE
T HE T OA S T OF T HE
FASHION WORLD Peter Nygård, ’64, built a fashion empire on values shaped by a childhood encounter involving toast. By Milo Smith /// Photography by Sam Melquist
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Peter Nygård, ’64, owner of the one the largest women’s fashion companies in the world, has high praise for the mentor who took him under his wing as a student at the University of North Dakota in the early 1960s. Nygård says he can’t name many of the professors he took business classes from, but he vividly remembers Tom Clifford, who was then the dean of the College of Business and would later become a longtime president of the University. “You are always looking for mentors everywhere,” said Nygård during an interview in May at the Winnipeg headquarters of NyGård International. “He became one of my mentors and I highly respected him. A lot of people ask me, “Who are these key people in your life?” Tom Clifford was one of those.” Nygård celebrated fifty years in the fashion industry in 2018. His incredible rise to the top – his company is still shipping more than 23 million units a year – began when he toured the UND campus after taking a semester at Hibbing (Minn.) Community College. He was only passing through town after taking a West Coast road trip with a friend. “I saw this campus life and I fell in love with it instantly,” said Nygård of his stop at UND. “It was the visual presentation of it. I saw this whole new life for me and I thought “What the hell am I doing?” It became an immediate destiny for me.” Though the semester had already started, Nygård was allowed to enroll. He says he was just following his instincts – something he
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would do to great success throughout his life. “It turned out to be such a great move on my part to attend the University of North Dakota.” That Nygård was able to attend college at all involved great sacrifice by his family given their start in Canada.
Early Life The Nygård family immigrated from Finland when Peter was 11 years old. His parents, Eeli and Hilkka, owned a baker in Helsinki, but feared a Russian takeover following World War II. They sought asylum in Manitoba, where they settled in Deloraine, a small town 30 miles north of Bottineau, North Dakota, with Peter and his younger sister, Liisa. The family lived in a one-room shack that had been converted from a coal storage room. It measured 15 feet by 13 feet. There was no running water, no electricity and the outhouse was 200 yards away. In spite of the difficult living conditions, the family was grateful. “I never remember not being happy. We were such a close family; we were all for one. We just had it very good. I never realized that I was that poor.” Nygård credits his parents for maintaining a positive attitude despite the meager conditions. And he vividly remembers how they all pitched in to help make the best of the situation. It was Peter’s job to find bottles in the ditch that he could sell for two cents each with a goal of getting enough to buy drinking water.
“If I ever have that second piece of toast, I’m going to share it. And I’ve been sharing that second piece all my life.” PETER NYGÅRD, ’64
NYGÅRD HOME
The original converted coal storage room that served as the Nygård family home when they first immigrated to Manitoba is preserved in the museum at Nygård International headquarters in Winnipeg.
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Focus on Education Despite excelling in sports at his Winnipeg high school (his family eventually moved from Deloraine to Manitoba’s capital city), Nygård decided it was time to focus on academics at UND. He joined the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, eventually becoming president of the student organization. He’s proud that the UND chapter beat out 56 other U.S. chapters to win Delta Sigma Pi’s Efficiency Contest in 1964. “Not only did I get pretty good grades, but I had a very good background as to my extracurricular activities,” said Nygård of his UND experience. “What tremendous credentials I had when I went out to get a job. Instinctively I seem to have done the right thing and, quite frankly, the University somehow brought that out of me.” Just as his family pitched in to help him earn his degree, when Peter graduated, he made sure his sister was able to pursue a degree from UND as well. Peter and Liisa Nygård are believed to be the only brother/sister duo to receive Sioux Awards from the UND Alumni Association. Peter was recognized in 1978 while Liisa, who started her own fashion business, was awarded the honor in 1984.
The Big Risk Peter Nygård landed a job out of college with Eaton’s, Canada’s largest department store chain. He delights in telling the story of how an aptitude test identified him as a prime candidate to be president of the company, but he started in some of the lowest and dirtiest jobs at the venerated Winnipeg Eaton’s. “I was never afraid to get my hands dirty,” said Nygård of his early days sweeping floors, hauling bags of manure and stocking shelves. Within a year, Nygård was an Eaton’s executive, overseeing $250 million in annual sales at heavy goods stores. He was happy. He was on a path to rise up the ranks at North America’s largest retailer. And then he did the unthinkable: he quit to take less pay with a small
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clothing maker who wanted him to take over a brand-new line that hadn’t made a single dime yet. The owner also offered him the chance to buy into the company. Nygård had to borrow most of money and pour his life savings into the venture. Then, within weeks of joining the company, the primary owner was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Over the course of several months, Nygård would buy out the man’s family and take over the business. He renamed the company Nygård . He made his first million before he turned 30. By the end of the ‘60s, Nygård had expanded into Asia and had opened a factory and design center in Montreal. It was the start of aggressive growth for the privately held company that has continued for 50 years. The company has more than 170 dedicated stores in North America, 6,000 department store shop-in-shops worldwide, an online store, and more than 1 million square feet of North American distribution space, which ships more than 20 million garments annually. Along with its corporate headquarters located in the heart of Times Square, the company has design, production and distribution facilities in Los Angeles, Toronto and Winnipeg, research and design studios in New York and Shanghai, and sales offices throughout Canada and the U.S. In an industry as cutthroat as fashion, Peter Nygård has not only survived, he has thrived. And he says the company is right in the middle of major upheaval. The retail landscape has shifted significantly with major department stores closing (Sears alone sold $100 million in Nygård apparel each year) and the shift to online sales. The 77-year-old relishes the chance to prove he can adapt. “It’s a huge challenge,” he said. “I feel like I’m starting all over again; like I’m back 50 years ago. I’m rebuilding the whole company from scratch.”
Second Piece of Toast Peter Nygård has donated millions to breast cancer research — his sister Liisa is a breast cancer survivor — and other charitable causes. There is a story Nygård likes to tell that he says explains his philanthropic nature and the way he runs his business. When he was a small boy in the grips of poverty, a friend made two pieces of toast. The boy ate the first piece and then, without considering how hungry his friend Peter might be, ate the second. “It just broke me apart,” he said. “I got it in my brain that for the rest of my life that if I ever have that second piece of toast, I’m going to share it. And I’ve been sharing that second piece all my life. I never want anybody to feel the way I did at that particular moment.”
UND Proud On the occasion of celebrating fifty years in business, the Nygård facilities on Inkster Street in Winnipeg added a museum that chronicles the history of the company and its founder. On the wall are photos of Peter Nygård with celebrities and titans of business. On top of a display case sits a bomber jacket with a U.S. Presidential Seal given to Nygård by President George H.W. Bush. Displayed inside the case are other mementos of his friendship with the president. At the other end of the case are other precious mementos from his life: his UND diploma, a UND hockey jersey with the number 50 on the back given to him by the UND Alumni Association & Foundation to commemorate 50 years in business, and the Sioux Award he received at a Homecoming 1978 banquet at the Westward Ho. “It’s really one of the best memories of my life.” ///
THE NYGÅRD LEGACY
Left: The museum at the Winnipeg headquarters of Nygård International includes a wall of photos of Peter with celebrities, business leaders and famous politicians. Middle: Peter Nygård is interviewed by Alumni Review Editor Milo Smith at the Winnipeg headquarters. View the video at UNDalumni.org/alumnireview. Top: Designers work on next season's fashions. Bottom: A UND hockey jersey presented to Peter Nygård by the UNDAAF in a museum display case.
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Tuesday, October 1 College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship Open House 4 - 5:30 p.m. Gorecki Alumni Center | Gransberg Room With a short program at 4:30 p.m. this open house is a celebration of gratitude and generosity and will bring together students who have received a scholarship with the people who have made scholarships possible. Open Discussion of Medicine 2020 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Columbia Hall | Room 1360 UND alumnus and 2019 Sioux Award recipient, Dr. Greg Everson, ’72, will lead an open forum for undergraduate students interested in health or medical careers.
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Department of Social Work Annual Homecoming Hilton Garden Inn Department update, scholarship presentations and presentation of Distinguished Alumni Award. Lunch and CEU Training included.
Thursday, October 3 Sioux Awards
Friday, October 4 Fighting Hawk Friday All day Get your green on and show your spirit! UND School of Law Class of 1969 50-year Reunion 50-year reunion honoring the law class of 1969. Events will take place throughout the weekend.
5:30 p.m. | Alerus Center The Sioux Award is the highest honor given by the UND Alumni Association & Foundation for achievement, service, and loyalty. Tickets: $50 Read the biographies of the Sioux Award and Young Alumni Achievement Award recipients starting on p. 26.
1979 NCC Championship Football Team Reunion Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1979 football squad with your former teammates. Events will take place throughout the weekend. Information: undalumni.org/1979
EVENTS SMHS Continuing Education Symposium
North Dakota Representative Ruth Buffalo Talk
8:30 - 11 a.m. SMHS | Classroom W202
4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Education Building | Room 7
Topic: Back Pain
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | UND School of Law
Ruth Buffalo, a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, will give a free public talk as part of the Red River Women’s Studies conference. Buffalo is the first Native American Democratic woman to be elected to the North Dakota Legislature.
Pancratz Career Development Center Open House
School of Medicine & Health Sciences Banquet
10 a.m. - Noon Gamble Hall | Room 120
5 - 8 p.m. | Hilton Garden Inn
UND School of Law Annual Homecoming CLE
Meet our staff and learn about our services, including the Pancratz Professional Closet for CoBPA students. SMHS New Building Tours 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
For all SMHS alumni. Limited seating. RSVP required. UND Letterwinners Association Hall of Fame Induction 5:30 p.m. Social | 6 p.m. Program Alerus Center
Saturday, October 5 Class of 1969 Golden Grad Coffee 8 - 9:30 a.m. | Gorecki Alumni Center Homecoming Parade 10 a.m. | University Avenue UND School of Law Homecoming Parade Watch Party 10 a.m. Members of the UND Law family are invited to watch the parade from the front lawn of the School of Law. CoBPA Coffee & Hot Chocolate Booth 10 - 11 a.m. Corner of University Ave & Centennial Dr Stop by during the homecoming parade for a FREE cup of coffee or hot chocolate compliments of the UND College of Business & Public Administration!
Tickets: $50 African Art: Image and Society 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. O'Kelly Hall | Room 61 Z. S. Strother, a Phi Beta Kappa visiting scholar who is Riggio Professor of African Art at Columbia University, will give a free public talk on indigenous African art as part of the Red River Women’s Studies Conference. UND School of Law Alumni & Friends Luncheon Noon - 1:30 p.m. UND School of Law | Central Commons Open to all UND Law alumni, friends and family to enjoy an opportunity to visit with faculty, staff, and students of the UND School of Law. A special recognition ceremony will be part of the social honoring the Order of the Coif, Order of Barristers and scholarship recipients.
Accounting Hall of Fame 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Gorecki Alumni Center The 2019 UND Accounting Hall of Fame will recognize individuals for outstanding career accomplishments and service contributions to the Department of Accountancy, the University of North Dakota, and society. Green Gallop 8 p.m. | Wellness Center The Green Gallop Homecoming Run is a great way to show your UND Pride and Homecoming Spirit! The 5K course begins at the Wellness Center, runs along the English Coulee, through campus, and past Ralph Engelstad Arena.
UND School of Law Alumni & Friends Brunch 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. School of Law | Central Commons Please join us after the Homecoming parade for an alumni brunch. This social is open to all UND Law alumni, friends and family. Fighting Hawks Live for Gameday Tailgate 1 p.m. | After parade Alerus Center parking lot UND Football vs UC Davis 1 p.m. | Alerus Center For more information on Homecoming and to register for RSVP events, visit UNDalumni.org/homecoming.
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S I O U X AWARDS
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GR E G
EVERSON, ’72 Greg Everson, ’72, is a pioneer in the field of medicine, specifically the care and treatment of hepatitis C, a chronic liver disease that has been the leading cause for liver transplants. As the Chief of Hepatology at the University of Colorado, he and his colleagues helped uncover and characterize the disease in the late ‘80s and in subsequent decades he made major contributions to testing treatments that have led to a cure that is 98% to 99% effective. Everson says hepatitis C had probably been around for more than a century, but it was likely misinterpreted as some other disease. It became a “silent” epidemic with the proliferation of intravenous drug use in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The virus proliferated because many people who carried the virus did not show any signs of infection; allowing hep C to spread through the population. It’s now estimated that as many as 2.4 million people in the U.S. have hepatitis C. By the 1980s, the available tests detected hepatitis A and B; but other cases of hepatitis tested negative – these cases were termed non-A non-B hepatitis. Researchers knew they had a new hepatitis virus to contend with. “It took a while to actually discover the virus that was ultimately identified (as hep C),” said Everson. “It was one of the first diagnoses made solely on the basis of molecular biology.” Everson says the pharmaceutical industry went to work on developing drugs for hepatitis C. The University of Colorado had a long history of expertise in liver research — the first liver transplant in a human was conducted at the school’s medical center in 1963 — so it was a logical place for testing. Everson was the principal investigator on hundreds of studies and clinical trials as new drugs and treatments were developed. Early treatments based on interferon were only partially effective, but in the last five years, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has proven to be nearly 100% effective. “It’s an amazing story. A chronic liver disease that was the leading cause for liver transplant could be eradicated with antiviral therapy. The ongoing big hurdle is that the DAA treatment is quite expensive and many of the U.S. cases are in populations with limited access to healthcare or in places outside the United States that have extremely limited resources.” The director of the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI), Ron Sokul, MD, told a CCTSI writer when Everson retired in 2017 that his contributions to hepatitis C research were significant. “Because of Greg’s insight and tireless work at the Clinical and Translational Research Center over the years,” he said,
“we now have a cure for hepatitis C. His leadership and contributions to the study design and testing of these drugs cannot be overstated.” Everson believes one of his most important career contributions was to co-author a book with one of his patients called “Living with Hepatitis C: A Survivor’s Guide.” The book spawned five editions, and after the development of DAA therapy Everson penned “Curing Hepatitis C.” “I had many, many people, oftentimes people I never met, send me letters saying how they benefited from the help that was contained within those books,” said Everson. Everson says he was fascinated by all the scientific advancement that occurred during his youth—from the Apollo space program to medical advancements—so he was drawn to scientific pursuits. Thanks to the family legacy of his mom, older brother and older sister all being UND grads, it was logical for Everson, who grew up in Grafton, North Dakota, to attend college in Grand Forks. “I was proud to go there and to have graduated from UND,” he said. From UND, Everson attended Weill Cornell Medical School in New York City and did his residency in internal medicine at Creighton University in Omaha. He did a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Colorado and then joined the faculty, where he became a key figure in Hepatology, Transplant Hepatology, and in the march toward a cure for Hepatitis C. When he retired from the University of Colorado in 2017, Everson did not step away from medicine entirely. He had started a company in 2007, HepQuant, that develops liver function testing platforms. He is now CEO and Chief Medical Officer at the company. HepQuant is currently going through the rigorous process of getting FDA approval for a minimally invasive blood test that could change the way liver patients are managed. “I never had in my toolbox a true test of liver function, so I set out to establish one,” said Everson. “If we are ultimately successful (in receiving FDA approval), we’re talking about changing the paradigm of how liver patients are assessed and how to determine the effectiveness of drug therapies. Right now, a lot of the testing that is done requires invasive tests like biopsies, radiologic procedures or expensive equipment. “It could end up being my most important single contribution to the field.” ///
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JE NNIF E R
NEPPEL, ’86 28 Alumni Review
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Jennifer (Kohns) Neppel is Deputy Chief Investment Officer for CommonSpirit Health, formerly known as Catholic Health Initiatives, the largest Catholic healthcare system in the United States. With 140 hospitals in 21 states, Neppel and her investment team are responsible for the management of investment pools for operating pension, insurance and defined contribution plans with aggregate assets exceeding $30 billion. “Every day is interesting because even though we manage money for our hospitals, it comes down to our patients and providing the best care we can,” explains Neppel.
In addition to serving as Deputy Chief Investment Officer for CommonSpirit Health, Neppel manages the Direct Community Investment Program and serves as Chair of the Defined Contributions Plans Investment Committee and member of the Foundation Board.
Excellent care is something Neppel has experienced personally throughout her life and is thankful she is able to give back to others through her career.
Though Neppel has a lot on her plate, she once again credits her North Dakota work ethic and Dr. Langemo for providing a strong foundation. “Dr. Langemo used to talk a lot about time management and prioritization and I think that has really carried through over the years. I always have a to-do list and stay organized. So, I think that has been the key to balancing a career and family,” Neppel said.
That love and care began as a child growing up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, where her mother, Jeanette, and father, Dr. Donald Kohns, taught her the impact she can have on others through her work. “My dad was a professor in the College of Business and Public Administration at UND. He loved his students and is still very close to them. In fact, we ran into one of his former students at a hockey game and he said, “I just love your dad.” It shows you can make a bigger difference in the lives of others than you realize,” Neppel said. She also credits former UND Professor Dr. Mark Langemo for inspiring her personally as well as professionally. “He was always motivating us and one of the things he would always say is, “Yes, you are graduating from UND, but it’s that North Dakota work ethic that will set you apart,” and that has always stayed with me. If you work hard and are honest, that really helps you succeed,” Neppel remarked. While Neppel continues to credit that North Dakota work ethic for much of her success, it’s safe to say her intelligence, skills, determination, and philanthropic values are also strong factors. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Business & Public Administration with an emphasis in Information Management and Finance from UND in 1986, working in a bank was the next career step. After all, she had worked at First National Bank, now Alerus Financial, throughout her four years at UND. Neppel was offered her first job out of college at First Interstate Bank, now Wells Fargo, in Denver, married her husband, Jay, ’86, and moved to Colorado all within a month of graduation. “That was a crazy and exciting time of life,” Neppel recalled.
She is a Chartered Financial Analyst, which she acknowledges as her biggest professional achievement. She is also a Certified Cash Manager, and, most importantly, she says, a wife and mother to two wonderful children, Julia and Josh.
With many accolades and professional successes already in her lifetime, Neppel said her greatest accomplishments are her family and her ability to give back. “You think about the education that you have and then your work experience and how you can use that to give back to others. I think that is very rewarding,” Neppel said. When it comes to philanthropy, Neppel and her husband are very involved with several Catholic charities including founding board members of the Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museum and serving on the Investment Committee for the Catholic Foundation in Denver. Neppel also served on the UND Foundation & Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2008-17 and has many fond memories of the relationships formed during that time with other board members and UND Alumni Association & Foundation staff. With an undying passion for the University of North Dakota, Neppel is forever grateful for the friends she made through her sorority, Delta Gamma, and the faculty and professors whom significantly impacted her. Her message to current students is to work hard, but also enjoy your time at UND. “Make good friends and really reach out to your professors and then think about how you can give back and mentor others in the future,” Neppel concluded. ///
While working at First Interstate, Neppel chose to pursue a master’s degree in Finance from the University of Colorado Denver and soon after was offered a position with a mutual fund company, Oppenheimer Funds. She believes this career move opened doors to her next opportunity in the investment arena where she thrives today. “I’ve been at Catholic Health Initiatives (now CommonSpirit Health) for 22 years. It is amazing to work for a non-profit where we can make a difference in the lives of people every single day,” Neppel said. UNDalumni.org
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GOR DON
HENRY, ’66, ’70 First and foremost, Gordon Henry identifies himself as an educator. During his 33 years as an influential leader at the University of North Dakota, he held numerous roles including dormitory head resident, Assistant Dean of Men, Associate Dean for Student Development, Director of the Memorial Union, Associate Dean of Students, and, during his last 14 years at UND, Vice President of Student Affairs. “I always believed strongly that I wasn’t the Vice President for students. I was the student’s Vice President,” Henry stated. Anyone who knows Henry could testify how true those words are. Former students and co-workers describe him as a compassionate, giving man who is full of grace and truly cares about every person he meets. Henry believes to his core that building relationships and, in turn, building trust, is what his job was all about. “Students must trust you, and if they trust you, they will use the services you provide
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them; therefore, gaining the trust of students is a priority,” Henry explained. Born in Westhope, North Dakota, Henry began his education career as a Science teacher and coach in Tioga, North Dakota. He recalls the day in 1965 when he received a phone call that would change his life forever. “It was a UND administrator who had heard that I could relate with young people and he asked me to come and run a residence hall while doing graduate work. I asked him if he wanted me to come for an interview,” Henry recalls. “He said, ‘Nope, you have good references. You are hired if you want the job.’ And, that is how I got to UND.” Henry is quick to say he’s never been sorry that he said “yes” to that job offer.
Henry and his wife, Pat, quickly packed up and came to Grand Forks, where Squires, Walsh and Brannon Halls became their new homes over the next four years. “I said to Pat, ‘Well, let’s get started. We need to learn all their names.’” And that is exactly what they did; many of which they still remember to this day. In 1970, Henry finished his doctorate degree in counseling at UND and soon took on larger roles and responsibilities. Throughout it all, he never forgot why he was there. “Students have always been the essence of who I am. Every day I would wake up and think, ‘What can I accomplish today that might make a difference for the students I encounter?” In each of his roles, Henry made sure he was out and about with the students. He encouraged his employees to do the same and told them that relationships are not built sitting behind a desk. “I have eaten a formal meal many times at every fraternity and sorority on campus. I’ve been in every residence hall, and Pat and I have had numerous students over for meals at our home. I changed titles, but that never changed who I am,” he remarked. In addition to his various positions throughout the years, Henry supervised a variety of student programs on campus, held the rank of Assistant Professor of Counseling, consistently taught classes, and served on both masters and doctoral committees. He was also instrumental in helping to develop the UND Crisis Response Program to assist students, faculty and staff with emergencies. He recalls receiving phone calls at 2 a.m. to come to campus to respond. “Those were some of the most difficult times, but also some of the most rewarding because it was an opportunity to help people when they were hurting,” he said. Every crisis, group meeting, lecture or ceremony Henry attended he viewed as an opportunity to build relationships with students. In 1984, when Henry was named Vice President of Student Affairs, he oversaw many student service programs on campus including Multicultural Programs, Student Health, Dean of Students Office, the Memorial Union, Native American programs, Career Services, Counseling Center, TRIO program and Financial Aid. Though a prestigious title was attached to his name, he remained humble. “I never felt that staff worked for me. In my mind the goal was to work as a team. I never liked being called the boss,” he said. As Vice President, Henry continued to teach classes in leadership, educational philosophy and graduate courses. He explains that even though he was an administrator, he never felt like one. He was always a teacher and educator first; and purposefully taught a class every year he was Vice President. Throughout his days, Henry has stayed true to a strong set of values and philosophies that define him. He believes that if you want to motivate people, you need to show them you care for them. “If an employee knows you care, they will walk through walls for you,” he said. He also believes that you cannot be an educator unless you believe people can change and grow. Throughout most of his career, Henry was involved with discipline on campus. He believed in students and helped them develop parameters of what it would take to change their behavior. “You can’t give up on people,” he stated. He believes in teachable moments and explains that whenever he presents programs to others his goal is to share at least one idea participants can take with them to incorporate into their own work or personal life. And, most importantly, he believed that the decisions he or the University made must be right for students. “I would always ask myself, ‘But, is it right for students, or is it only right for me or the University?’ Sometimes, we do what is easiest to do for students, but not necessarily what is best for them;” he said. Henry left UND in 1998 to fulfill a goal to become a motivational speaker and seminar provider on life skills development; a career he continued until 2010, when he formally retired. /// UNDalumni.org
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Gary Hagen, ’74, ’77, ’86, wasn’t sure about taking a teaching job at the small college in Mayville, North Dakota, as he was finishing up his master’s degree at UND in Business and Vocational Education. Newly married, he and his wife, Deborah (Staveteig), ’78, went to the town forty miles south of Grand forks to check out the campus of Mayville State University. “The campus and community were nice, so I decided to stay for a year or two, at the very most,” said Hagen of the decision to take the job. Forty-two years later and Hagen just recently retired after spending a very successful career at Mayville State; the last twelve years as president. “I don’t know how one or two years became 42 years, but I discovered that small classrooms and the ability to really get to know my students appealed to me.” The ability to connect with students carried through Hagen’s entire career. He says his own time as a “inexperienced, somewhat shy” freshman at UND from the small town of Northwood, North Dakota, influenced him. He understood the anxieties students can experience and felt it important to help them get the best start possible to head off problems further into their college careers. In addition to the lessons he learned in the classroom, Hagen also got some valuable insight into leadership from legendary UND President Tom Clifford. As a sophomore, Hagen was president of his fraternity and got a chance to meet with Clifford. He says he was surprised that Clifford wasn’t brash and tough. Instead he found him to be a “normal guy” who wanted to put people at ease. “Here’s this man who just let his title speak for itself. He would never tell you he’s the president or he’s the boss. He just visited with you, helped you figure things out, and just put you at ease. I thought that if I ever had a chance to be in charge of anything, I would like to be that kind of guy.”
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Hagen would get his chance to put these thoughts into action at Mayville. He taught for 21 years before becoming involved in administration for an additional 21 years. Each time he moved into a new leadership position at the school, it seemed to be in reaction to a crisis. His first administration job was as Chief Information Officer in the mid-‘90s, where he was charged with getting the campus wired for computers in only eight weeks. He then became Vice President for Academic Affairs just in time to help the school retain its accreditation. But his biggest challenge came when he was named president of the university in 2006. The school was grappling with low enrollment, significant accumulated debt, and more deferred maintenance needs than any other campus in the North Dakota University System. “The campus was really struggling. There were some considerations being made at that time to close campuses and ours was certainly mentioned. Morale was very low and negative feelings seem to travel fast, so there was no choice but to establish an entirely new campus climate.” Hagen created a new climate through a collaborative management approach which involved all areas of campus in strategic planning and problem solving. “When people are appreciated and taken care of and they have a direct say in the major decisions that affect them, they’ll be happier. And if they are happier, they will be more productive.”
“My roots are in North Dakota and I am proud to be a UND graduate.” GARY HAGEN, ’74, ’77, ’86
It’s an approach he says he took from the Tom Clifford playbook. “He didn’t seem like the type who would strongarm anyone or force them, he’d set the environment and get you to buy in; and the next thing you knew you are part of a productive process.” So as a new president, Hagen put together a team of administrators who looked to the campus for collaboration. Transparency was one of the keys with budgets on the web for all to see. The goal was to break down traditional barriers between administration and the rest of the campus. “Everyone on the President’s Cabinet had to come to work each day and check their egos. Our job was to serve the faculty and the staff. If we could make their jobs better, then our students would get a better experience.” Hagen says it took time, but they went from having the lowest faculty and staff and student satisfaction survey results in the North Dakota University System to the top in all categories. Enrollment success followed with seven consecutive years of all-time record high enrollments. Fundraising flourished and the campus endowment increased from just under $2 million to over $9 million. The campus deferred maintenance fell by 75% resulting in a functional, beautiful campus.
While he is proud of all those accomplishments, Hagen says the thing that really stands out for him from his time at Mayville is his interactions with students. He appreciated the small classroom nature of Mayville State that allowed him to get to know his students well, and he loves the fact that he regularly runs into his former advisees all over the region. He loves to tell the story of his experience moving his father to the nursing home in Larimore, North Dakota. The nursing home administrator, the lawyer, and a high school teacher who happened to drop by were all his students or advisees from college. “It is so much fun to run into these students from a long time ago, and see how well they’ve done, see their families, and see they are still here in North Dakota. “My roots are in North Dakota and I am proud to be a UND graduate, which allowed me to stay here and enjoy a long, meaningful career.”///
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Y O U N G AL UMNI ACHIEV EMENT
A NDR E A
HANSON, ’02 capacity tests before flying to the ISS, are monitored while they exercise several hours a week on board, and then go through post-flight testing to see how their body reacted to being in orbit. “After 50 years of human space flight experience, we understand the physiological adaptations the body experiences after two weeks to six months in space. They will experience muscle and bone loss, which is okay up to a point,” said Hanson. “What we are doing is protecting them for their return home. We need them to be healthy and functional and be able to help themselves in case of an anomalous landing. When astronauts return to Earth, we have a welcome wagon waiting in the fields of Kazakhstan to help them out of the space capsule.” That need for healthy, strong astronauts is especially important for a future Mars mission, where there will be no one to assist the crew when they get to the surface. In her new position as Manager for the Central Nervous System/Behavioral Medicine/Sensory Motor Portfolio, Hanson is even more involved in planning for a manned Mars mission. “It’s incredibly rewarding to know that you are helping to advance the capabilities of human space flight. I feel very privileged to be here and to contribute in the manner that I have.” Hanson grew up in Lake Park, Minnesota, and studied chemical engineering at UND. “It was just a tremendous baseline to my professional career. I tell people all the time that rocket science is easy compared to the chemical engineering program. I am still very thankful for faculty members and classmates that were so incredibly supportive.”
Beyond the technological advancements necessary to support a human mission to Mars, considerations need to be given to the physical and mental well-being of the astronauts who will make the long trip to the red planet. That’s where Andrea Hanson comes in. Dr. Hanson works at NASA’s Johnson Space Center where her expertise is determining the best ways for astronauts to stay fit in space, to optimize performance of mission critical tasks. Up until a recent promotion, Hanson spent most of her time at NASA as part of the team implementing the exercise program for astronauts on the International Space Station. Astronauts go through a battery of strength and aerobic
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She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega, the Society of Women Engineers, and the Student Alumni Association which, she says, kept her from locking herself away in a lab. Instead she found friends in these student organizations as well as a social activities and community connections. Through a friend, Hanson also started working as a counselor at Space Camp® in Alabama during the summers, which influenced her decision to pursue a Master's degree and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering with an emphasis in Bioastronautics and Microgravity Sciences at the University of Colorado. After post-doc work at the University of Washington, Hanson landed her dream job with NASA. Hanson says she’s looking forward to accepting her Young Alumni Achievement Award at Homecoming 2019. “I’m really thrilled and so honored to be receiving this award. Thank you to the University of North Dakota for setting me up for success and bringing me back ‘home’ to celebrate!” ///
CHRI S T IN A
SAMBOR, ’05 with most people, there’s more than meets the eye. Many people are struggling with trauma, and that trauma brings about a lot of suffering for them,” she explained. Sambor first began advocating for human trafficking victims during her time at Pepperdine University School of Law in 2007. She recalls that her passion was ignited while assisting a professor with a Law Review article intended to put human trafficking on the radar, as well as hosting conversations and presentations to educate fellow students. Feeling inspired, Sambor traveled to Thailand to work as a legal intern at Garden of Hope, an organization aimed at creating opportunities for women. Upon returning to the U.S. and graduating from Pepperdine, Sambor worked for a Washington, D.C., organization fighting to eradicate modern day slavery. After moving back to North Dakota and working at a private law firm, she realized she did not feel the same passion she did when working in human rights and trafficking.
Christina Sambor firmly believes it’s up to each and every person to find a cause they care about and then become a part of a community that does something about it. Since 2015, Sambor, an attorney by trade, has been on the front lines of fighting human trafficking in North Dakota. She currently works for Youthworks, a nonprofit serving homeless, runaway, trafficked, and struggling youth across North Dakota, to develop and promote its human trafficking training and technical assistance program. She also works with Call to Freedom, a direct service agency in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and is assisting in the development and launch of the East River Human Trafficking Task Force in South Dakota. Her passion for human rights was sparked while growing up in Bismarck, North Dakota. From watching her mother in her career as Director of Women’s Services at the Department of Corrections, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the world. “I think through observing my mom’s experience I saw that there are social and structural inequalities in our world that put people in a position that really marginalizes their potential. From that time, I learned the perspective that,
She was awarded a prestigious Bush Fellowship in 2014, and she used the Fellowship to gain experience and training to become a more effective leader in the fight against human trafficking. “When we first started doing the work in North Dakota, there weren’t really any organizations that were tracking human trafficking data, so really the first thing to do was find out how much trafficking was happening." Sambor has worked with the Attorney General and U.S. senators on anti-trafficking policy. She also co-chaired the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Commission, successfully lobbied for “Safe Harbor” legislation, and was critical in securing more than $4 million in funding from private, state and federal funders for direct services, law enforcement operations and public outreach. She also co-founded a women’s leadership group in Bismarck to help guide young women to be their best self. “I tell young women that you need to be willing to take risks but to do so in a measured way. They need to have value in their identity beyond what they are going out on a limb for, but always being willing to put themselves out there.” Sambor credits UND for providing her with friendships that have stood the test of time, through her sorority Delta Gamma. She is thankful for the many opportunities she has received throughout her life and feels fortunate to be able to do work and have relationships and partnerships with amazing people to make a positive difference in the world. ///
UNDalumni.org
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C A MP US NEWS
NE W S F ROM A ROUND C A M P U S
WHAT’S NEW
UND hosted the 2019 Collegiate Drone Racing Championship at the High Performance Center in April. Forty-six pilots from 16 schools took part in the competition. The winning team was from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona. UND had two flyers qualify for the championship bracket.
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Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
UNDalumni.org
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and the $20 million DaCCoTA (Dakota Cancer Collaborative on Translational Activity) grant from the National Institutes of Health being coordinated by the SMHS. So far, there has been broad consensus with the phrase that I used recently in one newsletter column regarding UND: “Moving forward…striving for excellence.” I’m excited to be part of that forward movement, and I hope to help facilitate and expand the implementation of our OneUND Strategic Plan.
P R E S IDE N T ’ S L E T T E R
DEAR ALUMNI & FRIENDS,
I’m now in the process of talking with a wide spectrum of people— both from UND and throughout North Dakota and even the country!—regarding the direction ahead for the University. At the top of this list of people I’m in touch with are not only our generous donors and alumni, but members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, with whom I have a long and positive relationship. Like many other members of the higher education community, I spent a lot of time in Bismarck this past legislative session, and conversations I was involved in there paid off for the School and University.
You probably know by now that I’ve been selected by the State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) as UND’s Interim President following Mark Kennedy’s departure for the University of Colorado system. I wasn’t actively seeking this position, but felt compelled to accept the nomination after fielding dozens of encouraging and supportive calls from and conversations with people from UND and across North Dakota. My only non-negotiable request in accepting the role was that I retain the positions of vice president for Health Affairs and dean of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS).
And as far as finding time for the major responsibilities of the president, I’m very comfortable with the two senior management teams I’m honored to work with, one at the School and the other at the University. I’m going to ask the members of both teams to step up even further, because they, after all, really are the ones who run the School and UND. Finally, I plan to reduce some of my clinical practice time, which now amounts to about 25 percent of my time. With these adjustments, I can do both jobs well temporarily, although I hope that all of you will forgive me if I’m unable to be at all of the events that I’d otherwise like to attend.
And since becoming Interim President, I’ve been overwhelmed and humbled by the many congratulatory and supportive messages I’ve received from both within and outside of the UND community. To all who were in touch, I again extend my profound gratitude and thanks for your kind thoughts. My wife, Dr. Susan Farkas, and I are excited about the new position and look forward to the coming months with great enthusiasm. Susan and I had any number of discussions about the opportunity. In the end, we felt that the pluses of such a move— both for us personally and for the University—significantly exceeded the minuses, so we are enthusiastic about being part of moving UND forward.
I’m excited to take on this new responsibility, and feel confident of the positive trajectory that I see for UND. I hope to see each of you at the many Homecoming 2019 events we have scheduled for the University and the SMHS in October!
The biggest plus we foresaw was to continue (and even accelerate) the positive momentum within the University that exists now, thanks in no small measure to the contributions of former President Kennedy and his senior leadership team, the UND faculty and staff, the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, the North Dakota Legislature, and others. The OneUND Strategic Plan has broad support and is moving forward. The undergraduate retention rate is improving, as is our undergraduate graduation rate, which is up by 10 percentage points. The campus is becoming even more beautiful and we finally are addressing the backlog of deferred maintenance issues. Furthermore, there are exciting goings-on in research campus-wide through the Grand Challenges initiative such as the Big Data project, the rural health campaign into opioid and substance use disorder,
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Until then, thanks for all you do for UND in North Dakota and around the country.
Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH Interim UND President Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean, UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
C AT CHING UP W I T H
JOSH DUHAMEL
UND honorary degree recipient
First of all, I love the state of North Dakota. I like to support it in any way I can. It was also the fact that most of my friends came to school [at UND]. It was just a way for me to sort of wink [at] my state. People might have not known what I was wearing but I knew and everybody where I am from knew. So, for me that was fun to be able to support UND that way. For several years now, you have been the voice and face of North Dakota Tourism campaigns. Do you learn any new things about your home state doing these campaigns?
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
We sat down for a Q & A with Hollywood actor and Minot, North Dakota, native Josh Duhamel, who joined the graduating class at Spring Commencement to receive an honorary degree. You received an honorary degree from UND. How does this make you feel? Honestly, when I first heard [about it], I said, ‘No, I cannot do that. I didn’t even go to school there.’ Honestly, I felt a little bit embarrassed by the whole thing. It is so flattering that they want to do that. Then, they called again and I was like, ‘Ok, you know what, I cannot possibly… this is such an honor to be even considered for it.’ I am very humbled by it. I am very excited and honored by it. I am just trying to take it all in. In "Life as We Know It," which is only one example, you wore a t-shirt with UND’s athletics logo at the time. Where does this desire to represent the University in that fashion come from?
I learn a lot every time I come back and do the North Dakota campaigns, I really do. I mean, I have been to the UND campus, I have been to Medora and some of the other places that we all know about. But last year, for example, I went to the earth lodges outside of Mandan. I learned so much about the Native Americans and how they were able to survive through the winters in those earth lodges and how they kept things cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It was pretty innovative what they were able to do with that thing. They really were resourceful. Obviously I knew, but until you get in there and learn more about it – it is pretty impressive to see. That is just one example.
“Behind failed products, broken processes and mistaken decisions are people who chose to hold their tongues rather than to speak up. Develop the judgment to be able to say, “That’s not good enough.”” HEATHER WILSON U.S. SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE, SPEAKING AT SPRING COMMENCEMENT
Any parting advice for UND students? If I was to give advice to anybody, especially UND students at this time, I would say, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You are going to fall down flat on your face several times, get back up, keep going. If I only knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have worried so much about stuff that didn’t really matter. [You] got the degree, [you] are moving in the right direction. Go easy on yourself, work hard and don’t be afraid to make mistakes and go after what you believe you can do. Go after your dreams because, believe me, you can do it.
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
Web Extra To read the entire Q & A with Josh Duhamel, visit undalumni.org/alumnireview. UNDalumni.org
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C A MP US NEWS SCHOLARSHIP DELIVERY It was a day dedicated to FedEx, as the worldwide leader in package delivery was the guest of honor at UND Aerospace in March. For its part, however, FedEx was on a mission to honor UND aviation students who have committed to completing their training as certified flight instructors at the school. Nine representatives of the Memphis, Tenn.based, packagedelivery giant, were present to hand deliver scholarships, totaling $100,000 to 20 aspiring flight instructors. “This is a great day when we can give away $100,000 to 20 very deserving students,” said Paul Lindseth, UND Aerospace dean, while addressing a special gathering for “FedEx Takeover Day” at the school. “Thanks to FedEx for this huge opportunity you’ve created for us.” In fact, FedEx, which operates a fleet of 650 aircraft flying in and out of 350 airports around the world, has committed to delivering $500,000 in scholarships to UND aviation students over five years. 2019 marked the first installment in that effort. The company is participating in similar initiatives with four other major aviation training schools around the country as part of its Purple Runway Aviation Scholarship Program. “What they’ve done here is a game changer,” said Jim Higgins, UND Aviation chair. “There are a lot of people in the industry that try to come up with solutions to perplexing problems that we have, such as pilot shortages and some of the other resourcing issues, but FedEx was the first to come forward with money.” Janna Hughes, part of the FedEx Express communications team, said the Purple Runway program is part of the company’s broader “FedEx Cares 2020” effort to commit $200 million to 200 communities. “We are really focused on providing pathways for youth and young adults so that they can get scholarships in that education category, and so that we can offer credentialing and training programs and then ultimately get individuals to the jobs of the future,” Hughes added.
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NEW HEAD COACHES Jeremiah Tiffin (right) has taken over the UND volleyball program, Paul Sather (bottom) will lead the men’s basketball team, and Christine Engel is the new head coach of Men’s and Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country.
Sather comes to UND from Northern State (Aberdeen, S.D.) where he was back-to-back conference coach of the year and led the Wolves to the NCAA Division II championship game two seasons ago. He replaces Brian Jones, who accepted the associate head coach position at Illinois State. Tiffin came to UND in December as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. He’d previously spent four years at Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio, Texas) where the Saints won conference titles every season under Tiffin. He was named head coach when Mark Pryor stepped down to pursue an opportunity in his home state of Texas. Engel brings 15 years of Division I coaching experience to UND. She most recently coached at Fresno State. Engel is taking over for longtime coaches Kevin Galbraith and Dick Clay. Both men retired at the end of the season.
#UNDproud R E A S ON S T O BE
O BE
8)
nities
9)
DE A N ’ S COR NE R
TOP 25
John D. Odegard School Aerospace Sciences Greetings from the “Best Aerospace College on the Planet”—the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences!
#UNDproud
(U.S. News & World Report, 2018)
10 PERCENTAGE POINT + $100M INCREASE IN FOUR-YEAR
increase in research expenditures drives opportunities GRADUATION RATE for students and state
OVER PAST THREE YEARS
TOP 12 $1.5B #151 ECONOMIC IMPACT TO
online undergraduate options for veterans National Foundation (U.S. NewsScience & World Report, 2019) STATE AND REGION ranking for UND research (up from 170 in 2 years)
?
9 3,000
Do you know# someone who should check out UND? Most Military-Friendly School Share their information at (MilitaryFriendlySchools.com, 2019) UND.edu/admissions/refer-student.
students enrolled in combo online/on-campus courses elevates graduation rates
1
ST
10
$400M
+ PERCENTAGE POINT In March, U.S. Senator John Hoeven (ND) visited UND Flight Operations the reestablishment of UND’s Army ROTC Flight Training INVESTMENT IN INCREASEand INannounced FOUR-YEAR Program. This program will not only offer helicopter flight training to UND’s CAMPUS RENEWAL WITH Army ROTC cadets but fixed wing and unmanned aircraft systems training GRADUATION RATE as well. We are truly grateful for the Senator’s unwavering support to FEW STATE FUNDS reestablish this program. OVER PAST THREE YEARS
#UNDproud MOST INNOVATIVE COLLEGES
This year kicked off with another special Odegard School Community Open House. The early February event was a huge success with approximately 3,000 people attending — mainly lots of children and parents! I want to personally thank the 160 UND Aerospace employees and students that volunteered to give up their Saturday to make the event —as one 7-year-old wrote in his feedback form —“the best day of my life."
Spring Commencement was a very special event this year for our 100 plus Odegard School graduates! We bestowed UND’s Honorary Doctorate of Letters degree on one of this country’s Aviation Legends, Mr. Clay Lacy, and honored Kent Lovelace as a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor.
+ $400M #151 IN INVESTMENT
$300M
National Science Foundation The UND Flying Team won its 17th National statewide Intercollegiateeconomic Flying CAMPUS RENEWAL WITH Association Competition Championship and it first Championship since impact from UND research ranking for UND research 2010. It was very impressive to be present at the Awards banquet held FEW STATE (up from 170 inFUNDS 2 years) at the University of Wisconsin in Madison on May 18th! The performance of our Flying Team was a true team effort with all team members scoring points and six team members capturing first place in individual flying and ground events! I am very proud of our entire organization for capturing the National Flying Team Championship Trophy!
3,000 $300M
3,500
TOP 20% 3,500
$70M
online-only students students enrolled in combo Finally, a special thank you to each of you for your dedicated support of in more than 80 fields online/on-campus courses UND Aerospace and the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences! statewide economic elevates graduation rates It is very much appreciated by our entire organization! impact from UND research
ranking among institutions deferred maintenance savings Dr. Paul Lindseth offering online bachelor’s degrees removing 52 underused/ Dean, UND John D. Odegard School ofby Aerospace Sciences online-only students deteriorated buildings (U.S. News & World Report, 2019) in more than 80 fields
$10M
UNDalumni.org
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@UNDalumni
UND Alumni Association & Foundation
AS SEEN ON SOCIAL
In case you haven’t checked it out yet, we recently launched a new series of feature stories entitled “UND Inspires, Leaders Who Do and Doers Who Lead.” The feedback has been great, and we are excited to continue sharing more UND Inspires stories about our amazing alumni! If you have an idea for a future UND Inspires feature, email alumnireview@undalumni.net. Comments from Facebook readers Posts
The Sweetest Smell
Patrick S Danda Shoot for the stars Jacob and Aubrey. And enjoy every moment!
Y
Live Like Rach Jae Dewald Thank you UND Alumni for showcasing stories like Rachel's.
For You on Mother's Day
Beautiful Inside and Out
A Call to Action
Nicole Polejewski What a touching tribute.
Katie Berndt Boom! Way to go, Missy!
Christy Bushy Awesome article! Congrats on your amazing, fruitful work!
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Aloha, North Dakota
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
Future Mars and moon colonists probably won’t miss having fresh leafy green salads with their meals, thanks to a novel collaboration between the University of North Dakota and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Four senior mechanical engineering students from UH spent a week in Grand Forks in May testing their automated Box Farm in the NASA-funded Inflatable Lunar/Mars Habitat (ILMH). The UH team’s objective is to automate the process of growing and harvesting crops to supplement the diets of crews on missions to Mars and the moon.
The 7x15 foot mural “Intersections” was dedicated this spring on the ground floor of Wilkerson Commons. The artwork was created by Michigan-based artist Daniel Roache. His work was selected by a committee composed of students, staff and faculty that considered submissions from a dozen Midwest artists.
“Because this system is a proof-of-concept prototype, we want to prove the individual tasks it can do,” said Preston Tran, the project’s team leader who graduated from UH in May. “Once it’s been proven, the system can be expanded to take care of hundreds or thousands of plants. When we can verify that it works in this habitat, then we’ll know for sure it’s possible.” Over the past six years, Space Studies students at UND have conducted seven missions in the IMLH to assist NASA in simulating the conditions Mars and lunar colonists will face. One of the five modules in the habitat contains a lab for conducting experiments on growing plants to supplement the diet of space explorers. What’s been learned is that raising and tending to plants is expensive and can occupy up to 60 percent of a crew’s time. “The use of automated systems can reduce the time needed and let the crew do research and scientific work instead of food production,” said Pablo de León, director of UND’s Human Spaceflight Laboratory. “If we find that this is the way to go, then we’ll certainly incorporate it into future ILMH missions.” “The way our system differs is that we have cameras located on the robot arm,” Tran explained. “They take a picture of every plant and do a color analysis. We use an algorithm to determine the health of the plant based on the ratios of green and red.” Any plant showing signs of disease can quickly be removed by the robotic arm. “Because we’re using a closed-loop hydroponic system to save water, we don’t want to enable any bacteria infestations to rapidly spread,” Tran said. Tran noted that transporting the Box Farm from Hawaii to North Dakota served as a demonstration of its portability – an important consideration in space travel where volume and weight are at a premium. In addition, he noted that UH students served as the project’s mission control center by monitoring plant health from 4,000 miles away. /// — Patrick C. Miller UNDalumni.org
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Join us at the Gorecki Alumni Center on Tuesday, August 27 at 4:30 p.m., for the State of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation Address. Hear more about our record year and our vision for the future. RSVP at UNDalumni.org/address.
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA!
RECORD BREAKING YEAR
$67.7
MILLION committed to support the University of North Dakota 95% increase from last year
$12.2
MILLION committed for scholarships
$34.2
MILLION
committed for programs, faculty and priority needs
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Alumni & Friends,
It’s safe to say, it’s been a monumental year for fundraising at the University of North Dakota. In fiscal year 2019 (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019) more than $67.7 million was committed to support UND – the highest amount in the University’s history. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your contributions surpassed our previous record year in 2011 by $17.8 million, which is an impressive 35.7 percent increase! In addition, we had more first-time donors than ever before with 9,016 alumni and friends generously giving or making commitments to the University. Your loyalty to UND supports student scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, new programs and facilities to help us attract the best and brightest students, faculty and staff and to conduct innovative research. Every gift makes a difference in transforming lives and providing opportunities. Each one makes a difference in the lives of UND students. /// Sincerely, DeAnna Carlson Zink
CEO UND Alumni Association & Foundation
3
BY THE NUMBERS 9,016
846
TOTAL DONORS
FIRST-TIME DONORS
6,085
$8 MILLION
ALUMNI DONORS
SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS AWARDED TO STUDENTS FOR FY19
$284.8 MILLION
$8.7 MILLION
ENDOWMENT TOTAL
ANNUAL ENDOWMENT IMPACT TO UND FOR FY20
DONORS FROM ALL
50 STATES 1
4 5
2
TOP 5 STATES 1) NORTH DAKOTA 2) MINNESOTA 3) CALIFORNIA 4) COLORADO 5) ARIZONA
UNDalumni.org
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ROL L OV ER!
GOOD IRA. Looking for an easy way to benefit the University of North Dakota and save on your taxes? If you're 701/2 or older, you can make a gift directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to support UND. Gifts made from your IRA (up to $100,000 per year) are not reportable as taxable income. IRA charitable rollover gifts also qualify for your required minimum distribution (RMD), which can lower your income and taxes. To learn more, call us at 701.777.2611 or email giftplanning@UNDfoundation.org. Read about Pete, ’65, and Eunice Kuhn, ’65, who support UND by giving through their IRA at UNDalumni.org/kuhn.
T H A N K Y OU
DONORS
P R E S IDE N T ’ S
L E G A CY
$10,000 - $99,999
The Legacy Circle includes donors who have indicated they plan to give to the UND Foundation through their wills.
CIRCL E
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. Thank you for all that you do!
Ryan & Dr Stephanie Barstad
The following donors reached a new giving circle in the Eternal Flame Society between Feb. 1 – May 31, 2019.
Betty J. Dahlberg
* indicates deceased
EGLJ LLC
For more information about the Eternal Flame Society, visit UNDalumni.org/EternalFlame
Julia L. Ernst
W IL L I A M B UDGE
Grand Forks Subaru KIA
CIRCL E
$1,000,000 - $4,999,999 Doug & Katie Mark Scheels All Sports
T HO M A S CL IF F OR D
CIRCL E
$100,000 - $999,999 Audrey & Russ* Burfening John R. Solberg
Bell State Bank & Trust John B. Buchwitz Steven P. Butzon, O.D. Jon C. & Yolande Dahl
DayDreams Specialties Paul & Virginia DuBowy
CIRCL E
Hal and Cathy Adams Dr. Dale & Penny Cody Mary J. Groebner Glen & Marilyn* Gustafson Loretta M. Johnson
Christopher B. Ford Brent & Devin Goska
Clifford C. Grosz* Steve J. Hanson Kelby J. Klosterman Deborah L. Kukowski Randall L. Larson Harold & Susy Lemar Robert McLennan Hope & Dr. Jeffrey Ottmar Park River Implement LLC Dr. Brian Selland & Rev. Sharon Baker Dr. Thomas B. Steen and Dr. Carol E. Cook Nicole & Jefferson Tellmann Cherie Templeton* XTO Energy Inc.
Warren R. Stanchfield, Jr., M.D.
UNDalumni.org
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A LU M N I NEWS
Do you remember… Dr. Arthur Jacoby, Professor of Sociology, seen here giving a recorded lecture in 1967? Dr. Jacoby taught at UND for 23 years before retiring in 1988. He died in 2002 at the age of 71.
Photo courtesy of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
UNI V E R SI T Y OF NOR T H D A K O TA
ALUMNI NEWS
Updates from around the world. 1960s Remember when, in 1968, the North Dakota Student Association was formed by representatives from eight state colleges? 1966 Hal Gershman, ’66, has been named a winner of Prairie Business magazine’s Leaders & Legacies award. The recognition honors the region’s most influential and successful corporate executives. Gershman is president of Happy Harry’s Bottle Shops.
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1970s Remember when, in 1978, the Old Winter Sports Building was torn down to make room for a new parking lot? The UND hockey team played 394 games in the building over its 36 year history. 1977 Stephen Stenehjem, ’77, has been named a winner of Prairie Business magazine’s Leaders & Legacies award. The recognition honors the region’s most influential and successful corporate executives. Stenehjem
is chairman of Watford City Bancshares, Inc., and CEO of First International Bank & Trust in Watford City, N.D. Melanie (Ryan) Jensen, ’78, ’83, is one of Prairie Business’ 2019 Top 25 Women in Business for her work as the senior chemical engineer and CO2 Capture and Infrastructure Engineering team lead for the UND Energy & Environmental Research Center.
1979 Bruce Vaaler, ..’79, president & CEO of Vaaler Insurance in Grand Forks, has been named a winner
of Prairie Business magazine’s Leaders & Legacies award. The recognition honors the region’s most influential and successful corporate executives.
1980s Remember when, in 1984, the grass at Memorial Stadium was replaced with artificial turf? 1981 Carol (Unkenholz) Morgan, ’81, is an employment support specialist for the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arizona.
Vonette (Gappert) Richter, ’81, ’82, ’93, is the Legal Division director for the North Dakota Legislative Council in Bismarck, N.D.
1983 Clare Holchalter, ’83, is a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Bismarck, N.D. Denise Kramer, ’83, ’03, is the volunteer coordinator for Hospice of the Red River Valley in Grand Forks. Ned Wharton, ..’83, is a senior producer for NPR’s Weekend Edition in Washington, D.C.
1984 Douglas Coleman, ’84, is the general counsel and executive vice president, governance and compliance with Aerion in Reno, Nev. Carl Ness, ’84, is a senior environmental engineer with Western Plains Consulting in Bismarck, N.D. Ness spent 30 years with the North Dakota Department of Health where he was the program manager for the Underground Storage Tank Program.
1986 Brent Mattson, ’86, is senior vice president at First Western Bank & Trust in Minot, N.D.
1987 Annett (Dufault) Hovey, ’87, received the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts for Education and was a finalist for North Dakota Teacher of the Year. She is a music instructor at New Rockford-Sheyenne High School.
BE A U T IF UL
INSIDE AND OUT
As the mother of young daughters, Missy (Berg) Heilman, ’01, began to notice the social pressures put on her girls. The year was 2013 and it was the dawn of social media. Her girls, only in early elementary school at the time, were already beginning to experience the influences of society — the pressure to be beautiful based on the standards of what they see in the media rather than their own values, talents and philanthropy. She started dreaming about a group where self-acceptance empowers girls to be their best, beautiful self – inside and out. “Girls have the highest self-esteem at age nine and by the time they are 12 their self-esteem is at its lowest,” Heilman said. This statistic was one that kept her awake at night and motivated Heilman to create BIO Girls, which stands for Beautiful Inside and Out. A former UND track and field student-athlete, Heilman knew firsthand that physical activity is proven to increase confidence. She also recognized the important role her faith played in her life —both components she believed to be, and still are, at the foundation of BIO Girls. “We use physical activity and faith to reinforce the skills we are teaching,” explained Heilman. During a BIO Girls meeting, about 35 second through sixth grade girls and a dozen mentors and site directors come together for one evening a week over a 12-week span. Each meeting consists of a devotion, a life-skills lesson, small group mentoring, and ends with a physical activity — usually running. Throughout the course of the session, the distance the girls run increases, leading up to a 5k run on the last day. When BIO Girls was born six years ago, it consisted of one site in Fargo, 35 participants, 10 mentors, one sponsor, and a leader with a huge, passionate heart. Today, it has grown to 31 sites in four states, more than 1,200 participants, and nearly 400 volunteers serving as site directors and mentors. “I get a lot of kudos for starting it, but it wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers. We are amazed day in and day out about the passion for the mission they bring to the program,” Heilman said. To find out more about BIO Girls or to get involved, visit www.biogirls.org.
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Andrew Marsh, '18, (left) with St. Louis Blues forward Ryan O'Reilly, who received the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Photo courtesy: Andrew Marsh
AL U M N I N EW S
1988 Bill Gross, ’88, ’15, was the Grand Marshall for the North Dakota State Fair parade for his work with his nonprofit, Farm Rescue.
S E A S ON OF
WINNING
On May 21 in Enterprise Center, the home ice of the St. Louis Blues, Andrew Marsh, ’18, shadowed the in-game entertainment director of the National Hockey League as his hometown team faced off against the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference finals. From the locker rooms, Marsh watched the Clarence Campbell Bowl, awarded to the conference champions, roll out on the rink to the Blues, the team he has cheered for since childhood. He struggled to contain his elation. “I [was] watching my favorite team go to the Stanley Cup [playoffs] for the first time in my lifetime and I [was] out there watching them celebrate on the ice,” Marsh recalled. “It was so surreal because I wanted to yell and scream but I had to be professional at the same time and walk around and help this guy out. It was crazy.” The Blues would go on to win the Stanley Cup; defeating the Washington Capitals in a memorable seven-game series. Marsh, a University of North Dakota communications alum and current graduate student at Lindenwood University, served as stage manager for the Blues – a job he assumed after a semester of producing videos for the team as an intern. While Marsh’s vim for sports began to bud in his early years and now defines his career goals, it was at UND where he first seized it professionally. Pursuing a major in communications and a minor in graphic design, he shot videos for UND Athletics’ streaming service, UND Insider, and assisted with audio management at Ralph Engelstad Arena. “Working around the hockey team at UND taught me so much professionalism,” he said. “Everything around the hockey program at UND is like a professional hockey team. Being in that environment for two years really helped me with the environment at the Blues. It was such an easy transition.”
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Margie (Stoebner) Neugebauer, ’88, has been recognized with the Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for Humanitarian and Caring Person by the American Counseling Association and its foundation. Neugebauer lives in Hermosa, S.D., and her career has included being a counselor, community organizer, and church volunteer. Erin O’Leary, ’88, is one of Prairie Business’ 2019 Top 25 Women in Business for her work as the chief financial officer and chief operating officer of the UND Energy & Environmental Research Center. Drew Wrigley, ’88, ’91, is the U.S. attorney for North Dakota, a position he previously held for nine years before serving as North Dakota’s lieutenant governor.
1989 Jaeden Pederson, ’89, is the president & CEO of Mid America Steel in Fargo.
1990s Remember when, in 1991, actress and North Dakota native Angie Dickinson appeared at the Fritz Benefit Extravaganza fundraiser? 1991 Audrey Jaeger, ’91, received a $10.8 million grant as faculty at North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C. The grant is intended to significantly enhance the support the college provides to community colleges in North Carolina.
1992 JoAnn Toth, ’92, is the general counsel for MG McGrath in Maplewood, Minn., and received the 2019 Minnesota Lawyer InHouse Counsel Award.
1993 Jackie (Hoge) Huber, ’93, has risen to the rank of Brigadier General with the North Dakota National Guard. She has most recently served as operations officer for the Joint Force Headquarters’ domestic operations section and has been the Guard’s director of Human Resources for the past 10 years.
1995 Ryan Brooks, ’95, ’04, ’11, has been selected as the 2019 UND Geography & GISc Department Distinguished Alumni. Brooks is deputy city planner for the City of Grand Forks. Michael Gibbs, ’95, is the CEO of the Avera Heart Hospital, and he is an adjunct faculty of Medical Ethics in the Neurosciences Department of the University of South Dakota School of Medicine in Sioux Falls.
1997 Amy Baldwin, ’97, is director for the Otter Tail County Community Development Agency, Fergus Falls, Minn. Jeremy Elbert, ’97, is the senior vice president, financial advisor, and branch manager of Elbert Holstad Group, West Fargo, N.D.
1998 Emily (Hafner) Holth, ’98, is one of Prairie Business’ 2019 Top 25 Women in Business for her business Sustainable Solution Services in Grand Forks.
Todd Olson, ’98, is senior vice president of Financial Services for Gate City Bank in Fargo.
Jason Haugen, ’00, is director of development for Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.
1999
Dave Schlafman, ’00, is a private wealth advisor with Legacy Financial Partners in Bismarck, N.D., and received the company’s Circle of Success recognition.
Joel Bird, ’99, is a private wealth advisor with Legacy Financial Partners in Bismarck, N.D., and received the company’s Circle of Success recognition. Elizabeth (Martin) Bjerke, ’99, ’01, ’09, is one of Prairie Business’ 2019 Top 25 Women in Business for her work as the associate dean of the UND John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. Jeff Hruby, ’99, is the business development director of Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc. in Grand Forks. Jason Kirchmeier, ’99, is a private wealth advisor with Legacy Financial Partners in Bismarck, N.D., and received the company’s Circle of Success recognition. Nancy Yon, ’99, is an assistant Attorney General with the state of North Dakota and serves in the Office of General Counsel at the University of North Dakota.
2000s Remember when, in 2000, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity held an open house during Homecoming to celebrate their new chapter house? The previous home had been damaged beyond repair by the Flood of ’97. 2000 Denise (Aberle) Cannata, ’00, is provost of the College of Western Idaho in Nampa.
2001 Karl Goehring, ’01, has been named assistant coach with the University of North Dakota men’s hockey team. Goehring was a two-time All-American at UND, leading the team to backto-back national title games in 2000 and 2001. He had been goaltenders and video coach with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL for the past two years.
Paul Johnson, ’04, was named the Emergency Management Professional of the Year by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Johnson has worked as the Emergency Management director for Cottonwood County in Minnesota since 2015.
2005 Greta (Lee) Gerloff, ’05, is one of Prairie Business’ 2019 Top 25 Women in Business for her work as a business planning specialist for Altru Health System in Grand Forks. Keleigh Pearson, ’05, is a corporate attorney for Aldevron in Fargo.
2002
2006
Stephanie (Brandt) Magenau, ’02, was recognized as one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 for her work overseeing all aspects of finance with Construction Engineers in Grand Forks and her various volunteer roles.
Amy Ross, ’06, is head of Advanced Spacesuit Pressure Garment Development at NASA.
Heather (Ness) Rye, ’02, is senior vice president of Human Resources & Development at Gate City Bank in Fargo.
2003 Liza Kudelka, ’03, is the chief people officer for the State of North Dakota. Trisha (Orth) Pearson, ’03, is the chief of staff at Forum Communications Company in Fargo.
2004
Miriam Troitte, ’06, ’09, is the vice president/operations manager for Western State Bank in Fargo.
2007 Brock Norrie, ’07, ’11, is an Orthopaedic surgeon for Medallus Medical in Jamestown, N.D.
2008 Christopher Bancroft, ’08, received the Annual Archie League Medal of Safety Award for his air traffic controller work during an emergency. Bancroft works at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colo.
Stacey (Horter) Dahl, ’04, ’08, was honored as one of Prairie Business Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 for her work in the field of law, energy, and policy.
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Aubrey Fiebelkorn-Zuger, ’08, was recognized as one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 for her work as an attorney at Fredrikson & Bryon in Fargo, pro bono services to those in need, and various volunteer roles.
2009
Dr. Jennifer (Sliper) Gowan, ’08, is an audiologist at Altru Health System in Grand Forks and an outreach provider at First Care Health Center in Park River, N.D.
David Piper, ’09, was recognized as one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 for his role as president of the Mackoff Kellogg Law Firm in Dickinson, N.D.
Kaleen (Skramstad) Peterson, ’08, ’11, is director for Student Academic Services at Valley City (N.D.) State University.
Ryan McCamy, ’09, is an attorney and shareholder at Conmy Feste Ltd Law Firm in Fargo.
Mitchell Thompson, ’08, is resource forester for the North Dakota Forest Service in Bottineau, N.D.
Dr. Mark Strand, ’09, is a provider at Altru Health System in Grand Forks and an outreach provider at First Care Health Center in Park River, N.D.
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Becca Bahnmiller, ’09, ’11, was recognized as one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 for her passion in the nonprofit sector in Grand Forks.
2010s Remember when, during the 2016-17 school year, four UND teams won Big Sky Conference championships (football, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball)? 2010 Patrick Johnson, ’10, received the Archie League Medal of Safety for his work as an air traffic controller. Johnson works at Memphis Center in Tennessee.
Brandon Heider, ’11, is senior vice president ag banking officer at Frandsen Bank & Trust in East Grand Forks. Griffin Leitch, ’11, is a partner attorney for Anderson Larson Saunders Klaassen & Dahlager in Wilmar, Minn. Nan (Pietruszewski) Nelson, ’11, is the assistant vice president at United Valley Bank in Grand Forks.
2011
Coutney (Feil) Short, ’11, ’16, is a family nurse practitioner at Cavalier County Memorial Hospital in Langdon, N.D.
Mike Demuth, ’11, ’13, is the assistant vice president Business Banking Officer for Deerwood Bank in Baxter, Minn.
Amber (Papenfuss) Stromme, ’11, is the assistant director of Nursing at Essentia Health-Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Erica (Wondrasek) Thunder, ’11, ’14, has been appointed by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Department of Labor and Human Rights as the state’s Labor Commissioner.
2012 Aaron Motacek, ’12, was one of two students from the Illinois College of Optometry to be selected to attend the Student Optometric Leadership Network conference.
2013 André Thom, ’13, ’15, is a compliance auditor for MedMen Enterprises Inc. in Manhattan.
2015
Rachel Richter Lordemann, ’16, is president of the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce. Richter Lordemann has served as the member relations & communication manager for the Chamber since May 2017.
Swapnil Fergade, ’15, was recognized as one of Prairie Business Magazine’s 40 under 40 for his work in the Chemical Engineering field and his charitable contributions. Fergade works at Fusion Automation in Grand Forks.
2017 Landon Kudrna, ’17, was one of two students from Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Ore., to be selected to attend the Student Optometric Leadership Network conference.
Brayden Harwood, ’15, is an attorney for Kennelly Business Law in Fargo. William Hoffman, ’15, published a historical fiction novel titled "Wings of Deceit" about a UND Aviation student and eventual airline pilot who endures the challenges of a career in the air.
2018
2016 Shawn Larson, ’16, is the project coordinator for the Center for Rural Health in Grand Forks.
Dr. Erin (Boike) Spies, ’18, will be the principal of the West Fargo (N.D.) School District’s third middle school, which will open in the fall of 2020. Spies is currently the assistant principal at West Fargo’s Liberty Middle School.
Lauren Vetter, ’18, is a general marketing specialist with the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.
2019 Lexi Klabo, ’19, has signed a contract to play professional basketball for Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen in Mechelen, Belgium. She finished second in The Summit League in scoring (18.1) and rebounding (8.3) in 2018-19. /// If you would like to submit a career update to be featured in a future issue of the Alumni Review, email your information to alumnireview@UNDalumni.net.
NO V. 3 – 11, 2 0 2 0
COSMOPOLITAN HAVENS Rome to Monte Carlo
Take in the masterpieces of the Renaissance in Florence and visit the childhood home of Napoleon Bonaparte in Ajaccio. Discover the Arab Baths in Palma and experience the baroque cathedrals and sprawling beaches of Valencia. Soak up the sun in Barcelona and wander the ancient La Panier neighborhood in Marseille.
TO BOOK YOUR TRIP
Call 800.842.9023 or to view all UND alumni travel opportunities, visit UNDalumni.org/Travel
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ADDITIONS & CELEBRATIONS If you would like your addition or celebration to be included in the next Alumni Review, send a high resolution photo to alumnireview@UNDalumni.net. We look forward to helping you celebrate!
Additions 1. Dan Hendrickson, ’12, and Savanna (Wissbrod) Hendrickson, ’11, welcomed Marleigh Taya Hendrickson on March 8, 2019. She joins proud big brothers, Jaxon and Davis. The family lives in Crosby, N.D. 2. Martin William Baker was born March 1, 2018, to proud parents Chloe (Opp) Baker, ’15, and Michael Baker. The family lives in Fargo. 3. Avery Mae Konrath was born on Thanksgiving 2018 to Ryan Konrath, ’10, and his wife, Cynthia. The Konraths live in Corcoran, Minn. 4. Angela Dows, ’02, and her husband, Nicholas Jess, are the proud parents of Josette Lee Jess, born in May of 2018. The family, including big sister Evette, resides in Las Vegas. 5. Charlotte Barrett was born on March 6, 2019, to proud parents, Tom, ’07, and Kacee (Jacobson) Barrett, ’06, ’07. The Barrett family lives in Brainerd, Minn. 6. Solveig Elizabeth Entzel was born April 25, 2019, to Kelly (Munter), ’12, and Kyle Entzel, ’11. She is adored by her big brother, Lewis. The Entzels live in Grand Forks.
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7. Anna Victoria Becker was born Sept. 4, 2018, to Kim (Hanson), ’03, ’04, ’15, and Keith Becker, ’92, ’94. The family lives in Grand Forks. 8. Autumn (Georgeson), ’10, ’16, and Matthew Nelson, ’10, welcomed a daughter, Madilyn, to their family Feb. 17, 2019. The Nelsons live in West Fargo.
4 5
Celebrations 9. Katie Grabowski, ’15, and Alex Mathern, ’16, were married on Dec. 8, 2018, in Minneapolis, where they live. 10. Holly Essler, ’12, ’15, married Brice Boos on March 15, 2019, on a beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The couple lives in Phoenix. 11. Michael Morgen, ’10, and Leah Howatt, ’12, were married on October 29, 2018, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. There were nine UND alumni in their wedding party. 12. Klaudia Price, ’18, and Nicholas Holkup, ’16, ’18, were married Aug. 18, 2018, in Grand Forks, where they reside. ///
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IN MEMORIAM 1930s
Verneil (Axtell) Aitken, ’36, Seattle
1940s
Dorothy (Watkins) Schroeder, ..’40, Langdon, N.D.
Robert Lind, ’50, Riverside, Calif. Edward Skinner, ’50, McKinney, Texas Vivian (McCabe) Drake, ’51, Great Falls, Mont.
Thomas Setter, MD, ..’56, Salt Lake City
Wilfred Willert, ’60, Minot, N.D.
Richard Neff, ..’63, Bismarck, N.D.
Rev. Charles Henley, ’57, Valley City, N.D.
C. Jeff Bangert, ’61, Lawrence, Kan.
Dr. Perry Orwick, ’63, ’64, ’68, Pocatello, Idaho
Dean Koon, ’57, ’59, Vista, Calif.
W. Gordon Christianson, ..’61, Jamestown, N.D.
Larry Stockmoe, ..’63, Castle Rock, Colo.
M. Sue (Evenson) Mariner, ..’57, Corvallis, Ore.
Gary Christofferson, ..’61, Saint Paul, Minn.
Lenore (Olson) Wright, ’63, Burleson, Texas
Ralph Mellom, ’57, Greenville, S.C.
Vincent Gabby, ’61, Grand Forks
Sheldon Affield, ’64, Portland, Ore.
Audrey (Ackermann) Nelson, ’57, ’66, Muncie, Ind.
Gerald Hannah, ’61, Rapid City, S.D.
Robert Dahl, ’64, White Bear Lake, Minn.
Dennis Hanson, ..’61, Newfolden, Minn.
Richard Elwood, ’64, North English, Iowa
Darrell Lang, ..’61, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Mel Gores, ’64, Tucson, Ariz.
Dori (Burns) Nielson, ’61, Missoula, Mont.
Wesley Kessler, ’64, Bismarck, N.D.
Noel Olson, ’61, Saint Cloud, Minn.
Wallace Martz, ’64, Mayville, N.D.
Hulda (Berg) Pearce, ..’61, Valley City, N.D.
Dr. Gordon Robinson, ’64, Bloomfield, Conn.
Robert Sage, ’61, Thornville, Ohio
Karen (Anderson) Sollom, ’64, ’87, Bemidji, Minn.
Val Schindler, ..’61, Red Lake Falls, Minn.
Eileen (Ringdahl) Dezotell, ’65, Mcville, N.D.
Gerald Schroeder, ..’61, Harvey, N.D.
Dr. Donald Hammer, ’65, Norris, Tenn.
Robert Woutat, ’61, Bremerton, Wash.
Evan Heustis, ’65, ’72, Devils Lake, N.D.
Arnold Zabinski, ..’61, Fall River Mills, Calif.
Terence Kippen, ’65, Wheat Ridge, Colo.
Calvin Zundel, ’61, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
John LaMoine, ’65, ’68, Grand Forks
Wayne Beeks, ’62, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Phyllis (Luick) Larson, ..’65, Fargo
Mary (Myhra) Delisle, ..’62, East Grand Forks
Dennis Anderson, ’66, ’82, Grand Forks
Marlys (Mosolf) Harmon, ’62, Calabasas, Calif.
Elsie (Keefe) Bateman, ..’66, Crookston, Minn.
Rudy Kuznia, ’62, Zimmerman, Minn.
Bendick Bjerke, ’66, The Villages, Fla.
John Larson, ’62, Arvada, Colo.
Dickson Haviland, ..’66, Glens Falls, N.Y.
Herschel Lysaker, ’62, Eveleth, Minn.
Charles McArthur, ’66, Souris, Manitoba
Margaret (Billstein) Lysaker, ’62, Keewatin, Minn.
James Spille, ’66, Young America, Minn.
Judy (Einarson) Bernhoft, ..’42, West Fargo, N.D.
Stan Marek, ’51, Phoenicia, N.Y.
Kathryn (Lenertz) Brant, ’42, Austin, Texas
Ruth (Bergman) Moen, ..’51, Hutchinson, Minn.
Inez (Hanson) Jefferies, ..’43, Centennial, Colo.
W. Gene Theroux, ’51, Grand Forks
Marjorie Sheehan O’Shea, ..’44, Portland, Ore.
James Hanson, ..’52, Burnsville, Minn.
Mary Jane (Moore) Preston, ’44, Irvine, Calif.
George Krum, ..’52, East Grand Forks
Virginia (Barney) Kirby,..’45, Dickinson, N.D.
James Rinde, ’52, Fargo
Charlene (Lohse) Kotts, ’58, East Grand Forks
Jerome Shermoen, ’52, International Falls, Minn.
Harold Ollila, ’58, Helena, Mont.
Joyce (Lawson) Strand, ’52, Moorhead, Minn.
Lynn (Oliver) Thoen, ’58, Crookston, Minn.
Norma (Witteman) Bennett, ’53, Grand Forks
Donald Wickler, ..’58, Rapid City, S.D.
Henry Cedros, ..’53, Portland, Ore.
Charles Drake, ’59, Littleton, Colo.
Arlis (Schultz) Ferlic, ’47, Lewiston, Idaho
Florence (Grove) Danielson, ’53, East Grand Forks
Douglas Geck, ’59, Lenexa, Kan.
Ruth (Mehl) Gunderson, ..’47, Fargo
Maxine (Moylan) Davies, ..’53, Fargo
Dr. Earl Abrahamson, ’48, Brentwood, Tenn.
Samuel Meblin, ’53, Novato, Calif.
Mary Jane (Wendorff) Mattson, ..’48, Pompano Beach, Fla.
E. Palmer Rockswold, ’53, Minneapolis
Fay (Lufkin) Halvorson, ’46, Williston, N.D. Roger Anderson, ’47, Pittsfield, Mass. Helen Dahl, ’47, San Antonio, Texas Donald Dippe, MD, ’47, ’48, Anchorage, Alaska
Bert Wheeler, ’48, ’49, Fargo Robert Jefferies, ’49, Centennial, Colo. Adrian Lawler, ’49, Seattle
1950s
Clayton Jensen, MD, ’54, ’56, Detroit Lakes, Minn. Ralph Koenig, ’54, ’58, Hopkins, Minn. John Kourajian, ..’54, Saint Cloud, Minn.
Ida Bakke, ..’50, Grand Forks Roy Christianson, ’50, Longview, Wash. Joyce (Lunke) Claffy, ..’50, Princeton, Minn. Orein De Lap, ’50, Tampa, Fla. John Dolan, ’50, ’56, Santa Rosa, Calif. John Flatt, MD, ..’50, Bend, Ore. Harvey Jensen, ’50, Jamestown, N.D. A. Ronald King, ’50, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
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Gilbert Idso, ’54, Mesa, Ariz.
Roger Natwick, MD, ’54, ’56, Menomonie, Wis.
Roger Sorenson, ’57, Fisher, Minn. Joanne (Miller) Yon, ..’57, Fountain Hills, Ariz. Donald Homstad, ..’58, Grand Forks Raymond Johnson, ’58, Mesa, Ariz.
Brian Kaukinen, ..’59, Tantallon, David Korwin, ’59, Gresham, Ore. William LeCaine, ..’59, Lexington, Mich. Philip Martin, ’59, Andover, Minn. Lloyd Pederson, ..’59, Bottineau, N.D. Elaine (Flaat) Rasmus, ..’59, Forest Grove, Ore. Dennis Warcup, ’59, ’62, ’74, Fargo
1960s
Lawrence Anderson, ’60, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Frank Danner, ’55, Anchorage, Alaska
Rodney Bjerke, ’60, Rockford, Ill.
John Fischer, ’55, Roundup, Mont.
Arthur Haug, ’60, Alexandria, Minn.
William Schwartz, MD, ’55, Hillsborough, Calif.
John Hook, ’60, Carlsbad, Calif.
Bernard Zakaluk, ’55, ’62, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Leigh Kessel, ..’60, Minneapolis
John Elliott, ’56, Minnetonka, Minn.
Gretchen (Lum) Moffet, ’60, Wayzata, Minn.
Dean Engel, ’56, Grand Forks
Willard Nelson, ’60, Cottage Grove, Minn.
Summer 2019
John Moberg, ’62, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Sidney Bina, ’67, Grand Forks
Ronald Pingrey, ’62, Toms River, N.J.
Patricia (Ross) Braunberger, ’67, Valley City, N.D.
Paul Whitman, ’62, Minot, N.D.
James Elliott, ’67, Bettendorf, Iowa
Leo Bedard, ’63, Burnsville, Minn.
Richard Thomas, ’67, Green Valley, Ariz.
Marlene (Romfo) Kruger, ’63, Onamia, Minn.
John Leevers, ..’68, Mesa, Ariz.
Kenneth Larsen, ’63, Grand Forks
Clarence Thompson, ’68, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Larry Yetter, ’68, ’69, Littleton, Colo.
Dale Curtiss Jensen, ..’72, Park River, N.D.
Lynda (Tallackson) Ackert, ’69, Saint Paul, Minn.
W. Scott Sayer, ..’72, Grand Forks
Terry Baglien, ’69, Placentia, Calif.
David Shimek, ’72, Adams, N.D.
Charles Brown, ’69, Kasson, Minn.
Nancy (Pagnac) Solum, ’72, Las Cruces, N.M.
Bill Gessner, ’69, Golden Valley, Minn.
Judith Eliason, ..’73, Center, N.D.
David Hoverson, ’69, ’72, Cooperstown, N.D.
Richard Hamel, ..’73, Lakota, N.D.
Ken Litt, ’69, Bismarck, N.D.
Donna (Hinton) Halverson, ’74, Centennial, Colo.
Richard Melarvie, ’69, Mankato, Minn.
Robert Hauser Jr., ..’74, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Michael Misialek Sr., ’69, West Fargo, N.D.
Danny Johnston, ’74, Fargo
Mary Jane (Meldahl) Nudell, ’69, East Grand Forks
Loraine (Olson) Kennedy, ..’74, Edina, Minn.
Patrick Schmidt Sr., ..’69, Sioux Falls, S.D. Peter Templeton, ..’69, Blue Hill, Maine
1970s
Linda Kay Aaker, ..’70, Colorado Springs, Colo. Duane Anderson, ’70, Williston, N.D. David Brant, DDS, ..’70, Fargo Louis Demarais, ’70, Mesa, Ariz.
Tim Kessler, ’74, Grand Forks Stephen Vanderver, ’75, Evansville, Ind. Jeanne (Reisenweber) Lyke, ’76, Sioux Falls, S.D. Vaughn Meyer, MD, ’76, Sioux Falls, S.D. Steve Peltier, ..’77, Belcourt, N.D. Marilyn (Karpyshin) Taylor, ’77, ’87, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Daralyne (Lealos) Provencher, ..’81, Phoenix, Ariz.
Rosemary Vaudrin, ’92, Fargo
Bette (Bowles) Bata, Langdon, N.D.
Dr. Bonnie (Nelson) Avery, ’94, Gainesville, Fla.
Rick Brandvold, West Fargo, N.D.
Steven Cullinan, ’96, Buffalo, Minn.
Gene Dickson, Grand Forks
Christopher Lepire, ’96, ’96, Tiffin, Iowa
Janelle (Anderson) Eken, Alexandria, Minn.
Heather Lien Pederson, ’96, Strongsville, Ohio
Orpha (Fevig) Forsythe, Fircrest, Wash.
Lila (Gandolf) Pedersen, ..’82, Grand Forks
Diane (Bishop) Stanislowski, ’96, Grand Forks
Martha (Wylot) Geery, Minto, N.D.
Janet (Kalinowski) Drake, ’83, ’85, Valley City, N.D.
Wendy (Howe) Baukol, ’97, Fargo
Alice (Dunlop) Robb, ’83, Grand Forks
Kelly Mertz, ’97, Fargo
Marlyce (Barsness) Koskovich, Byron, Minn.
Reetha (Dodd) Connors, ’98, LaVernia, Texas
Ed Lloyd, Northwood, N.D.
Beverly (Kloster) Soma, ..’81, Cooperstown, N.D. Gregory Stuart, ’81, Hatton, N.D. Timothy Anderson, ’82, Erskine, Minn. Michael Christensen, MD, ’82, Rapid City, S.D.
Ronald Skunes, ’83, Gresham, Ore. Garry DeMarrias, ..’84, Fort Totten, N.D. Lois (Gehrtz) Eliason, ’84, Grand Forks Dane Grotte, ..’84, Hinckley, Minn. Roger Morken, ’84, ’86, Dayton, Texas Todd Becher, ’85, Charlotte, N.C. Perry Ford, ’85, Minneapolis John Halverson Jr., ..’86, Grand Forks
2000s
Jeffrey Adkins, ’02, Abilene, Texas Kip Kunze, ’02, ’03, Fargo Julie Raven, ’02, Hayward, Wis. Rachel Ellingson, ’05, ’09, Brooklyn, N.Y. Rachel (White) Morrow, ’07, Laramie, Wyo. Dr. Lynne (Doxey) Kovash, ’09, Moorhead, Minn.
2010s
Elizabeth Adamson, ..’19, Williston, N.D.
Wendy (Rocksvold) Wilke, ’78, East Grand Forks
Dr. Jeffrey Harsch, ’86, Milwaukee
Conner Sander, ..’19, Grand Forks
Quentin Alberts, ..’79, Bismarck, N.D.
Josef Mueller, ’86, Liberty Lake, Wash.
Faculty/Staff
Timothy Jensen, ..’70, Fargo
Myra (DeMontigny) Borton, ’79, ’86, Grand Forks
Elaine Neurohr, ’86, Dodge, N.D.
Donna (Hendrickson) Kallestad, ’70, ’72, Wayzata, Minn.
James Dillenburg, ’79, Grand Forks
Ronald French, ’70, Grand Forks Gregory Heck, ’70, ’74, Minneapolis
Mary (Crawford) Landsem, ..’70, Saint Cloud, Minn. Kris (Petersen) Sheridan, ’70, Fargo V. Roger Thompson, ’70, Grand Forks
Katherine (O’Brien) Lamontagne, ’79, Merrimack, N.H. Terrence Lizakowski, ’79, Castle Rock, Colo.
1980s
Brian Cariveau, ’80, Robins, Iowa
Charlene Setty Woodard, ’70, Easton, Md.
Kathryn Kibler, ..’80, Fargo
Elizabeth (Lohnes) LaCroix, ..’71, Veblen, S.D.
Bruce Lundsten, ..’80, Williams, Minn.
Jack Offerdahl, ..’71, Moorhead, Minn.
Sonna Anderson, ’81, Bismarck, N.D.
Harvey Pyle, ..’71, Casa Grande, Ariz.
Janice (Bergstrom) Cox, ’81, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Peggy (Ward) Wardius, ’71, Tolna, N.D.
Scott Huhtala, ’81, Deer River, Minn.
James Wiedmann, ’71, Glendale, Ariz.
Ronald Johnson, ’81, Bismarck, N.D.
Delbert Graham, ’72, Northfield, Minn.
Mark Nelson, ’81, Springfield, Tenn.
Corey Overby, ’86, Waxhaw, N.C. Brad Anderson, ’87, Edgeley, N.D. Elizabeth Corbid, ’87, ’88, Hutchinson, Minn. Jill (Konakowitz) Hilleshiem, ’88, Rochester, Minn. Jeffery Parker, ’88, Farmington, Minn. Dr. Jacqueline (Kush) Turek, ’88, San Jose, Calif. James Caldis, ’89, Flagstaff, Ariz. Timothy Sattler, ’89, Grand Forks
1990s
Kelly Bursinger, ’90, Bisbee, N.D. Chris Stockert, ’90, Castle Rock, Colo.
Dr. Janet (Goldenstein) Ahler, Grand Forks Robert Coons, Grand Forks Judith (Cost) Kamrowski, Grand Forks Roberta Klamm, Thompson, N.D.
Margaret (Cook) Gilmour, Bemidji, Minn.
Don Lunke, Middle River, Minn. M.D. McGuigan, Grand Forks Allan Meisner, Grand Forks Jack Olin, Dickinson, N.D. Margaret (Lovick) Praska, Pisek, N.D. Donald Purpur, Grand Forks William Richardson, Fargo Thomas Ritoch, Alvarado, Minn. Donald Solem, Oslo, Minn. Harold Tvedt, Williston, N.D. Dr. William White, Louisville, Ky. George Wogaman, East Grand Forks /// A double period (..) in front of a year indicates the year that a non-graduate left UND.
M. Jane (Lomen) Loeffler, Moorhead, Minn. Marion (Bagley) Moen, Fargo Constance (Vold) Strand, Grand Forks David Teets, West Fargo, N.D. Mildred Wert, Grand Forks Douglas Winkler, Grand Forks
Friends
Cliff Axtman, Devils Lake, N.D. Robert Bain, Bismarck, N.D.
Janeen (Saure) Baier, ’91, Denver
UNDalumni.org
57
T HE
WRAP
ALUMNI REVIEW Spring 2019
University of North Dakota Alumni Association
UNDAAF Team Wins Awards W HE N IN S PIR AT ION
The marketing and communications team at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF) received five awards in the 2019 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District VI Institutional Awards.
STRIKES Curiosity sparks aha moment for UND alumnus Kathyrn Uhrich, '86.
p. 4
The UNDAAF received silver awards in the following categories: •
Publications: spring 2018 Alumni Review (Editor: Milo Smith; Designer: Sam Melquist)
•
College and University General Interest Magazines: Alumni Review
• •
•
Photo by: Carrie Rosema
Champions Ball Sets Record
Find the Flame
More than 250 readers submitted Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and correct answers to the Spring 2019 guests, a record amount of nearly $350,000 Alumni Review “Find the Flame” was raised at the North Dakota Champions contest. Ball in April.
They all found the flame hidden in Held every two years, the Champions Ball Kathryn Uhrich’s scarf (circled above). is the largest single fundraiser for University Magazine Publishing Improvement: of North Dakota Athletics. Proceeds Steve Marsden, Lori Hendrickx, and Alumni Review support student-athlete scholarships and Rob Ash had their names drawn priority needs in the department. from all the correct entries to win Fundraising Publications: Case prize packages from the UND Alumni Statements/General Cultivation More than 800 supporters of UND Athletics Association & Foundation. Publication: UND CoPBA building attended this year’s event, which was case statement (Editor/Writer: Leanna sponsored by Altru Health System. Guests Don’t forget to search for the flame Ihry; Designer: Sam Melquist) were able to bid on more than 120 silent on the cover of this issue. If you find and live auction items ranging from one-ofit, send your guess to alumnireview@ General Information Videos: Short a-kind UND gear to destination vacations. undalumni.net for a chance to win. Video: Aircorps Aviation feature (Produced by Milo Smith; Photos by “I was so pleased to attend my first Sam Melquist) Champions Ball,” said Bill Chaves, UND
CASE supports alumni relations, communications, development, and marketing professionals at educational institutions at more than 3,400 colleges, universities and independent elementary and secondary schools in more than 70 countries. CASE District VI represents educational institutions in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
58 Alumni Review
Summer 2019
Director of Athletics. “The passion of our fans and the chance to celebrate and support our outstanding student-athletes made for a special evening. To top it off with a record-breaking fundraising total makes it all the more satisfying.” University of North Dakota Athletics Department scholarships cost more than $5 million annually.
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