Winter 2009 Alumni Review | From Forks to Famous

Alumni Review Winter 2009

Universit y of Nor th Dakota A lumni A ssoc iat ion

Inside this issue

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

ALUMNI REVIEW • Vol. 92 No. 4 • Winter 2009

F E ATUR E S

4

From Forks to Famous

The stories of 11 alums who made it from Forks to Famous

32 Small Guy, Big Impact

Former Sioux football star Weston Dressler is a fan favorite in Canada

D EPA RTM E N TS

2 Message from the Executive Vice President

4

The Alumni Review, Entertainment We Value

17 A Letter from the President A True Celebration, Indeed

18 What’s New

News from Around Campus

26 Foundation News

26

Thanks $10 Million

36 Alumni Class News

Who’s Doing What: News About your Classmates

46 In Memoriam

32

The alumni review, entertainment we value

Alumni Review Winter 2009

Universit y of Nor th Dakota A lumni A ssoc iat ion

Vol . 92 No. 4 • Winter 2009

Executive Vice President and CEO Tim O’Keefe, ’71

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

dear alumni & friends,

2

If your house is like mine, I bet you have copies of People magazine, Sports Illustrated, Outside, Smithsonian, or Good Housekeeping around and you don’t even consider the few bucks you’ve spent for that entertainment. Just as much as you enjoy reading the stories and looking at the photos in these magazines, we hope you equally value the magazine you are reading right now, the Alumni Review.

The UND Alumni Magazine was established in 1925. It began as newsprint, and was renamed the Alumni Review in the 1950s after a significant facelift. By 1999, it had evolved into a full-color magazine highlighting UND’s accomplished alumni, students, faculty and staff, programs, and much more.

Today, surveys tell us the Alumni Review is the most widely read and critical University of North Dakota correspondence sent to alumni and friends. The Alumni Review is printed quarterly, and mailed to more than 85,000 homes in all 50 states and 101 countries.

In 1946, the Alumni Association made important changes, and approved a constitutional amendment to our charter which allowed all former students to become members of the alumni family. The organization was changed from one which required dues to one of automatic membership with a free subscription to the Alumni Review. This decision has been upheld annually by our board ever since.

As you can imagine, the cost to print and mail 85,000 copies of the Alumni Review is significant. We continue to believe it’s a vehicle critical to the fulfillment of the three tenets of our mission statement, which has not changed since it was established by our first eight graduates in 1889: • To retain and strengthen friendships made

on campus by keeping graduates and former students in lifelong contact with one another • To keep graduates and former students

informed of happenings at UND • To involve the graduates, former students,

and special friends in the ongoing growth and development of the University of North Dakota As such, in these difficult economic times, I hope you share the commitment I feel to the Alumni Review. If you each gave just $4 annually to support the magazine ($1 an issue) the impact would be significant, virtually ensuring the continuity of a strong publication.

We want to continue the commitment to our mission, our values and to each of you, keeping you updated with ongoing campus news, highlighting your accomplishments and telling the motivating stories of our young graduates.

We’ve included a postage-paid envelope in the center of this issue. Please contribute to the future of the Alumni Review. Or, you can easily do so in a secure fashion at www . undfoundation .org. If using the Web site, please make certain you designate “Alumni Review.”

The theme of this issue is: “From Forks to Famous.” We tell the stories of several of our fine alums who are on the big screen in one way or another. Just as they are entertaining audiences through their talents, we hope we are entertaining you with the magazine!

Finally, through the toughest economic circumstances most of us have ever faced, once again our alumni and friends came through in record fashion. Please refer to the next page, where you will see our donors committed an historical $47 million to UND through the UND Foundation. The number of donors increased for the fifth consecutive record year.

On behalf of our staff, and, most importantly, the students, faculty and UND administration who are the recipients of your generosity, we are most appreciative and humbled to work on behalf of a mission so important to all of us!

Stay warm, and if you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello!

Sincerely,

Tim O’Keefe, ’71

Executive Vice President and CEO UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation E‐mail: timo@undfoundation.org

Director of Alumni Relations Amanda Hvidsten, ’01 Editor Leanna Ihry, ’02 Designer Kirsten Gunnarson Contributing Writers University Relations Wendy Honrath, ’09 Mitchell Blair, Riderville.com Contributing Photography Chuck Kimmerle/University Relations LOST pictures from ABC Publicity Riderville.com

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

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

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

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

Moving from Great to Exceptional

[

[

We continue to support programs, students and faculty at UND – this year with $11.5 million. Of that total, $4.4 million supported student academic and athletic scholarships.

You should be very proud!

greetings, It’s fair to say the downturn in the economy put many organizations to the test this year, and, I admit, we saw our share of struggles. But thanks to generous donations from many of you, the UND Foundation continued to support the University at an elevated level.

A total of 13,491 of you gave through the UND Foundation to support UND, and while the number of donors to philanthropies across the nation decreased, the UND Foundation saw an increase of more than 200 donors from the year before. It’s that kind of commitment that makes UND alumni the best of the best.

The UND Foundation also recorded an historical $47 million in new gifts and pledges including future bequests and trusts.

This, too, was a record and significant increase from last year when $36 million was recorded. We continue to support programs, students and faculty at UND – this year with $11.5 million. Of that total, $4.4 million supported student academic and athletic scholarships. You should be very proud! You are playing an integral role in bringing UND from great to exceptional.

The Alumni Association also had a busy and successful year.

Sincerely,

Jim Williams, ’62, UND Alumni Association President

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

Jim Williams, ’62 UND Alumni Association President

We’re pleased to report we saw many of you at the 78 events we held across the country. In February, we traveled to Arizona, where we hosted reunions, pregame parties and a golf tournament. In March, we went east to Minneapolis for the WCHA Final Five men’s hockey tournament and a UND reunion. And, in August, we saw many of you in Denver at a UND golf tournament. It’s always so great to see old friends, as well as new faces at these events.

We also ran into many of you in Grand Forks for the Sioux-Per Gala and Auction in October 2008. More than 600 of you attended this event to raise money for scholarships for UND student-athletes. Together, with the athletic department, and our generous alumni and friends, we raised more than $150,000.

Technologically, we are keeping up with the times! Our e-mail readership rates are trending high compared to national averages, which leads us to believe many of you are enjoying the AroUND e-newsletter, along with the online version of the Alumni Review. If you get the Alumni Review online, you’ve probably noticed the flip-page feature. If you haven’t checked it out, you should at www.undalumni.org. Just e-mail us at alumnireview@undalumni.net if you prefer to receive the magazine electronically, or would like to submit a news item about yourself for the Class News section.

Our Web site is seeing continued traffic, with an average of 150 new registered users each month. This is great news because it allows us to keep our records up-to-date and stay better connected to you through events, the magazine and electronic news.

The UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation are staffed by approximately 40 individuals who truly care about upholding our mission – to connect, engage and grow. Thank you for all you did to make last year not only great ... but exceptional.

3

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

}

… the stories of 11 alums who made it from UND to the

4

Big Screens

the Go-To-Guy You may know him as Bernard Nadler on the hit ABC television show Lost. The day Sam Anderson was interviewed by the Alumni Review, he had just returned from shooting the season opener in Hawaii. “I certainly can’t complain,” Sam said of the location.

Currently in its sixth and final season, the veteran actor came on board almost from the get-go, in season two, as the husband of Rose, an African American woman. “We have a bi-racial marriage on Lost,” Sam said, “but they never make a big deal of that, which I really like.”

When he first got the part, Sam remembers leaving his North Hollywood home for Hawaii while his teenage twins, Elizabeth and Ben, stayed back with their aunt and uncle, as his wife, Barbara, was in Ireland visiting relatives.

Promptly after his plane landed in Hawaii, the taxi driver alerted Sam of a power blackout in L.A., which was believed to be a terrorist attack. He never forgot the array of emotions he felt when he feared his family’s safety. He incorporated those feelings into his character — a man separated from his wife when the plane they were flying on was split in half, crashing on different parts of an island in the South Pacific. “I always pride myself on being a character, and I really learned that at UND,” Sam said, citing the fact that UND’s small theatre department enabled everyone to play a variety of roles.

Sam believes his interest in studying people and analyzing their personalities has also helped him earn his current reputation in Hollywood as the go-to-guy, often contacted to do the difficult parts — “the villains, the crazies, the emotional roles,” he said.

If Sam wouldn’t have become an actor, he says he would have been a psychologist; incidentally, he did marry one, and credits his wife for helping him with many of his roles. “There is a definite link that I make between psychology and acting. It’s like a puzzle or reading a book and trying to find out who did it. You need to have a sense of each scene, what’s going on and what you’re there for.

You have to figure out what the behavior of that person is.

I do a lot of people watching. I steal constantly. I am a little people thief,” Sam laughed, saying he’s been caught more than once staring at someone in a coffee shop or restaurant in an attempt to get a sense of a specific character he is about to play.

When this Wahpeton, N.D., native first came to Hollywood 30 years ago, he landed mainly funny

characters. “My first job out here was to play a nervous disc jockey on WKRP in Cincinnati,” Sam recalled.

From there, he was cast on sitcoms like Perfect Strangers, where he played the nasty mail room boss, and Growing Pains, where he was the cantankerous principal, Mr. Dewitt.

After a few years of humorous roles, Sam stopped accepting such offers to hold out for more serious parts. “I didn’t want to be that funny guy. I wanted to do more dramatic roles.

Pretty soon I started getting those characters and I could go back and forth. I knew I would have a longer career and it would be more challenging and more rewarding,” Sam remarked.

He was right. In addition to his current role on Lost, Sam has played the lecherous principal in Forrest Gump, the arrogant cardiologist, Dr. Jack Kayson, on ER, and, as a freelance actor, he’s made one-time appearances on numerous television shows including Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, Angel, Cold Case, CSI: New York, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Boston Legal, and From Earth to the Moon, to just name a few.

Because of his love for theatre, he also co-runs the Road Theatre Company, which is about to launch the play As White as O — a story of love and synesthesia, a real condition in which people see certain words and concepts in different colors, and taste sounds and feelings.

When it comes to getting his big break, Sam said he almost had it last summer when he was cast next to Brad Pitt in the movie Money Ball, in which Pitt was going to play a baseball player and Sam the team owner. “Literally, the day we were supposed to leave for location the studio got nervous about the economy and pulled the plug on it. They were too worried another baseball movie wouldn’t sell,” Sam said.

Though the economy has slowed things down some in Hollywood, Sam is still holding out for a big movie role in the future. He said Money Ball may still hit the big screens and he’s out reading for other parts as well. At 62 years old, he says, “There’s no reason to stop. My energy doesn’t seem to flagger,” adding that keeping up with his 17-year-old twins keeps him young, along with a regular yoga routine.

When asked if he’s accomplished what he’s set out for Sam thoughtfully said, “I’m a man in process. Over the last few years that’s become much more important to me than results. I love the ‘doing of it’ and all the different stages of that. The results are the gravy. ” Leanna Ihry

■

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

photo courtesy of ABC Publicity

The ability to play just about any role makes actor Sam Anderson, ’69, ’71, a hot ticket in Hollywood

5

the Funny Guy

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

}

A witty writer for Spike, Chris Carlson, ’98, lives for humor

6

His list of credits is long and impressive. At the young age of 33, Chris Carlson, a self-proclaimed North Dakota farm boy from Glenburn, N.D., has made a name for himself in New York City. Chris is currently editorial director for Spike (TV), a division of MTV branded to 18 to 34-year-old males. Chris recently received the promotion after wooing the higher-ups with his clever, savvy comedy writing for the cable network.

While attending graduate school at Columbia University, Chris got his start in showbiz by landing an internship with Sex and the City, a popular series broadcast on HBO from 1998 to 2004. Since then, his witty writing has humored millions through the many moments he’s helped create on Spike. “It’s so satisfying to see something you’ve written get on the air. Especially since this business is so cut-throat and you often get told ‘no’ — hard,” Chris said.

At Spike, Chris is tasked with writing award shows including the 2007 Guys Choice Awards, the 2006 Scream Awards and the 2005 and 2006 Video Game Awards, all aired on the network.

This summer, he and a team of writers collaborated to successfully re-launch Entourage, a series Spike purchased from HBO. And, they’re in the process of launching Blue Mountain State, a fictional college football comedy that follows three incoming freshman at Blue Mountain State University.

In addition to the colossal task of writing award shows and promoting new television programs, Chris says the industry is faced with an entirely new challenge. “The poor economy and increased surge of the Internet is shifting around advertising dollars. We need to figure out where the revenue source is going to come from and how we’ll attract advertisers.”

This is where integrated marketing comes in. “What we’re doing now is trying to incorporate products into our scripts. For example, M&Ms would be really happy if we showed the logo and talked about them in a funny way on one of our shows.

“This is becoming much more so, given the climate of the economy.

It is really shifting the creative side of the entertainment business,” Chris said.

Even so, Chris has no plans of changing professions. In fact, he’s branching off and doing some work on his own. “Me and a buddy wrote a feature-length screenplay we’re hoping will sell. We think it’s pretty funny,” Chris said.

As a writer, Chris stays inspired through reading and his genuine interest in life. “I live close to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and just go hang out. What has fascinated people throughout history is the same stuff — comedy, love, death, drama. Our job is to translate that into a story, even if it needs to get across in 30 seconds,” Chris concluded.

Leanna Ihry

■

}

the Fashionista Imagine going to work every day and picking out clothes and jewelry for big-name celebrities to wear on TV — stars like Tori Spelling, Paula Abdul, Suzanne Somers, Serena Williams, and Susan Lucci, to name a few. For 2002 UND grad Julie Raven, it’s all in a day’s work. For the last year and a half, Julie’s been a fashion stylist for the Home Shopping Network (HSN) headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla. “My job is to dress, style and coordinate the models and show hosts for all on-air fashion and jewelry shows,” Raven said.

In addition, Julie meets with top designers and vendors to ensure HSN is meeting their standards. “I’ve worked with Iman, Carl Banks, Lorenzo Borghese, Tina Knowles, and Dr. Rey,” she added.

Throughout her life, Julie never thought of herself as a fashion connoisseur. Though she was named “fashion queen” two years in a row by her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, she considered her uncanny ability to pick out the perfect outfit for her family and friends more of a hobby than anything.

After earning degrees in psychology and sociology from UND, Julie planned to apply to law school, but decided to do some research before diving in. “I talked to numerous attorneys who told me if there was anything else I wanted to pursue before law school I should really do that first. I had gone to New York for my 21st birthday and fell in love, so, on a whim, I applied at the top fashion merchandising school in the country, FIT [Fashion Institute of Technology].”

Julie was accepted and graduated in 2004. From there, her resume has grown far beyond what many 30-year-olds can imagine. Julie started out at Target headquarters in

Minneapolis, where she learned much of the numbers game surrounding fashion merchandising. From there, she opened her own consulting business, Raven Style, and has worked as a fashion consultant and personal shopper for stores like Lord and Taylor in Natick, Mass., and Macys in downtown Minneapolis.

Then a door opened for Julie in the world of home shopping, when she got a job with ShopNBC in Eden Prairie, Minn., closer to her hometown of Hayward, Wis. There, Julie mainly concentrated on the look of the products. Today, at HSN, she concentrates on how the on-air hosts, guests and models look. “Some of the people I’ve worked with the most are Tori Spelling and Paula Abdul because they sell their jewelry lines on HSN,” Julie said.

Sure not to fall short of ambition, Julie does celebrity freelance styling in her spare time. Her most recent work includes styling the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez, the Cheetah Girls, and other Disney Channel sitcom stars for a week-long taping of the Disney Channel Games. Additionally, she does freelance styling for Kohl’s headquarters for its print advertisements as well as styling models and celebrities for Prom magazine’s photo shoots.

When asked if it is what she thought it would be, Julie said, “It is much more labor-intensive than I ever imagined. I never thought I would be sleeping only a few hours a day and working an 80-hour work week for so many years, just to do what inspires me most. Ultimately, it will be worth it in the long run, but it’s a lot of work right now,” she said.

In the next five years, Julie wants to establish herself as a top image consultant with her business, Raven Style. “Raven Style is the seedling of my passion that I created in 2005, and since I have been growing and developing my talents in every area of the fashion merchandising field.” Leanna Ihry

■

Pictured above: Julie Raven (right) with actress Tori Spelling

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

Stylist Julie Raven, ’02, uses her creative edge to dress up Hollywood’s hottest celebs

7

} the Risk-Taker

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Actor Brian LLoyd, ’99, walked out of a sales job and in to shows like Brothers and Sisters

8

Brian LLoyd grew up as a bit of a jock in Grand Forks, playing basketball and soccer. He studied accounting at UND, joined Sigma Chi fraternity and interned at Arthur Anderson a year and a half before graduating.

He was on a well-defined path with a bright, secure future.

Instead, he walked away.

After moving to Minneapolis and working for both Arthur Andersen and Eli Lilly, Brian got a tip to read for the daytime soap All My Children in New York. He was out visiting a fellow UND grad, Nathan Wold, and thought it’d be a fun experience.

“There were scouts and agencies there,” Brian said. “I was probably terrible, but I met some people and did some cold reading. They thought I had some good instincts.” It was late 2003, and figuring he had nothing to lose, Brian

moved to L.A. “I told myself I’m going to figure it out, make it work, be successful. I had no idea what that really meant but I was going to do it.”

Interestingly enough, acting wasn’t a significant calling for him. “I was just antsy,” he said. “I thought about coaching, or maybe law school. Honestly, I went to New York, someone gave me an opportunity and I thought, ‘What the hell,’ I have nothing to lose. I love it more now than in the first year I was here, so that’s telling me something.”

So, what does Hollywood offer for a North Dakota native with a background in business?

Quite a bit with the right attitude. Brian has been cast in television hits like CSI: New York, CSI: Miami where he starred with Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, and most recently Brothers and Sisters.

His regular week consists of an audition or

two, perhaps a call back — he might read one line or up to 10 pages. Brian takes acting classes with Steppenwolf and rehearses with scene partners on top of that. He drops off headshots and follows up on leads or with people he met in order to build his network. To stay grounded he attends a men’s Bible study, plays hockey once a week, and enjoys living near the beach. And, to pay the bills, he notes, “I’m a glorified busboy three days a week and I waiter a bit.”

One of his biggest opportunities yet is on the horizon. Brian will hopefully head to Normandy, France, in 2010 to shoot a World War II film, No Better Place to Die, directed by Dale Dye who has starred in Mission: Impossible, Saving Private Ryan, HBO’s Entourage, and many others. In the movie, Brian plays a bazookaman with a Swedish accent. During the call back Dye asked if he spoke the language. Brian doesn’t, but he said he was a kid from North Dakota who knows lefse and hard Rs and long Os. He got the part.

Ironically, he discovered the man he plays was from Viking, Minn., about 45 minutes from Grand Forks. Using creative leg work, he was able to speak with the gentleman’s daughter.

“I got the call from her on my birthday of all things. She left me two messages talking about her father, and when she called a third time we talked for two hours about it. Her father was stoic but he loved her and loved her mother.”

Since the movie business is fickle, Brian says he’ll believe it all once he’s in France, but he’s confident the movie will be made. It’s another step on his adventure outside his original path.

Amanda Hvidsten

■

the Perfectionist Paying attention to detail is a 24-7 job for ShopNBC Director of Television Operations Jeff Larson, ’96 jib operators, graphic operators, graphic producers, directors, and production managers.

As director of television operations my primary responsibility is to lead this team through each day of broadcasting, keeping us on-air while achieving the highest level of ‘production value’ possible. It can be tough keeping your edge from day to day.”

Nevertheless, this Minot, N.D., native enjoys the variety. “It definitely is fulfilling. If you want to get in a job that’s different every day with new challenges and rewards, this is a great career,” he said.

Right up there with the Home Shopping Network and QVC, ShopNBC does an average of $500 million in sales every day. This popularity has attracted stars like Steve Baldwin, Betty White, Star Jones, Cheryl Tiegs, Raquel

}

To say Jeff Larson doesn’t have much stress in his life would be far from the truth. As director of television operations for ShopNBC, he’s responsible for making sure the show is broadcast live to 72 million homes, 24 hours a day, 364 days a year.

“We take off 24 hours for Christmas,” Jeff said.

He started with the home shopping show 12 years ago, working his way up from an assistant on the floor to his current job. “It’s pretty fast‐paced and high stress. Anyone who is out there in television and works behind the scenes would know that directing live television is emotionally draining. You’re working three, four, five hours straight in a chair, and very little is scripted,” Jeff said of his typical day.

He added, “The production team consists of floor directors, robotic camera operators,

Welch, and Suzanne Somers to sell products on the show. “It’s an extra perk to get to meet some of these stars,” Jeff said.

After graduating from UND with a degree in communication, Jeff began working for French Productions in Grand Forks, where he was a shooter, editor and producer. He did that for two years and then the flood of ’97 happened. “All that was left of French Productions was a concrete block,” Jeff said.

He began sending resume tapes to the Twin Cities and decided to make the move, despite the fact that he didn’t have a job. “Everyone told me everything is freelance, nobody gets a staff position.”

But, Jeff proved them all wrong and was hired on the spot by ShopNBC. The rest, as they say, “is history.”

So, is it all what he thought it would be? “To some extent it is. In college I envisioned where I would be in 10 years, and I figured I would be out there in corporate America with an office and that’s where I am,” Jeff said. Leanna Ihry

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

■

9

}

the mastermind

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Screenwriter John Rice, ’81, brings words to life through his thoughtful films

10

Hanging out on set with Hollywood stars like Nicholas Cage, Christian Slater, Tommy Lee Jones, and Forest Whitaker may be a dream for most people, but for John Rice it’s all in a day’s work.

Thinking back, John realizes now the film he wrote, starred in and directed while attending UND was only the first of many films to come.

In regards to his acting in that film, Rice jokes, “I should have stayed behind the screen.”

After graduating from UND, he landed a job working in Washington, D.C., with Senator Quentin Burdick (D-N.D.). During his time in Washington, he was asked to create a campaign film and began getting involved in more media related projects. This was when he had an epiphany — producing, writing and directing movies was much more interesting than politics.

John left the political arena and delved into the graduate program for film studies at the University of Southern California. He had no idea what lay ahead.

His big break actually came when producer John Davis read one of his scripts and decided it was time for them to go mainstream. His first film, Curiosity Kills, starring C. Thomas Howell and Courteney Cox premiered in 1990 on the USA Network. From there, he went on to write Chasers, with Dennis Hopper and Gary Busey, and Blown Away, starring Academy Award nominated Jeff Bridges, and Academy Award winning actors Tommy Lee Jones and Forest Whitaker.

John enjoys a good comedy, but when it comes to creating movies he wants to make one “with something on its mind.”

This, according to John, is fighting what Hollywood wants to do.

His hit movie Windtalkers embodies the ideals he strives for. “Working on this film was amazing. In the first roll of the film we had 13 cameras going. There were cameras everywhere — on soldiers’ helmets, on helicopters — there were 181 explosions in the first roll of the cameras.

It took a day and a half to coordinate all the cameras and explosions and the thousand extras just for the first shot,” he said.

The movie focuses on two marines and the Native American code talkers they were assigned to protect. Code talkers spoke Navajo, a relatively unknown language, and were used in WWII to transmit highly sensitive material the U.S. Marine Corps didn’t want translated by enemy forces. John was also there when six original code talkers along with Nicholas Cage, Lisa Marie Presley and a few others flew to Washington, D.C. to receive congressional medals from thenPresident Bush. “It was great knowing that I helped spur something on that helped them get recognition. There is a thrill in doing something good.”

John, originally from Minot, N.D., is currently working on a project financed by some North Dakotans. The movie Stan’s Cup is a comedy with heart about a hockey player who missed out on defeating the Russian hockey squad at the 1980 Olympics, but gets his chance 30 years later. John is not only writing the script, but also trying the director hat on for size. He is also writing a screenplay, Pressure, for producer Paul Sandberg, who is famous for his work with the Bourne Trilogy, starring Matt Damon. Wendy Honrath

■

Seeing the world through the eye of a lens is a way of life for Hollywood camera man Joe Patrow, ’05

When it comes to making and producing Hollywood movies and television shows, name the task at hand and Joe Patrow has probably done it. As a freelancer in Los Angeles, Joe takes the jobs as they come and, given the business, he finds himself doing a wide array of things including camera work, photography, editing, writing, and more. “To me, all of this is my day job. My real passion is to write and direct my own stuff. All I can do is keep writing scripts and hope A) I can sell them, or B) I can direct them myself,” Joe said.

To say Joe is just sitting around waiting for that to happen would be the farthest thing from the truth. He’s building a resume that’s extensive and impressive. “I have worked on the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, been a part of some MTV music videos, been a director on Big Brother and Truth Be Told, both reality TV shows

on CBS. And, I’ve also done some 3D stuff,” Joe modestly said.

That “3D stuff ” includes doing camera work for the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana movies that were released last year.

“The average day, when shooting one of these kinds of movies, is 12 hours and up to 16 hours. A while ago we did a 19-hour shoot,” Joe said.

This young, aspiring moviemaker, from Bigfork, Mont., isn’t complaining. This year alone he’s had the opportunity to shoot commercials and music videos with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. “I worked with Robert Downy Jr. for an Esquire commercial. I shot an Angelina Jolie promo for her new movie, Salt. And, I worked with Anthony Hopkins on some commercials for a British HD company called Sky TV,” Joe said.

Connecting back to his UND roots, Joe shot the documentary Survey on Cyprus with UND professor Dr. William Caraher in 2004, but said he is not the documentarian some may think he is. “I really like coming up with stories. I like the lights and actors and the fact that you can create whatever world you like. That is more exciting to me than following some people around with a camera,” Joe said of the experience.

Joe earned a master’s degree in history from UND, which may seem a rather odd area of concentration for someone who’s been making movies since the age of eight. When asked why, Joe simply said, “The purpose of story is why I got a master’s in history. To be a good storyteller, the more you can learn about history the better.

The story of humankind is just as important as a narrative story on a bookshelf. The story of us is more important. The more you understand about the world, the better you can move in it today and tell a story.”

As most in showbiz, Joe says he’s questioned his career field, but is not giving up on his dream of one day shooting a feature film. “You have your days where you’re like, ‘why am I doing this,’ but by-in-large, I love it. I must or I wouldn’t be doing it,” Joe said. Leanna Ihry

■

Pictured above: Joe Patrow (right) with actor Anthony Hopkins

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

} the Eagle Eye

11

}

the Entrepreneur

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Rex Sorgatz, ’97, turns old products into new media through his self-made business

12

After running MSNBC.com and NBColympics.com, and having a Wired magazine Blogger of the Year nomination under his belt, Rex Sorgatz, ’97, looked for something more. He’d resisted the temptation to move to New York, where many of his friends had already headed, and instead made career moves to Minneapolis and to Seattle. But, New York, inevitably, was where his next adventure lay.

“Two years ago, I moved with the plan to start an online video company. The economy took a dive in the middle of that,” he said.

Yet, all was not lost. Rex, originally from Napoleon, N.D., took consulting jobs for companies looking to launch new media projects. Serendipitously, it was this alternative plan that brought him to where he wanted — his own business. While most companies were scaling back and some were even going under, media companies Rex consulted were doing a lot of transitioning from old media platforms to new.

Kinda Sorta Media was officially launched in 2009 as a consulting, branding, strategy, and Web site company working with big media outlets like Newsweek, Saturday Night Live, New York Magazine, and the Independent Film Channel. Please note it is not an agency. “I work to turn old products into new media. SNL is a good example. They know what the future will be with people watching TV online. I’m doing a project for them sort of like a YouTube just for SNL with all 30 years of the show on the internet,” he said. Kinda Sorta Media involves social media, project management, content development, design, research, business development, industrial

technology, and more.

The project with SNL came together through connections Rex had made working with NBC throughout the years, both from running the network’s Olympic Web sites and from his time as executive producer of MSNBC.com. “When a friend of mine became a producer at Jimmy Fallon’s new show, he introduced me to Lorne Michaels. And, everything fell into place from there,” said Rex. Is the media business what he thought it would be? “Well, I guess, no,” he said. “No one would say yes to that question. When I was in Grand Forks, we started small newspapers and the future of the medium existed in print and television. No one really knew what was going to happen with the internet and media changed more than anyone could’ve imagined in those years.” Amanda Hvidsten

■

the Investigator Judge Judy Associate Producer Dana Weaver, ’94, is always looking for the next legal escapade Judy, when she took a job with Central Castings and was in charge of putting extras on the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. From there, she became an assistant on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, did principal casting for 12 episodes of CSI: Miami, worked as a casting associate for some independent movies, and eventually did casting for the soap opera Passions. “That was one of my favorite jobs because in the Soaps you get people who aren’t big names and you give them a chance. They get a couple of lines and they are just ecstatic,” Dana said.

A broadcast major at UND, Dana recalls her involvement with Studio One, a live television show produced by students. Through that experience, she realized the news business wasn’t for her and decided to take some acting classes.

However, she didn’t believe she had the talent herself, “If I cast myself I would be a misfit,” she joked, adding that she was always good at figuring out who the good actors and actresses were. After an internship with U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan, ’65, HON ’02 (D-N.D.), in Washington, D.C., she headed to the Los Angeles area and started searching for work. “I had a book that listed all the casting directors and I just started sending out letters. I suppose I got lucky,” Dana remarked.

Dana believes a career in show business means going with the flow. “I had no idea that after Passions I’d be at Judge Judy. I never thought in a million years I’d be on a judge show. I have always just wanted a job that was fun, so, to me, this works for now,” Dana said.

Leanna Ihry

}

Judge Judy — arguably the most popular court show on television today — has been airing in homes across the United States since 1996.

UND grad and Rolla, N.D., native Dana Weaver has held an integral role with the show for the last couple of years as an associate producer.

Esentially, Dana’s job is to help decide who makes the cut. “We have researchers who pull small claims from courts all over the country and we start calling like crazy. We interview them, getting both sides of the story and then, if it’s interesting and if they’re willing, we fly them out here,” Dana explained, adding they are real people and real cases on the show.

Dana got her start behind the scenes in Hollywood several years before joining Judge

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

■

13

}

the Chameleon

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Attorney Katie O’Keefe-Hale, ’00, ’03, adapts to a new role when it’s lights, camera, action

14

After finishing a hard week of work as an attorney-trained-mediator for Trinity Mediation and with the North Dakota Supreme Court Family Mediation project, it isn’t uncommon for Katie O’Keefe-Hale to hop on a plane and travel to destinations around the United States to host the Heartland Poker Tour. “I like to stay busy,” the Grand Forks native explains. “Both jobs are so fulfilling and challenging in different ways.”

Katie, who always wanted to go into television and law, got her start as an anchor for UND’s student‐ run television program Studio One. From there, she hosted Sioux hockey games and met Minnesota Twins President and 1989 UND grad David St. Peter.

“When Dave saw me at a Sioux hockey game and told me to send in a tape I laughed,” Katie said.

This was her lucky break though, because she soon became a sideline reporter for the Minnesota Twins. “I didn’t know anything about baseball. I looked at it as learning a new language and jumped in with both feet.”

This was just the tip of the iceberg for Katie. She was asked to host a pilot show for the Heartland Poker Tour. She once again found herself in unknown territory as she hosted the show without knowing anything about the game of poker. “I’ve become pretty comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she explains, “I just picked up a book about poker and started learning.”

Around this time, Katie began working her way back into law. During the summer after her second year of law school she spent four-and-a-half months as a law reporter in Washington, D.C., for talk-radio news. “I was in D.C. right after the attacks of Sept.

11. I reported on the 9/11 Commission and 20th hijacker hearings,” Hale recalls. She also reported on the trial of John Walker Lindh, the American Taliban fighter.

In the near future, Katie will be hosting a celebrity charity event for disabled Veterans sponsored by Heartland Poker Tour. The event is very near and dear to her heart because her grandfather, John O’Keefe, ’46, was in the military and she is very proud of that piece of her family’s history. The poker tournament, scheduled to take place at the Redrock Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., will help disabled veterans and their families move forward with their lives.

Wendy Honrath

■

the negotiator Not everyone starts out wanting to be an English professor, ends up getting a rock and roll recording contract in L.A., and eventually becomes head of legal affairs for DreamWorks. Welcome to the life of Grant Gullickson.

When we visited, he was still working with NBC Universal’s legal department. Describing his position he said, “I read the scripts and vet them for any problems, like acquisition issues with respect to literary works or someone’s life story, and then draft and negotiate agreements for the rights grantors, filmmakers and talent. Seeing the fruits of my labors on screen is usually fun.”

Grant has served as production counsel for movies including A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, American Gangster, Liar Liar, 8 Mile, Inside Man, Frost/Nixon, King Kong and Ridley Scott’s upcoming (2010) Robin Hood, among others. For King Kong he said there was “a lot of legal work going back to source material from 1931 — clearing the rights, working with a huge budget and shooting in New Zealand. There was a lot of stuff.

By the time that one was on screen we felt like we accomplished a lot.”

At the outset, Grant depicted himself as a transactional lawyer and warned his job may not be very exciting. In the course of conversation, however,

he painted the true picture of his role as pairing an art form with a business. He said the filmmakers are artists, but the company is looking to make a commercial product. “My job is to make sure everything is nailed down so artists can just do their art,” he said. A noble view.

As Grant now makes the move to a similar position with DreamWorks, he sees it as the opportunity to be on the ground floor with relatively few senior executives to build a company (DreamWorks left its prior affiliation with Paramount in 2008). “How well the company does will determine how well we all do, and vice versa,” he said. “That’s challenging and fun at this stage of my career.”

Back in college, Grant played with a number of bands (including the Church Keys and Canoise), before heading to L.A. on a recording contract. Twelve years later, he decided to take the California bar exam and got a job in finance and administration with Columbia Pictures. He spent seven years there and became a vice president, transferred to its sister company, Tri-Star, and moved into the legal department. Eventually, he moved to NBC Universal, where he served for the last 15 years. Then DreamWorks came looking for him.

Grant, originally from Grand Forks, decided to stay close to home and attend UND to study English and philosophy with the hopes of becoming a professor and never missing a home Sioux hockey game. Although his path had unforeseen curves, he feels as though what he learned at UND has served him very well. “All a lawyer has is his ability to communicate, and for me it’s through writing because I draft contracts.” As he mentors new or potential lawyers, he’s careful to advise them to get as much English grammar instruction and writing experience as possible. “The basis of just about any job is how well one communicates,” he said.

Making movies can be described as a magical and unexpected experience of bringing a story to life. For his part in it, Grant said, “When you first get into it, you often don’t have any idea how good it’s going to be or whether it will find an audience. For A Beautiful Mind, I read it and was fascinated. When it turns out so well and wins the Academy Award for best picture, it’s really fulfilling.” Amanda Hvidsten

■

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

As head of legal affairs for DreamWorks, Grant Gullickson, ’66, pairs an art form with a business

15

16

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

C a m p u s N e ws

A true celebration, indeed!

The University of North Dakota is “Future Ready” in preparing students for tomorrow and conducting research and service that focus on the needs of today and beyond, UND President Robert O. Kelley told The Chamber of Grand Forks-East Grand Forks at a “Wake Up to UND” talk in September. He cited UND’s space studies as an example of a department engaged in foward-looking work. This summer two researchers in the department were awarded a $750,000 NASA grant to help develop the next generation of space suits.

celebrated 50 years as a College; 100 years of UND Greek Life, and 25 years for the UND Center for Innovation. You can a find a story about the Center for Innovation in this issue.

I want to commend Tim O’Keefe and the Alumni Association staff for a truly wonderful “Scream Green” Homecoming experience. And I congratulate Coach Chris Mussman and the UND football team on an exciting win. Then, to cap it all off, the men’s hockey team had a six-goal third period, only to capture a big Homecoming victory.

It was a true celebration of the creative, innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that defines the University and our graduates.

nickname, logo

What a great Homecoming this year! Marcia and I enjoyed every minute of it.

We hosted the UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation boards — as well as the National Campaign Steering Committee — for some productive talks about the future of the University. We talked about UND being “Future Ready” in how we prepare students to thrive in and create the world of today and tomorrow, and how we engage in research and service that make a real difference in people’s lives.

UND also celebrated a magnificent $10 million gift from an anonymous donor to the College of Business and Public Administration. The Challenge Grant gift could have a $40 million impact on the College. We greatly appreciate that spirit of philanthropy, which is becoming more and more important to helping the University engage in and sustain the work we do.

We honored four individuals with the Alumni Association’s highest honor, The Sioux Award: Ed Schafer, ’69, HON ’08, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former North Dakota Governor; Astronaut Karen Nyberg, ’94; Dan Martinsen, ’73, former standout football player and captain, and business entrepreneur; and Lavonne Russell Hootman, ’54, ’74, UND retired professor of nursing who helped establish the RAIN (Recruitment and Retention of American Indians into Nursing) program. We awarded the Young Alumni Achievement Award to Fernanda Philbrick, ’94, ’96, now a manager for Intel; and Chris Semrau, ’00, director of events/media relations for Ralph Engelstad Arena.

UND also celebrated 100 years of nursing on campus with the College of Nursing, which also

Best wishes,

Robert O. Kelley President

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

dear alumni & friends,

I know many of you have been following the nickname and logo story. By the time you read this, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education may have made a decision about whether or not the University will continue to be known as the Fighting Sioux.

As we go forward, I want to emphasize we will continue to focus on the University’s core mission of teaching and learning, scholarship and service.

We will do this in an environment that lines up with the University’s core values, such as the right and the freedom to express one’s views in a civil manner and to express and respect honest differences of opinion, also in a safe and civil environment.

In closing, I want to say we appreciate the significant help of you, our alumni and friends as, together, we move the University of North Dakota from great to exceptional.

17

C a m pu s N e ws

What’s New News from ARO

Campus

A Partnership with University Relations

Philosophy as Entertainment

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Jack Russell Weinstein asks: Why?

18

Associate Professor Jack Weinstein hosts a radio show on philosophical discussions of everyday life.

I

f comedian Jerry Seinfeld can do a TV show about nothing, why shouldn’t philosopher Jack Russell Weinstein do a radio show about something?

Why? is the name of Weinstein’s program on Prairie Public Radio, which airs the second Sunday of every month at 5 p.m.

Weinstein, an associate professor of philosophy at the UND, hosts a live call-in radio show on philosophical discussions of everyday life. The show’s title provides the context for what it’s about.

“It’s the basic question of philosophy,” Weinstein explains. “It’s an open-ended question, a question that people have to ask together.”

Why? is produced by the Institute for Philosophy and Public Life, a partnership of Prairie Public, the North Dakota Humanities Council and the UND College of Arts & Sciences. Its goal, according to Weinstein, is to get people to think about the role philosophy plays in their daily lives.

“People engage in discussions about their values and beliefs, and how they’re integrated into their lives,” he says. “It’s one way of saying their ideas and thoughts matter.”

Guests on the show explore such topics as forgiveness, hunting, athletic competition, whether America is in decline, and the export of democracy.

“We can talk about anything; everything’s on the table,” Weinstein relates. “I’m not afraid of controversy. I’m just afraid of not doing a good job.”

His guests have included humanist and columnist Clay Jenkinson of Bismarck, who portrays Thomas Jefferson on public radio show The Thomas Jefferson Hour; Lawrence E. Cahoone, associate professor at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Mass., and author of Cultural Revolutions: Reason versus Culture in Contemporary Philosophy, Politics and Jihad; Eva Feder Kittay, professor of philosophy at State University of New York Stony Brook and author of Love’s Labor: On Women, Equality and Dependency, and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998 for his work on social economics.

In addition, UND faculty have appeared on the show, covering topics from digital literature to political science to history. In an era in which talk radio is dominated by politics and sports, Weinstein admits the notion of a show devoted to philosophy might seem a bit of a stretch.

“Philosophy is something that seems distant to people,” he notes. “The idea to do a radio show on it probably seems bizarre, but once people listen, they become converted.”

And, people are listening, both on the radio and through live streaming broadcasts and podcasts from www.whyradioshow.org (where each program is also archived). The show has 300 podcast subscribers and has received unsolicited e-mails from across the country. People from 27 different countries have visited the show’s Web site.

Some of the appeal comes from what the show is not. “Nobody wants to listen to two people talk philosophy,” Weinstein says. “I wanted it to be a call-in show because people needed to feel like they’re participating. I like the intensity of doing a live show. I learn a tremendous amount from every guest, every phone call and every interaction.”

Listeners can take part by calling a toll-free number (888.755.6377) or submitting questions by e-mail to whyradioshow@und.edu.

“I am genuinely interested in what the people of North Dakota think,” Weinstein remarks. “In New York, you hear from all different nationalities.

Living in North Dakota is my diversity experience because I’d never experienced rural life. You have to live with people in order to see them.”

“The plan is to take it on the road because people have this sense that the University is for the Red River Valley,” he says. “UND is the state’s university, and that means that we have to engage the whole state in the conversation. They don’t have to come to us. We can go to them.”

If all goes well, Weinstein hopes eventually to go nationwide with his radio show.

“We’re going to get better slowly and steadily because that wins the race. I want to get to the point where the show is high quality and well produced.

I want people to think of philosophy when they think of North Dakota.”

As Seinfeld demonstrated, a show about nothing can be funny and entertaining. Weinstein believes a show about something as important as philosophy can be rewarding and useful to society.

“I want people to celebrate the intellectual aspects of their lives, whether they live on a butte or live in downtown Fargo,” he says. Any community that embraces philosophy will eventually be happy it does.” patrick c. miller

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

C a m p u s N e ws

19

C a m pu s N e ws

Julia Porter, a student in the theatre arts graduate program, has ambitions to become an artistic director of community theatre or run a college theatre department.

Lights! Careers! Action! Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere

20

“P

lastics.”

Mr. McGuire believed a single word of advice was all that college grad Ben Braddock – played by Dustin Hoffman – needed to know in the 1967 movie The Graduate.

While “plastics” is no longer a buzzword, most parents hope that by the time their children graduate from UND, they’ll have a degree in an area that makes them “future ready,” as President Robert Kelley likes to say.

A degree in theatre arts might not immediately come to mind, but perhaps it should.

“Theatre is a wonderful liberal arts background for careers of the future,” says Kathleen McLennan, chair of UND’s department of theatre arts. “Jobs are now being created in areas our parents couldn’t envision.

“If you have basic skills in problem-solving, communications and collaboration,” she continues, “any company would want to hire you. And knowing how to meet a deadline? In theatre, the audience is going to be there. You can’t put that one off.”

Although performers, directors and producers are typically the most recognizable names and faces of the entertainment industry, there’s a litany of positions supporting every creative effort.

They include electricians, carpenters, welders, set and costume designers, lighting and special effects experts, musicians, composers and writers – to name just a few.

That’s not taking into account the management and administrative side of the industry.

“I’ve worked with a variety of arts and cultural groups, theatre groups, music groups – on marketing, research and long-term strategic planning, all of the background aspects of arts organizations people don’t see,” says Ben Klipfel, a UND theatre arts graduate student.

There’s far more to theatre arts than acting, which means the opportunities are greater than some might expect.

For example, Alyssa Thompson, a senior double major in communication and theatre arts, is not only pursuing her goal of becoming a director, but is also doing her communication internship by handling the publicity duties for department of theatre arts productions.

“I’m wearing a lot of hats this semester with publicity and directing,” she says.

Thompson, who’s from Litchfield, Minn., recalls her father wasn’t thrilled with her choice of theatre arts as a major, but combining it with communications will enable her to pursue a career as a director of television advertising commercials.

“I’d like to be in creative advertising, especially commercials where I can still work with the actors and direct the commercial,” she explains. “I can also use communication in theatre with advertising for the plays and publicity.”

Klipfel, who established himself as a director and administrator on the Grand Forks theatre scene before entering the master’s program, believes students are exposed to a wider variety of career options at UND. “The beauty of a program the size of UND’s is that you’re immersed very early on,” he notes. “You’re able to set a focus and experience all the different aspects and

C a m p u s N e ws

Our Changing Planet

I

n just 90 seconds, UND videographer Jane Peterson tells compelling sciencebased stories that run on public television stations nationwide.

With 35 episodes under her belt and several more in production, Peterson runs the scientific gamut from endangered frogs and climate change to grizzly bears and forest ecosystems, all delivered in packages that take less time to watch than this article does to read. Or, as Peterson explains it, “about the time that a standard commercial break would run.”

The series, funded in part by NASA, is produced by the UND Center for People and the Environment. It’s part of the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium, or UMAC. Peterson, who got her degree in broadcasting from UND in 1989, spent 13 years behind and in front of the camera at WDAZ Channel 8 in Grand Forks. After completing her education, which included a stint as chief news photographer at UND’s Studio One, she launched her TV career as a part-time news photographer, lugging video cameras in the days of 3/4-inch tape and several pounds of battery packs. Peterson also worked long hours at WDAZ throughout the 1997 Red River Valley flood. The WDAZ news team won an Edward R. Murrow Award for their continuing flood coverage.

Now, Peterson puts her considerable video and digital image processing skills to work for UND science and research. In addition to her Our Changing Planet series, she’s also creating videos for the UND-NASA National Suborbital Education and Research Center, which includes NASA’s DC-8 flying lab. This work soon will take

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

decide what you’re good at, what you really enjoy and other things you thought perhaps you’d enjoy but don’t as much.”

Julia Porter, a graduate of Carroll College in Helena, Mont., went into theatre thinking she wanted to be an actor in New York or Los Angeles. However, discovering what she didn’t want to do was an important part of her learning experience.

“I didn’t like the auditioning part of the process,” she relates. “So why would I torture myself that way?”

Taking a break from acting, she moved to Grand Forks and got involved with the Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre where she directed Brighton Beach Memoirs. After seeing the production, McLennan convinced Porter to enter the theatre arts graduate program at UND and teach beginning acting.

Ultimately, Porter wants to return to her native Montana to be the artistic director of a community theatre or run a college theatre department.

“Theatre is not just acting, and it’s not just done in big cities,” she says.

McLennan is accustomed to battling the perception that unless theatre arts graduates make it big as actors in a major market, it’s difficult for them to earn a living in the entertainment industry. She recites a long list of theatre arts graduates thriving in the entertainment industry: • Joel Krause, ’05, production manager for the Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts.

• Jessica Vidden, ’09, master electrician and lighting designer for the performing arts department at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. • Gary Moody, ’71, Fort Worth, Texas, has a 35-year career as an actor, announcer, writer, and director of film and television.

• Derrick Dirlam, ’04, an established actor with the Nimbus Theatre in Minneapolis, who has numerous credits in film and television.

Like Ben Braddock in The Graduate, Klipfel received “helpful” career advice from the local mortician while attending high school in Ashley, N.D. “He called me up and said he thought I’d be a great mortician,” Klipfel recalls.

“He said I needed to understand that being an undertaker is five percent science, 80 percent public relations and the rest is theatre.

“I ended up not going into mortuary work because I couldn’t get over the five percent science,” he laughs. patrick c. miller

Jane Peterson, ’89, makes science accessible to the public through 90-second stories.

21

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

C a m pu s N e ws

22

Jane and her camera gear on several long DC-8 research flights over the Antarctic from a base in southern Chile.

“Really what this is all about is making science accessible to the public,” said Peterson, who noted the idea for the program started with UMAC founder and retired director George Seielstad. “We try to produce five programs annually for distribution through the National Educational Telecommunication Association. NETA puts our programs on its satellite feed to member stations nationwide.” North Dakota’s Prairie Public Television is a NETA member.

What does it take to produce a 90-second episode of Our Changing Planet?

“Well, I wear a lot of hats; researcher, writer, producer, director,” she said. “Once I’ve researched a topic — and that means reading everything I can get my hands on including journal articles and white papers — I run it by our scientists. We have a terrific resource here, good people with a variety of science backgrounds, who make sure our stories are accurate.”

Once the basic production is done, Peterson ships the package to the UND Aerospace Network, home to high-tech capabilities and experienced digital production experts who edit her movies and prepare them for broadcast. Besides shooting some of the footage for each program, Peterson also combines appropriate footage from NASA’s considerable resource files and from the Aerospace Network, which also has on hand a great stash of video clips.

At 90 seconds, Our Changing Planet episodes are popular with teachers.

“Oh yes, I get feedback from teachers all over the world who want to use episodes in their classrooms,” Peterson said. “These episodes are just long enough to hold students’ attention to grasp that nugget of information. One of our primary goals is to raise awareness.”

For more information visit www.umac.org/ocp/ and www.umac.org/cpe/index.html juan pedraza

Twenty-five Years and Strong UND’s Center for Innovation celebrates milestone anniversary

H

e’s UND ’74 with degrees in mathematics and zoology, and a minor in chemistry. He’s an “old timer” who came to University of North Dakota as a freshman 40 years ago. And this year, Bruce Gjovig, founder and director, celebrates the UND Center for Innovation’s 25th anniversary.

It’s been a very cool journey.

“My first job after I graduated was as a research chemist for the U.S. Navy’s ‘Man in the Sea Project’ at UND,” Gjovig said. “I worked on the 1976 campaign of then-North Dakota public service commissioner Richard Elkins against incumbent Arthur Link; then I was asked to help establish the Multiple Listing System in Grand Forks,” Gjovig said. “Then I was hired by (former UND Alumni Association executive vice president and CEO) Earl Strinden, ’58. That’s when I stumbled across entrepreneurship.”

What about all that college math and science?

“Quantitative reasoning is great for a creative person such as myself – it’s vital to have scientific discipline combined with creative,” said Gjovig. “It’s the basis of entrepreneurship.”

Gjovig’s entrepreneurial adventure started when his fraternity drafted him on a team to develop building plans for a new chapter house.

His “Aha!” moment came at the UND Alumni Association.

“I was meeting entrepreneur alums, and it occurred to me that the University should help students learn about starting and running companies,” Gjovig said. “I organized the UND Center for Innovation 25 years ago under one of the great entrepreneur presidents of this University, Tom Clifford ’42, ’48, HON ’00.

“When we started the Center, there were few similar programs – one at Wichita State University and one at Carnegie-Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, Penn., run by Ashley, N.D., native

C a m p u s N e ws Lee Groeschl, ’09, former Center for Innovation entrepreneur finance director; Bruce Gjovig, Center for Innovation founder and director, and Rodrigo Cintra, ’05, Center for Innovation marketing and entrepreneur consultant, look over a business plan.

entrepreneurship.

“Jim is one of the most accomplished angel investors in the nation,” said Gjovig in his nomination letter for the honorary degree Ray received from UND earlier this year. “He was a venture capitalist long before being a venture capitalist was cool.”

Gjovig, who’s never held a faculty position at UND, considers himself an “entrepreneur coach.”

“My teaching is more individual, and I’m totally engaged with students of all ages,” he said. “The Center has gathered quite a family of businesses that started here — everything from no-tech to high-tech — and our list keeps growing with businesses started by people from 16 to 70.”

The Dakota Venture Group (DVG) is another key Center for Innovation development.

It came about when Bart and Lynn Holaday, who’ve been associated with the Center for 20 years, wrote a check in 2006 to get the ball rolling. DVG is the country’s only completely

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

Dwight Baumann,” Gjovig said.

“Tom knew these folks and understood the entrepreneurial way of doing things,” Gjovig said.

“He gave me $20,000 to create the Center, but he also told me to find the money to run it.

I needed to get 15 alums to give $5,000 each for five years. Walt Swingen, ’53, of Swingen Construction in Grand Forks, wrote the first check. Eugene ‘Gene’ Dahl, ’48, HON ’99, was our first board chair. Dahl’s son, Howard, ’71, is currently vice chairman of our Center for Innovation Foundation board.”

James Ray, president of Aerospace Capital Group and president of R ay Foundation, is one the prime movers behind the Center and he is treasurer of the Center’s Foundation.

“The entrepreneur program at UND would not be ranked top-tier by the Princeton Review without the endowment and operating support Jim provided,” Gjovig said. “His support includes funding for Center interns and staff, and two faculty positions in the UND department of

student-run venture capital firm. Bart, a Jamestown, N.D., native who has chaired the Center’s board since 2003, is a retired venture capitalist.

“Bart and Lynn knew entrepreneurship doesn’t come out of books,” Gjovig said. “It’s not a classroom exercise — to learn it you have to sweat out the whole process by investing real money.”

Gjovig explained: “We decided to put the money into the students’ hands. The students source the deals, scrub them, see what kind of deal they had on their hands, do due diligence, negotiate the investment terms, actually produce the investment documents, manage the portfolio, arrange for the exit strategies, and add value to the companies along the way.

“I hand-picked the first five students to start the club,” Gjovig said. “Now we’ve had a total of about 50 students who have gained experience in the DVG; the students choose their own successors, and there are 20 at one time involved in the fund. DVG has six investments in its portfolio.”

DVG now is preparing to become a for‐profit entity, and it will be, again, the first of its kind in the country.

“We all have tremendous fun working with these creative people,” Gjovig said. “More than 300 students of all ages and majors have passed through our doors as interns, and of those, about 110 started their own ventures and about 190 worked with an entrepreneur start-up company as interns. That doesn’t count all the students, some 500, who’ve come to us to talk or get advice.

“Entrepreneurship, as we see it, is about a lot more than starting a business,” Gjovig said. “It’s a way of life, of saying, ‘I can be an innovator in any setting, whether it’s social or civic entrepreneurship or, yes, building a business. ’” juan pedraza 23

C a m pu s N e ws

Twenty-seven international educators spent six weeks studying at UND’s department of teaching and learning this fall. UND was one of only four universities to host international teachers through the Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program. To show their appreciation, the educators showered President Robert Kelley with gifts.

The purpose was to provide the teachers with the opportunity to collaborate with U.S. educators in an effort to develop planning and teaching skills.

The group included social studies teachers and several English teachers from 12 different countries around the world including Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Columbia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

National Indian Gaming Commission Chair Visits Campus

24

Phil Hogen, National Indian Gaming Commission chair, served this semester as the inaugural Distinguished Public Administrator in Residence, jointly sponsored by the UND School of Law and the UND College of Business and Public Administration. Hogen’s visit was highlighted with a keynote address titled “Achievements and Challenges in Indian Gaming from the Perspective of the National Indian Gaming Commission.” Hogen was joined by two members of First Nations University of Canada in a panel discussion on Aboriginal economic development and gaming.

President George W. Bush appointed Hogen to chair the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) in the Fall of 2002.

The NIGC is the independent federal regulatory agency created within the Department of the Interior by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) to provide federal oversight for the Indian gaming industry, now involving more than 200 federally recognized Indian tribes and more than 400 tribal gaming operations in 28 states.

Prior to his appointment as chair of NIGC, Hogen served as the associate solicitor for the division of Indian affairs at the Department of the Interior. He earned his law degree at the University of South Dakota in 1970 and is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He currently makes his home in the Black Hills.

C a m p u s N e ws

The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Fighting Sioux Battalion has just completed its fourth straight first-place victory at the Camp Ripley (Minn.)

Ranger Challenge Competition.

“Our cadets did an outstanding job and made UND look really good,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Sickinger, professor of military science. The “A” team led by Cadet Charles Stratton finished first in five of the eight events and second in the other three. The “B” team led by Cadet Dan White came in second place overall. The UND teams competed against eight universities.

“The primary purpose of everything we do with the cadets is to provide them training for what they will need in their profession,” Sickinger said. “The primary purpose of Ranger Challenge is to allow some of the best cadets from every school to compete against similar cadets, testing their warrior skills against their peers from other schools.”

UND Welcomes Norwegian Lawmaker to Campus Odd Einar Dørum and American College of Norway founder Steinar Opstad visited campus this semester.

Dørum, a former leading member of Norway’s parliament (Storting), deliverd several lectures and met with campus leaders and students who are active with educational exchanges in Norway.

In a presentation sponsored by the Nordic Initiative, Dørum talked about how climate change is reshaping the Arctic, global security, oil and gas exploration, and more. Dørum and Opstad also visited with the Association of Norwegian Students Abroad (ANSA), the Center for Innovation, the UND Aerospace Foundation, and several key leaders in charge of educational exchanges in Norway.

Dørum was ccompanied by Opstad, who received an honorary degree in 2008; Krista Lauritzen, president of the American College of Norway; and Siri Blindheim, chair of the American College of Norway and head of a large program in Norway called “Female Future,” which helps well-educated women to achieve public and private sector executive and board positions.

Dean’s Corner

making new things possible The College of Arts & Sciences is off to a great start this fall following a very successful year. The number of students majoring in disciplines within the College is up significantly. Eight of these new students were named as the first Burgum Scholars, benefiting from the College’s largest philanthropic gift to date from Rick, ’68, and Jody Burgum, ’74, of Arthur, N.D. These students will find a number of new programs that add value to their majors. They can choose from minors in dance, Canadian area studies, linguistics, leadership, non-profit leadership, or certificates in editing and publishing, and conflict transformation.

As the result of last year’s recruiting efforts, our students will be taught by several new faculty. While other universities were implementing hiring freezes and canceling faculty searches, we were lucky to draw from deep applicant pools.

We hired 20 top candidates who will be key contributors to the future success of UND and the College. You can view a list of our new faculty members at http:// undarts.wordpress.com.

These new faculty come with a bit more experience than past new hires and they are already off to a strong start. Two new hires in theatre will allow us to build strength in dance and musical theatre, an area of avid student interest.

Five new faculty joined the program in communication, one of them holding a Pulitzer Prize and filling The Charles R. Johnson Endowed Professor. Three new faculty in psychology are making it possible to offer the entire undergraduate psychology degree program online.

The College also enjoyed a year where the funding from external grants was at a new high, up 67 percent to $4.4 million. These grants allow faculty to conduct research on problems of global interest, pursue new ideas that stimulate further thought, study and reflection, and create artistic works that challenge and fulfill our sense of aesthetic appreciation. Some grants also provide direct benefits to students or improve our teaching and research infrastructure.

Both the history and Indian studies departments relocated to O’Kelly Hall over the summer following improvements to over 15,000 square-feet of office and classroom space. We hope to complete this relocation project as funds become available.

Finally, let me take a moment to publicly thank those alumni who are great partners in helping the College become increasingly strong and successful.

Without your support, our forward progress would be much diminished.

Sincerely,

Martha A. Potvin Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

UND Army ROTC Battalion Victorious Again

25

Thanks $10 Million UND’s College of Business and Public Administration receives largest gift in history

The UND College of Business and Public Administration (CoBPA) has 10 million reasons to celebrate. At a press conference Oct. 2, during Homecoming festivities, UND President Robert Kelley announced a $10 million gift to the CoBPA from an anonymous donor. “We’ve had a chance to say thanks a million, but we’ve never had a chance to say thanks 10 million,” UND Foundation Executive Vice President and CEO Tim O’Keefe, ’71, said following Kelley’s announcement.

The gift, established as a Challenge Grant, is among the largest ever given to UND through the Foundation. In total, it would have a $40 million impact on the CoBPA. Already, in just the last 16 months, more than $5.5 million has been committed! The grant will be awarded through 2015 as commitments are fulfilled to multiply endowment gifts made to fund student scholarships, faculty or program initiatives in the College.

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

The donor said, “I have a personal belief in the power of philanthropy and the educational and economic impact it can have in North Dakota. At the College of Business and Public Administration there is an energy and excitement that I feel will make a global impact.

Establishing the gift as a Challenge Grant is my way of not only supporting the College, but encouraging others to do the same.”

26

Impact Forever

Here’s how it works:

Join us today in building $40 million in additional endowment support. On a fast-track to achieving excellence, your philanthropic partnership, coupled with additional support offered by the generosity of the Challenge Grant will catapult the college and ensure sustaining excellence.

Every $3 you give may be matched with $1 on all endowment dollars received by June 2015. Look at the potential impact already!

Contact Kim Woods at kimw@undfoundation.org or call 800.543.8764 to make an impact.

$7.079 million Challenge Grant impact to date

$5.56 million Donor Commitments To Date

•

•

•

•

•

Creating an endowed fund ensures education and College longevity.

A minimum commitment of $25,000 will establish an endowment.

Funds are invested to produce annual allocation for the purpose you choose.

Commitments can be paid in increments on a schedule to fit your financial needs.

The Challenge Grant can multiply the impact of your endowment and result in even greater growth and excitement within the CoBPA.

Thank you to the following generous donors who have given gifts or made commitments as part of this Challenge Grant incentive: Gayle Clifford, ’65, Grand Forks; Dottie Dekko, ’50, Excelsior, Minn.; Patrick, ’71, ’72, and Mary Dirk, Newport Beach, Calif.; Jeff, ’90, and Cathy Gendreau, ’89, Andover, Minn.; Phil, ’82, and Patricia Gisi, ’82, Grand Forks; Henry, ’68, ’71, and Judee Herr, Monteagle, Tenn.; Mary Loyland, ’64, ’79, Thompson, N.D.; Marilyn Lundberg, ’61, Grand Forks; Greg, ’73, and Cindy Page, ’75, Wayzata, Minn.; Mark, ’77, and Linda Pancratz, ’76, Edwards, Colo.; Richard, ’69, ’76, and Eunice Peters, Chanhassen, Minn.

bottom left UND President Robert Kelley announces a $10 million commitment to the CoBPA from an anonymous donor.

Established as a Challenge Grant, the total impact would be $40 million. right UND senior and accounting major Lee Rensch told a full house what a significant impact philanthropy has on students.

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

partner today

top left UND Foundation Executive Vice President and CEO Tim O’Keefe addresses the crowd during a press conference announcing the historic gift Oct. 2.

27

1

2

3

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

homecoming2009

6

28

1. The “McLovin RAs” showed their spirit at the annual Yell Like Hell event on campus, winning the cheer competition.

2. UND sophomores and Delta Gamma sorority sisters Susie Bonn and Hannah Shaw show their school spirit.

3. UND students were pumped to play a rousing game of flag football.

4. Nursing students showed off their sweet bedside manner by handing out candy at the Homecoming Parade.

5. UND’s Greek God and Goddess took part in the Homecoming parade.

Pictured: Brooke Erickson, Delta Gamma and Sam Mullin, Sigma Phi Epsilon 6. UND defeated South Dakota 27-12 at the Homecoming football game.

7. Several members of Greek Life, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary on campus this year, participated in the Homecoming Parade.

8. Rod, ’59, and Carmen Thorpe, ’60, watched the Homecoming Parade after the Class of 1959 Breakfast at the J. Lloyd Stone House.

9. Nursing grads from across the U.S. attended the UND College of Nursing Centennial Gala. Pictured: Deb, ’78, and Jerry Soholt.

7

10. 2009 Homecoming Queen Emily Lorenz and King Brian Kistner were crowned at the football game.

11. Getting off to a good start was important at the 10K race, which started at the Wellness Center.

12. The Smith Hall Sharks won the sprit competition prize at the annual Yell Like Hell event.

13. The Class of 1959 watched the Parade from the porch of the J. Lloyd Stone House.

14. Members of the Class of 1959 enjoyed the Golden Grad Cocktail Social at L’Bistro at Canad Inns.

15. This little UND fan is all bundled up for the Homecoming Parade.

16. Tim O’Keefe, ’71; Scott Hennen and his

daughter, Hannah; Cary Eades, ’84, ’86, and Ed Schafer, ’69, HON ’08, tailgated before the Homecoming football game against South Dakota.

17. New members were inducted into the Order of the Coif at the School of Law alumni social.

Pictured (Back, from left): Mark Brickson, director of development, School of Law; Diane Wehrman, ’09; Christopher Pieske, ’05, ’09; Amy Oster, ’09. (Front, from left): Lori (Cowan) Conroy, ’09 and Leah Johnson Ellis, ’09.

11

15

4 5

10

8

9

12

13

14

16

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

17

29

homecoming2009 continued 19

20

18 22

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

21

30

23

24

18. The UND cheer team gathers around a die-hard Sioux fan outside the Homecoming football game.

19. UND alumna Karen Nyberg, ’94, presented memorabilia from her space flight aboard the Shuttle Discovery at the Homecoming football game.

Pictured from left: Bassel El- Rewini, First Lady Marcia Kelley; President Robert Kelley; UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation Executive Vice President and CEO Tim O’Keefe, ’71; Karen Nyberg, ’94; and School of Engineering Dean Hesham El-Rewini.

20. The UND Alumni Association honored four alumni with The Sioux Award. Recipients were (from left): Dan Martinsen, ’73; Karen Nyberg, ’94; LaVonne Russell Hootman, ’54, ’74; and Ed Schafer, ’69, HON ’08.

21. Nancy Schafer, Ellen McKinnon, ..’35, and Ed Schafer, ’69, HON ’08, celebrated at The Sioux Award banquet.

22. Chris Semrau, ’00, and Fernanda Philbrick, ’94, ’96, were honored with the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

23. The 2009 Homecoming Court included (Back, from left): Patrick Nagel, Jeff Maddock, Joel Sandstrom, King Brian Kistner and Austin Deboer.

(Front, from left): Sarah Flage, Meg Towner, Queen Emily Lorenz, Laura Ashburn, and Anna Langemo.

24. UND students danced the night away at the Johnny Holm Concert in the Alerus Center.

31

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

small guybig impact Former UND running back Weston Dressler, ’08, is a Fan Favorite among Canadian football fans

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

by Mitchell Blair, Riderville.com

32

Weston Dressler may only be 5‐foot‐7 in size, but the popularity he is enjoying among fans of the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders makes him a giant.

The second-year receiver is arguably the team’s most popular player. That is no easy feat in a province where most everyone eats, lives and breathes Rider football.

“There is no doubt he is our most popular player,” states Riders Communications Coordinator Sheri Trapp. “I think a lot of his popularity is because he is an underdog and Saskatchewan people love the underdog.

He’s this little guy who is so tough and such a go-getter.

You can’t help but notice him and love him.”

Saskatchewan Head Coach Ken Miller knew Weston was going to be a good player when he saw him perform on the first day of the team’s rookie camp in 2008. What he didn’t realize was how good he would be so soon.

“I didn’t think he would have made the impact that he has,” says Miller. “I knew he would be special, but to see him perform at the level he has so quickly has been surprising to a lot of people. It just says something about the individual he is and the player that he is.”

Weston dazzled in his first year with Saskatchewan.

He caught 56 passes for 1,128 yards and six touchdowns while adding just over 1,000 yards in returning kicks. The Bismarck native was named the team’s Molson Cup Most Popular Player, as voted by the fans.

For that effort, he was recognized as the CFL’s Rookie of the Year. It meant Weston had the opportunity to go to Grey Cup festivities in Montreal, and it was there where he saw how popular he was first-hand. Weston showed up at Riderville — a hospitality suite that the football team has at every Grey Cup. He was mobbed by Rider fans upon walking into the building.

“I think it opened his eyes and his parents’ eyes,” laughs Trapp. “I know a few times he went missing because he was being swarmed by fans. His mom wanted to know where he had gone and I had to explain to her that he was being surrounded by fans who wanted

a picture, wanted an autograph and wanted to rub shoulders with a guy who has become a fan favorite.”

It was also something Weston says he won’t forget.

“That was quite an experience,” says Weston. “It was a great chance to meet the fans and make some new friends. It was a pretty wild night. I enjoy being a part of this organization and playing for fans that have such a passion for the game. That night was a lot of fun.”

Weston is also quick to say the popularity has left him a little awestruck.

“A little bit,” Weston admits. “It’s pretty cool to see the support people in Regina and across Saskatchewan give to the football team and to players. It’s more than what I expected. I came in just trying to make this team and keep my football career going. Now I’m having a lot of success and I’m having a lot of fun doing it.”

Rider fans are having a lot of fun watching Weston play and they are paying big dollars to get his name on the back of a jersey or something that has his name attached to it.

“Come to a game and you can see a lot of Dressler jerseys out there,” says Trapp. “It’s not just one demographic that has them. It’s young fans, old fans, men, women, they all love this guy and want something with his number on it.”

Weston Dressler lettered at UND from 2004-07 and was a four-time All-North Central Conference selection. During his senior year, he became the first player in NCC history to garner first-team all-conference honors at three different positions (receiver, return specialist, utility). He also earned 14 different All-American honors while at UND and graduated as the school’s all-time leading receiver. Weston was also an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American.

Of note: Since this article was written, Weston broke his leg and sprained his ankle during the team’s victory over the Toronto Argonauts in early October. He may return to the CFL later this year.

33

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

photo courtesy of riderville.com

34

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

if you would like to give to support the Alumni Review call 800 . 543 . 8764, log on to www.undfoundation.org or mail a donation in the enclosed envelope.

“Our family has deep roots at UND.

We both graduated

from there, our parents and several relatives attended and graduated, and we hope our son, Gabe, will do the same when the time comes. As

alumni of the University, the Alumni Review is the best way to stay connected to campus. We love flipping through the magazine to see what people are up to, and what’s new at UND.

Because of that, we want to ensure it keeps arriving in our mailbox. That’s

why we give to support the Alumni Review!

We hope you will, too.

”

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

- Kasey (Mickelson), ’03, and Aaron Lindstrom, ’02, Moorhead, Minn.

35

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws

Alumni Class News

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Find out what your classmates are doing now!

36

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

UND’s Flickertail Follies, which was a popular campus variety show competition between the Greek chapters, was popular from 1925 to 1961. In 1950, students attracted national attention and were featured in LIFE magazine. This photo, from one of the shows, is believed to have been taken sometime in the 1950s. Are you in this photo or do you recognize anyone who is? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Send an e-mail to alumnireview@undalumni.net, or call 800.543.8764 and ask for Leanna Ihry.

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws

Priscilla (Schmidt) Schmidt, ’63 (center), Rapid City, S.D., wrote, “I did not notice myself in the photo when I first flipped through the magazine. The next day, three old DG (Delta Gamma) roommates from UND, on their way to a 50th high school class reunion, stopped to visit and pointed it out!”

In addition to Priscilla’s e-mail, alumni were quick to identify the others in the photo as (left to right): Robert “Tip” Enebak, ’63, Prior Lake, Minn.; Gary Sukut, ’63, ’70, Williston, N.D.; Maurice “Maurie” Paulsen, ’63, ’73, Larimore, N.D.; and Eugene “Gene” Murphy, ’63, ’64, ’76, Placentia, Calif.

1965

Remember when, in 1959, the Student Union sponsored pool lessons for ladies during Student Union Week?

David Vorland, ’65, is a freelance writer, photographer and consultant. Previously, he was director of University Relations at UND. David lives in Grand Forks.

Herbert Cleveland, ’57, celebrated his 50th ordination anniversary with former parishioners at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid City, S.D., where he and his wife, Constance, reside.

Allen McConnell, ’65, ’66, an accounting professor at Monfort College of Business in Greely, Colo., received the school’s Business Excellence Award. The award recognizes individuals who have displayed academic excellence, exceptional service and leadership in business; or who have notably advanced the development and success of the College. Allen and his wife, Carol, live in Greely.

Dwight Zwick, ’57, wrote the book Duct Tape Lawyer. He and his wife, Judy, live in Centennial, Colo.

··························· 1960s

Remember when, in 1964, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible was performed at Burtness Theatre?

··································· 1964

Betty Monkman, ’64, former White House curator, was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony for the 125th Anniversary of the City of Bottineau and Bottineau County in North Dakota. Betty, a native of Bottineau County, has presented several lectures and papers on the White House’s history, architecture, interiors, and more. She has also had award-winning books published on White House families and historical furnishings. Betty resides in Washington, D.C.

···································

··································· 1968

Allan Schmalenberger, ’68, ’73, retired as district judge for the Southwest Judicial District in North Dakota. Allan has been a district judge since 1981. He and his wife, Georgiann, live in Dickinson, N.D.

··································· 1969

Marilyn (Walter) Guy, ’69, ’71, ’76, is interim president at Oak Grove Lutheran School in Fargo.

Marilyn is a 30-year veteran of the Concordia College education department. She is the first female president in Oak Grove’s 103-year history. Marilyn and her husband, William, ’68, ’76, live in Fargo.

···························

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

If the many e-mails and phone calls we received are any indication, it’s clear this crew was quite popular during their days at UND.

1950s

Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

Greek life at UND celebrates 100 years in 2009. Since the first days of Sigma Chi back in 1909, fraternities and sororities have been a vibrant part of our campus and home to nearly 10 percent of the student body. In that time, Greek life members have served on Student Government, research projects, athletic teams, service groups, and more. We proudly salute UND’s six sorority and 12 fraternity chapters in this milestone anniversary year. Each Greek life member in this section is denoted with this column.

37

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws

1970s

Remember, in 1976, when restoration started on the Oxford House, the former residence of UND presidents? The building is now office space for the UND Foundation.

Erik Holland, ’74, is site supervisor for the Fort Buford State Historic Site, which is part of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. He worked as an interpretive program associate and interpretive program specialist for historic sites at the Minnesota Historical Society from 1998-09.

Erik and his wife, Susan, reside in Williston, N.D.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1976 1975

Bruce Haskins, ’75, was inducted into the North Dakota Amateur Basketball Hall of Fame during the State Amateur Basketball Tournament in Minot in March.

Bruce has played in 30 State Amateur tournaments and has been named to the All-State team five times. He retired from his position as vice president for administration and finance at Minot State University in 2005. Bruce and his wife, Margo, live in Minot, N.D.

···································

Jan (Kirby) Biederstedt, ’76, retired from her teaching position at Hagen Junior High School in Dickinson, N.D., after 27 years at the job. Jan worked in special education for many years before transitioning to the day treatment program, which helps students at risk in the home, school or community. She and her husband, Dennis, live in Dickinson.

··································· 1977

Rosanna (Malouf) Peterson, ’77, ’83, ’91, was nominated

by President Barack Obama to become a federal judge in Eastern Washington. Rosanna is on the faculty at Gonzaga University School of Law. She and her husband, Fredrick, ..’80, live in Spokane, Wash.

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Ken Schneider, ’77, is a personal banker and vice president of American Federal Bank in Fargo, where he and his wife, Ginger, reside.

38

shoot for the stars Imagine going from zero mph to 17,000 mph in just eight and a half minutes! Thanks to a talk from 1994 UND engineering grad and NASA Astronaut Karen Nyberg, area 4th and 8th graders now have a little better understanding of that concept and the wonder of space travel. Nyberg, who was on campus in early October for Homecoming, visited with the students at the Memorial Union. After a brief presentation and video about her May 2008 trip aboard the Shuttle Discovery, Karen answered questions from the students who asked things like “Why did you want to be an astronaut?” “What was your favorite subject in elementary school?” “What was it like to see earth from space?”

While visiting campus, Karen participated in many of the Homecoming festivities including a Great Conversation, where she was interviewed by students; and The Sioux Award banquet, of which she was a recipient of that honor.

1978

Brad Coulthart, ’78, received a highly competitive science and math education scholarship from Honeywell. Brad, a science teacher at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minn., was selected to participate in the 2009 Honneywell Educators @ Advanced Space Academy program at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., and at the Kennedy Space Center. The program is designed to provide math and science teachers with supplemental teaching techniques through real-life astronaut training and innovative tools. Brad lives in Minneapolis.

··························· 1980s Remember when, in 1980, UND students began riding city buses for free?

Previously, students had been charged 35 cents per ride.

Ronald Fischer, ’80, a partner in the Pearson Christensen & Clapp, PLLP law firm, was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2010. He is recognized for his work in personal injury and commercial litigation.

Ronald and his wife, Maria (Lucy), ’79, ’92, live in Grand Forks.

Roger Grimsley, ..’80, is geometrics manager for Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services. He and his wife, Debbie, live in Grand Forks.

Ron Palczewski, ’80, is president of Dakota Western Bank.

Previously, he served as executive vice president of the bank, where he has served for 29 years. He and his wife, Sheila, live in Bowman, N.D.

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws

2007 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks is proud of her UND and North Dakota connections!

The 19-year-old opened for pop star Brittney Spears at the Alerus Center Sept. 12. Before the show, Sparks made a stop at the J. Lloyd Stone House on campus, where about 80 of her family and friends were waiting. Sparks’ grandfather, Jim Wiedmann, is a 1971 UND graduate who played Fighting Sioux football. Her grandmother, Pam Wiedmann, also attended UND, and Sparks’ great-grandfather, Jim Rutherford, lives in Fargo. Sparks took time to pose for photos with guests and entertained the crowd with her Acappella version of America the Beautiful. The UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation presented Sparks with a personalized Fighting Sioux jersey to wear during the concert.

···································

Sparks posed with UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation employees who attended the meet–and–greet.

1981

Frank Haynes, ’81, is a senior training specialist with Creative Memories in St. Cloud. Frank recently launched the Web site Siouxpride.com. The site is designed to encourage the preservation and sharing of pride in the Sioux name. Frank and his wife, Angela, live in Albany, Minn.

··································· 1982

Jon Allen, ’82, ’84, a medical doctor, was inducted into the Fellowship of the American College of Physicians. Jon and his wife, Rose (Schauer) ’78, reside in Grand Forks.

Mary Jo ( Johnson) Van Horn, ’82, is co-founder of BluHorn, LLC and BluHorn Solutions, a Web-based media planning and buying software licensed to media professionals throughout the United States. She also owns and operates Van Horn Media, Inc., a full-service advertising agency.

Mary Jo and her husband, Clark, live in Bismarck.

··································· 1983

Kevin Fee, ’83, is communications supervisor in the graphic services department

Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

To meet an idol

pictured from left: Amanda Hvidsten, ’01, director of alumni relations; Leanna (Anderson) Ihry, ’02, Alumni Review editor; Jordin Sparks; DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86, associate executive vice president/chief development officer; and Sigrid Letcher, development coordinator for the executive vice president/ CEO.

Sparks, center, was proud to wear jersey No. 80 with the name Wiedmann on the back. This was a replica of the jersey her grandfather wore when he played for the Fighting Sioux in the late 1960s and early 70s. pictured from left: Pam (Rutherford) Wiedmann, ..’69; Jerry Olson, former Fighting Sioux football coach; Jordin Sparks; Leona Rutherford; Jim Wiedmann, ’71; and Jim Rutherford.

at Minnkota Power Cooperative.

Kevin worked for the past 11 years as sports editor and writer for the Grand Forks Herald. He and his wife, Renee (Borowicz), ..’80, live in Grand Forks.

Thomas Merrick, ’83, was appointed a Southeast Judicial District Judge in North Dakota by Governor John Hoeven. Thomas is an attorney in Jamestown, N.D.,

where he and his wife, Pamela (Meidnger), ’76, reside.

Sheryl (Rhen) Smith, ’83, ’86, is chief administrative officer for Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services. She and her husband, Mark, live in Grand Forks.

···································

1984

Laura (Potts) Sunsdahl, ’84, is a nurse practitioner with Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic in Dickinson, N.D., where she lives.

··································· 1986

Joel Beiswenger, ’86, is president and chief executive officer of the Tri-County Health Care board of

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

Michael Mahoney, ’80, ’83, joined the U.S. Department of Justice and is serving as a resident legal advisor in Iraq. Prior to the move, Michael was an assistant district attorney in the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office.

His wife, Mary (Lepinski), ’76, ’85, is library manager for Peterson, Johnson & Murray law firm in Milwaukee. The couple has a home in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

39

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws

a lesson learned

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Rich Patterson, ’07, ’08, put the skills he learned on the streets to good use as he did graffiti art within the integrated studies department.

40

His journey to UND was a long one — longer than most.

Rich Patterson vividly remembers his first day on campus on Aug. 22, 2002.

Thirty-nine years old at the time, he hadn’t been in a classroom or read a book for more than 20 years. He was a New Yorker, born and raised. Rich came from a neighborhood where 48 of 50 children were in singleparent families – a place where kids had a better

chance of becoming a drug dealer than going to college.

The youngest of six children, Rich’s father died when he was 10, leaving his mother to raise him and his siblings on her own. By this time, he was making adult decisions by himself, and then … “My senior year of high school, I’m a drug dealer and graffiti artist. I started to hang with this crew called Rolling Thunder Writers. All the art we did was under the use of drugs. I was wasting my talent,” Rich said.

On the street dealing drugs, Rich wanted to do more with his life so he started working for Education Alliance, a summer program that helps children with learning disabilities. “I worked there in the summer and I looked forward to that time because I would go and clean myself up,” Rich said.

He soon met Steve Kraft, director of the programs. At the time, Rich had no idea what an integral role in his life Steve would play. “Steve saw some potential in me. He knew I was good with the kids,” he said.

After five years of working for Education Alliance during the summers, Rich got clean and has not touched drugs or alcohol since March 6, 1994.

Through his experience working with kids, he realized he liked being in the position to help, but wasn’t quite ready to give up on his hoop dreams. In high school, before the drugs, he had been a star-athlete, so when the chance came for him to go to Europe to play professional basketball, he couldn’t resist. “The opportunity to play ball in Europe came from a former coach who saw my potential even when I could not,” Rich said.

Rich returned to New York regularly, where he would hold basketball camps and talk to kids about the importance of going to school. After all, this professional baller was now a role model. “They would ask me, ‘did you go to college, Rich?’, and I would have to tell them, ‘no’.”

Steve, with whom Rich remained in contact, was not satisfied with that answer. Steve was now a social work professor at UND, and kept urging Rich to come to college here. The rest is the happily ever after part of this story.

When Rich arrived in North Dakota in 2002 his first thought was, “It is really white here.”

A bit apprehensive to say the least, Rich decided to stay anyway, and enrolled in the College of Education and Human Development, where he graduated in 2007 with a 3.8 grade-pointaverage. “I only missed one class as an undergrad, and that was for a job interview,” Rich proudly remarked.

“The University family helped me when I needed it. I showed up, asked questions and worked hard.”

Last December, he proudly earned a master’s degree in early childhood education from the University and is now working in Fayetteville, N.C., where he teaches children with learning disabilities. “It’s not a grind with me. It’s an adventure. I’m humbled for the opportunity to teach, period. It’s a privilege, not a given, that I teach,” Rich said.

Instead of using his artistic talent to paint vulgarities on buildings like he did 25 years ago, Rich is now using his art as a way to inspire and motivate students. While on campus in October, Rich spent time painting a canvas for the Integrated Studies program and speaking to classes on his most important advice: “I’m grateful to be in this position. My degree is much more important to me than just a degree. I have a message and it’s go to school, and I am an example of how you do it.”  Leanna Ihry

directors. He is chief financial officer for Tri-County Hospital in Wadena, Minn., where he and his wife Kim (Kracht), ..’84, reside.

Lori Blachford, ’86, is the inaugural Peggy Fisher and Larry Stelter Endowed Chair of Magazine Journalism for Drake University. Lori lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Beth (Carolin) Monsrud, ’86, was one of 25 businesswomen selected by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as “Women to Watch” in the Twin Cities business community. Beth is senior vice president and chief financial officer for UCare in Minneapolis. She and her husband, Jeff, ’88, live in Maple Grove, Minn.

Trudy (Latozke) Romfo, ’86, is director of the Pembina County Memorial Hospital Association Foundation in Walhalla, N.D., where she and her husband, Sheldon, reside.

Greg Vetter, ’86, was selected as a 2009 Rising Star by Northwestern Financial Review magazine. Greg is president of American Bank Center. He and his wife, Pamela, live in Bismarck.

··································· 1987

Mike Gratz, ’87, is vice president of information services for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota in Fargo.

He and his wife, Jackie (Vetter), ’88, live in West Fargo, N.D.

··································· 1988

Dawn (McLaughlin) Grindahl, ’88, joined the accounting department at Houston Engineering in Fargo. She and her husband, Kevin, live in West Fargo, N.D. Richard Vetter, ’88, was named the state’s top family physician by the North Dakota Academy of

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws

1989

Julie Hanson, ’89, received the North Dakota Nurse Administrator of the Year award from the North Dakota Long Term Care Association. Julie is director of nursing at Luther Memorial Nursing Home in Mayville, N.D. She and her husband, Steve, live in Cooperstown, N.D. Laura McCallum, ’89, was promoted to deputy news director for Minnesota Public Radio.

Previously, she was morning news editor. Laura lives in St. Paul, Minn.

··························· 1990s Remember when, in 1997, after three years of waiting, Subway opened on campus? Subway can still be found at its original location on the east side of Johnston-Fulton Hall.

Steve Burian, ’90, ’92, is chief executive officer for Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services. The company was named Best Civil Engineering Firm to work for by Zweig White, a management consulting and research firm. Steve and his wife, Barb (Bergantine), ’90, ’95, live in Grand Forks.

Rollie Morud, ’90, is a consultant in workplace productivity on Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s Workforce Development Council. He and his

··································· 1992

Diane (Oberg) Hillebrand, ’92, is an administrative officer with the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She and her husband, Marc, live in Grand Forks.

David Schall, ’92, ’97, was honored with the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.

David is associate professor of surgery at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He and his wife, Heather, live in Grand Forks.

··································· 1993

Lisa (Tetrault) Sonterre, ’93, is financial adviser for a Grand Forks branch office of Edward Jones. Lisa lives in Thompson, N.D., with her husband, Mark.

Bruce M. Larsen, ’93, a director in the Washington National Tax Office of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, returned this fall to Georgetown University Law Center’s L.L.M. program, from which he graduated in 2001, as an adjunct professor.

Bruce lives in Arlington, Va. Lana (Dietrich) Meyer, ’93, ’09, is a family nurse practitioner with Innovis Health in Valley City, N.D. She is also a certified infant massage instructor and lactation counselor.

Lana and her husband, Clinton, live in Valley City.

··································· 1994

Steven Golden, ’94, was elected president of The Institute of

Certified Records Managers, an international certifying body for records and information management professionals.

Steve works for RBC Wealth Management in Minneapolis. He and his wife, Joyce, live in Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

Julie Ann (Kloster) Schmidt, ’94, leads Minneapolis-based Lithium Logistics Group, a company that partners with clients to help them meet their corporate goals through strategic and tactical solutions. She was recently named a Leader Among Us by the Minnesota Meeting Professionals International chapter. Julie Ann and her husband, Martin, ’94, live in Plymouth, Minn.

··································· 1995

Cody Shimek, ’95, produced the hour-long documentary Small Town Soldiers. The documentary tells the stories of nine World War II veterans from McKenzie County.

Cody is a freelance cameraman and native of the area. He lives in St. Louis Park, Minn.

···································

1997

Monica (Hummel) Haugen, ’97, is a program coordinator at Fraser Ltd., in Fargo. She and her husband, Brent, reside in Casselton, N.D.

Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

···································

wife, Catherine (Shobe), ’72, live in Bemidji, Minn.

Kevin Dykema, ’97, business banking manager for American Bank Center, was selected for Bismarck Tribune’s Business Watch “40 under 40”. He and his wife, Rachel (Serr), ’00, live in Bismarck.

Derek Kane, ’97, a medical doctor, joined the surgery department at Mid Dakota Clinic in Bismarck, where he and his wife, Rachelle (Langan), ’97, reside.

··································· 1998

Jerrid Gunderson, ’98, is a business consultant for crude/ refined products within the OpenLink Financial organization.

He and his wife, Tracey Ledoux, live in Pearland, Texas.

Katie (Olmstead) Stauss, ’98, is manager of Merry Maids, a cleaning service in Grand Forks and Fargo.

She and her husband, Travis, live in Grand Forks.

Long-time golfer George A. Swendiman Jr, ..’43, received the Northern California Golf Association’s Distinguished Service Award. He has been a member of the organization since 1967 and became the organization’s president in 1979. George played basketball at UND in the 1940s. He and his wife, Marian (Foley), ..’42, live in Redding, Calif.

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

Family Physicians. His name will be submitted to the American Academy of Family Physicians next year for consideration at the national level. Richard has been in family medicine for more than 18 years. He and his wife, Sharmae, live in Fargo.

41

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws

··································· 1999

Robin Schmidt ’99, ’04, is an attorney with the Bismarck office of Vogel Law Firm. She practices in the areas of family and domestic law. Robin lives in Bismarck.

··························· 2000s Remember when, in 2002, the parking lot along Columbia Road was created to help alleviate parking problems due to increased enrollment? This added around 150 parking spots.

··································· 2000

Andrew Solsvig, ’00, is airport director at Minot International Airport in Minot, N.D., where he lives.

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

Stephanie Gefroh, ’00, a medical doctor, specializes in obstetrics and

42

gynecology at Southeast Medical Center in Oakes, N.D. She and her husband, Matthew Ellison, ..’01, reside in Fargo.

Jamie Wirth, ’00, was named Teacher of the Year by Valley City State University’s Student Senate.

Jamie, a math instructor, received the award for his dedication to students through innovative teaching methods and continued professional development both inside and outside the classroom.

He resides in Valley City, N.D.

··································· 2001

Jessica (Piatz) Grajczyk, ’01, earned a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. She practices medicine at Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Infertility, P.A., in the Twin Cities. Jessica and her husband, Ronnie, live in Minnetonka, Minn.

···································

Three Cheers for Ireland UND cheer team alumni met up in Dublin, Ireland, over the summer to relax, catch up and have a good time. This photo was taken in front of the Guinness Brewery. Pictured (left to right): Monique Bowersox, ’96; Shannon O’connor, ’92, and Tasha Ziemer, ’93.

2002

Christopher Campbell, ’02, was honored by 3M with the Circle of Technical Excellence & Innovation award for 2008.

Christopher is a senior research chemist in the corporate research materials laboratory. He and his wife, Talia (Bailey), ’02, ’04, live in Burnsville, Minn.

Chad Vandrovec, ’02, a medical doctor, specializes in anesthesiology and pediatric anesthesiology at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, where he resides.

··································· 2003

Josh Deere, ..’03, ’06, completed his residency at Altru Family Medicine. He and his wife, Elisabeth (St. Onge), ’02, ’04, live in Grand Forks.

Laith Hintz, ’03, was recognized by the National Society of Professional Engineers as one of 10 New Faces of Engineering. Laith is a project engineer with Advanced Engineering Environmental Services, and played a key role in the design and construction of a $20 million water plant. He and his wife, Kristina (Hentges), ’03, live in Bismarck.

Jason Dyrdahl , ’04, is a client service supervisor with Spherion Corp in Fargo. He lives in West Fargo, N.D. Josh Johnson, ’04, is principal at Devils Lake Middle School. He and his wife, Tristan (Danielson), ’03, live in Devils Lake, N.D. Patrick Loree, ’04, was ordained as a pastor for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He serves as a pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minn. He and his wife, Suzie, live in Fargo.

Jessica (Neva) Nygaard, ’04, ’09, is a family nurse practitioner at Medcenter One Jamestown Clinic.

She and her husband, Patrick, ’03, live in Jamestown, N.D. Matthew Perry, ’04, ’07, is a research analyst I in Job Service North Dakota’s labor market information and target industry unit. He and his wife, Amanda, live in Bismarck.

Grant Seeger, ’04, is a radiation oncologist at Altru Cancer Center in Grand Forks, where he and his wife, Rebekah, reside.

···································

Reed Reimer, ’03, co-wrote a 90-minute opera titled Maelstrom the Zombie Opera. The show opened in Portland, Ore., this summer.

Reed and his wife Ruth Mannel, live in Portland.

2005

···································

Marissa Wisdom Welton, ’05, specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at Mid Dakota Clinic Center for Women in Bismarck, where she and her husband, Matthew, reside.

2004

Tyler Bernier, ’04, a certified public accountant, is audit manager for the accounting and consulting firm Eide Bailly in Minneapolis. He and his wife, Lindsey (Boots), ’05, live in Shakopee, Minn.

Carrie (Martin) Orn, ’05, is a dentist with Orn and McDaniel Family Dentistry in Jamestown, N.D., where she and her husband, Jeremy, ’05, reside.

···································

Ἅ l u m n i N e ws Travis Easton, ’06, a registered nurse, is the nurse case manager for Altru’s Hospice and Home Care in Grand Forks, where he resides.

Philip Knutson, ’06, is development associate for the Mayville State University Foundation. He lives in Mayville, N.D. Ryan Rauschenberger, ’06, is deputy commissioner in the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner. Among other duties, he serves as a liaison to other state agencies, local government and the state’s business community.

He lives in Bismarck.

Candice “Candy” Gullickson, ’06, ’08, is a social worker with the Hettinger County Social Service office in Mott, N.D. She lives in New Salem, N.D.

···································

Fighting Sioux news Fighting Sioux Nickname and Logo The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education held a news conference after its Oct. 1 meeting to consider UND’s nickname. Their statement follows: Statement from the State Board of Higher Education, 10/1/2009 Today, the State Board of Higher Education voted to extend the deadline on retirement of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo to November 30, 2009, assuming that by October 31, 2009, the Standing Rock Tribal Council requests an additional extension of time not beyond November 30, 2009.

This will allow the new Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council time to determine if the Tribe’s position on the nickname and logo is to be decided by a tribal vote.

As we work toward resolution of this issue, I want to reiterate the fact that Dr. Kelley and the University of North Dakota have the full support of the State Board of Higher Education. The board has complete confidence that the university will continue to show respect for people on both sides of this sensitive issue.

It is important to remember that the University of North Dakota is nationally recognized for its 29 American Indian-

Please send your news to alumnireview@undalumni.net

2006

related programs. The State Board of Higher Education is proud of this distinction and deeply committed to sustaining excellence in American Indian Education.

The board is also committed to maintaining academic excellence in a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all students of the University of North Dakota, as well as its 10 sister institutions.

We have listened to many voices and many perspectives. This short deadline extension is intended to provide an appropriate amount of time for both tribal councils to take action.

Regardless of one’s position on this issue, many North Dakotans agree that it is time for resolution . . . and time to move forward with the important work of this university.

UND Broadcasts Go Nationwide The UND department of athletics is proud to announce a new partnership with Fox College Sports (FCS) that will allow national distribution of all telecasts produced by the Fighting Sioux Sports Network.

FCS is available on cable in 54 million homes nationwide. FCS will distribute all home men's hockey games in 2009-10.

2007

2008

Collette Adamsen, ’08, is an agent with the general office of New York Life Insurance Company in Fargo. She resides in Grand Forks.

Michelle (Worner) Kommer, ’07, is vice president of human resources for Otter Tail Corporation in Fargo, where she and her husband, Toby, reside.

Laura Bearfield, ’08, is an associate attorney with Raymond J. German, Ltd., Legal and Title Services in Grand Forks, where she resides.

Maggie Pearl, ’07, is an admissions representative at Rasmussen College in Fargo, where she resides.

Jodi Kiemele, ’08, is a nurse with Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks, where she lives.

Eric Timmer, ’07, is a safety representative in the industrial/ safety group of Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson in Bismarck, where he lives.

···································

to participate in the Grand Cities Art Fest Emerging Artist Program.

She lives in Rolette, N.D.

Vallager, Ltd., where he specializes in individual and corporate taxation. He lives in Grand Forks.

Meagan Schaal, ’08, participated in a 10-week internship at NASA Langley Research Center in Langley, Va., after being awarded the NASA Graduate Student Research Program Fellowship. She also received a scholarship to pursue her research. Megan lives in Palm Beach, Fla.

Jared Kappel, ’09, is an accounting assistant with Wanzek Construction in Fargo, where he resides.

···································

Erik Nelson, ’08, is a geographic information system technician for Houston Engineering in Fargo, where he lives.

2009

Jessica Mongeon, ’08, was selected from over 200 applicants

Matthew Abentroth, ’09, is a staff accountant with Drees, Riskey &

Chad Clark, ’09, is a 5th-8th grade teacher in Emerado, N.D., where he resides.

··························· Faculty/Staff Stephen Wonderlich, a professor of neuroscience at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, received the Leadership Award for Research from the Academy of Eating Disorders. He is also co-director of the MeritCare Eating Disorders Institute in Fargo, where he and his wife, Karen, reside. ■

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

Kris Bilden, ’07, ’09, is a physical therapist in the rehab services department at Northwood Deaconess Health Center in Northwood, N.D., where he and his wife, Nicole, live.

43

44

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

E ternal Flame o

c

i

e

t

y

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

S

45

i n me m ori a m 1930s

Ione M. (Myers) West, ..’32, Laguna Woods, Calif.

Myrtle E. Pedersen, ’31, ’37, Prior Lake, Minn.

Maj. Gen. Larry A. Smith, M.D., ’35, ’36, Texas Lyle O. Fering, ’36, Englewood, Colo.

Aldeen P.W. (Paris) Taylor, ’36, Bismarck Dr. Kermit T. Wiltse, ’37, Berkeley, Calif.

Corinne (Roarig) Horken, ’38, Fargo Dr. Lloyd R. Sorenson, ’38, Monroe, Wash.

1940s

Marjorie Buttz Hagedom, ..’40, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Donald E. Roney, ’40, Wilmington, Del. George Naramore, ’41, Bemidji, Minn.

Elizabeth T. (Taylor) Simpson, ’41, Longmont, Colo.

Edward H. Anderson, ’42, Columbia, S.C. Sidney O. Hughes, M.D., ’44, Winona, Minn.

Marilyn M. (Musburger) Koehn, .. ’44, Jamestown, N.D. Fay Finch Clifford, ’46, Stevens Point, Wis. Revel V. (Friedman) Allerhand, ’47, Cleveland, Ohio Adrian S. Knudsvig, ..’47, Buxton, N.D. Fred W. Bulmhardt, ’49, Lacey, Wash.

Lester W. Carlson, ’49, Lewiston, Idaho Dorothy J. (Rosenberger) Nelson, ’49, Lakota, N.D. William E. Pond, ’49, Bemidji, Minn.

Paul O. Solberg, ’49, Luck, Wis. Elizabeth “Betty” T. (Taylor) Simpson, ’41, Longmont, Colo.

William E. Spomitz, ’49, ’50, Sioux City, Iowa Reuben Steffan, ’49, Minot, N.D.

Ἅ l u m n i R e v i e w w w w . u n d a l u m n i . o r g

1950s

46

Willard J. Gustafson, ’50, Hibbing, Minn.

Dr. Kenneth R. Hansen, ’50, Polson, Mont.

Louanna (Lunseth) White, ’50, Sevema Park, Md. Robert D. Storman, ..’50, Graham, Wash.

Clare J. Jensen, ’52, Great Falls, Mont.

Ernest D. Lovin, ’52, Bismarck Dr. Gordon B. Olson, ’52, ’53, Minot, N.D. Raymond P. Wilson, PE, ’52, ’54, Thompson, N.D. M. Jane (O’Connor) Bresnahan, ..’53, San Diego, Calif.

John D. Pfau, ’53, Healdsburg, Calif.

Ronald D. Sax, ..’53, Missoula, Mont.

Victor T. Neal, Ph.D., ’54, Albany, Ore. William J. Hankins, ’55, Dickinson, N.D. Dr. John M. Jenkins, ’55, Sun City, Ariz.

Dr. Quinn Brunson, ’56, ’62, Rock Island, Ill. Paul A. Balerud, ’57, North Platte, Neb. T. James Sette, ’57, Spokane, Wash.

Donald D. Steiner, ’57, Honolulu Rodney S. Webb, ’57, ’59, Fargo Clifford Bender, ’58, Bismarck Katherine D. (Larsen) Balsen, ’58, Grand Forks Sam A. Verbitsky, ’58, Minot, N.D. Melvin E. Wagner, ..’58, Grand Forks

Daniel R. Widen, ..’58, Bakersfield, Calif.

Robert A. Jaman, ’59, Chester, S.D.

1960s

Melbourne L. (Peterson) Johnson, ..’60, Minn.

Merle G. Quam, ’60, Tolna, N.D. Lois A. (Bock) Hendrickson, ..’61, Grand Forks Stanley B. Hall, ’61, Boise, Idaho Willard L. Talberg, ’61, Stillwater, Minn.

Ellen M. (Johnson) Leonard, ..’62, Grand Forks Brian H. Kristjanson, ..’63, Grand Forks Palmer E. Berger II, ..’64, Fargo Myron V. Albrecht, ’65, Salina, Kan. James R. Donley, ’65, Danville, Calif.

Charles W. McGuire, ’65, ’68, Springerville, Ariz.

Kathleen M. (Lanz) Shaw, ’65, ’69, Ankeny, Iowa Carol J. (McCann) Spicer, ’65, Grand Forks Patrick G. Sullivan, ’65, Bemidji, Minn.

Myrtle D. (Doyle) Morrison, ’67, Grand Forks Rodney W. Partlow, ..’67, Grand Forks Ann M. (Piper) Schnitzler, ’67, Longmont, Colo.

Thomas J. Smith, ..’67, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Joseph T. White, ’67, Gahanna, Ohio Edward M. Young, ’67, Powell, Wyo. Dr. Evelyn L. Grovom Grove, ’68, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Charles H. Johnson, ..’68, Berthhold, N.D. John G. Nelson, ..’68, Warden, Wash.

Dwane A. Pratt, ’68, Minneapolis David G. Sagness, ’68, Denver Bryce G. Fossum, ’69, Mesa, Ariz.

Robert W. Kemper, ’69, ’70, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Robert A. Larsen, ’69, Glendive, Mont.

Ward T. Stine, ’69, West Fargo, N.D.

1970s

Thomas A. Dahle, ’70, Sioux Falls, S.D. Emily J. (Rolfson) Henderson, ’70, Olympia, Wash.

Thaddeus P. Jochim, ..’70 Carole A. Keeley, ..’70, Grand Forks James T. Odegard, ’70, Rochester, Minn.

Tom J. Flanders, ..’71, San Marcos, Texas Gary N. Ostrom, ’71, Stanchfield, Minn.

Kim W. Spaeth, ..’71, Las Vegas, Nev. David R. Burrus, M.D., ’72, ’79, St. Paul, Minn.

Dorothy J. (Sillers) Finken, ’72, Apache Junction, Ariz.

Thomas J. Heslip, ..’72, Upper Darby, Pa. Ronald L. Hilden, ’72, ’76, Lead, S.D. Marla K. (Tiedemann) Iverson, ..’72, Tioga, N.D. James L. McLean, ’72, ’73, Prescott Valley, Ariz.

Herbert A. Schimmelpfennig, ..’72, Grand Forks Wayne A. Olson, ’73, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Kevin J. Kloubec, ’75, ’79, Elizabethtown, Ky. Norma R. (Whipple) Stuhlmiller, ’76, Bismarck Rachel (Shields) Scott, ’77, ’78, Bemidji, Minn.

Bruch H. Carlson, ’78, Fargo

Marlo R. Tyeter, ’81, Fargo Joel T. Peterson, ’82, Littleton, Colo.

Connie Moe Wold, ’85, Watford City, N.D.

1990s

Anthony F. Rodriguez, ’96, Richfield, Minn.

Jennifer S. (Carpentier) Lukach, ’98, ’99, East Grand Forks, Minn.

2000s

Ryan D. Leister, ’00, Hawley, Minn.

Nathan J. Beiswenger, ’06, Fisher, Minn.

Richard L. Smith, .. ’06, Middle River, Minn.

Retired Faculty/Staff

Ben L. Collins, Boynton Beach, Fla. Dr. LaVernia Jorgensen, Grand Forks Arthur Raymond, Grand Forks

Friends

Mrs. Reuben P. (Field) Carlson, Phoenix

Dr. John P. Daly, Tucson, Ariz.

John S. Dean, Fargo Margaret M. (Lynch) Douville, Neche, N.D. Lawrence Dusek, Grand Forks Wallace N. Elefson, Kirkland, Wash.

Robert M. Evanson, Portland, N.D. Dorothy R. (Ries) Ferry, Cranberry Towns, Pa. Mary F. (Gilles) Furst, Wahpeton, N.D. Leo Geiger, Ashley, N.D. P. Roy Gregware, M.D., Law Cruces, N.M. Alan B. Horsager, Bismarck Robert M. Jacobson, Richville, Minn.

Wallace F. LaMoine, East Grand Forks, Minn.

Margaret (Johnson) McDaniel, Carrington, N.D. Evelyn (Jamieson) Midgarden, Hoople, N.D. Ervin L. Moen, Alvarado, Minn.

Peter W. Neilsen, Marlborough, Conn.

Marvin Ramstad, Plymouth, Minn.

Betty L. (Holwerda) Robertson, Grafton, N.D. Elizabeth (Walters) Souby, Austin, Texas Jack M. Williamson, Glasston, N.D. Mary N. (Dike) Williamson, Mission, Texas

When you give – and give again every year – you help

move UND from great ... to exceptional.

Give now at www.undfoundation.org or by calling 1.800.543.8764.

w i n t er 2 0 0 9

1980s

47

Alumni Association BlogSpot ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

www.undalumni.org

Alumni Talk with Students

go

The UND Alumni Association and UND Foundation Board of Directors and the National Campaign Steering Committee were on campus for meetings in October. Several of the board members took time to visit various classrooms, where they talked to students about their careers and/or areas of expertise. Pictured to the right is Allen Olson, former governor of North Dakota, a 1961 graduate of the College of Business and Public Administration and a 1963 graduate of the School of Law. Al spoke to two law classes while on campus. Others who met with students were Kris (McConn) Compton, ’77; Val Hoekstra, ’82; Doug Mark, ’86, and Lee Stenehjem, ’67, ’70.

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

North Dakota Suncoast Association Jay Morgan, ..’73, and his wife, Louise Anna, would like to extend an invitation to all UND alumni and friends who live, winter or plan to vacation in the Sarasota, Fla., area this winter to the 46th annual North Dakota Suncoast Association luncheon. The luncheon will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, near Sarasota. If you are interested in attending please contact Jay at 941.378.4444 or e-mail louiseanna@msn.com.

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

Save the Date for Theatre Reunion October 2010 Were you involed in UND theatre in the 1960s or 70s? You’re invited to save the date for a special reunion on Oct. 21-24, 2010.

To contact friends from that era go to www.refundtheatre.com, or for the really curious, contact Judithe Spicer Heffron at 701. 775 . 7517. Hope to see you there!

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

National American Graphic Design Award The Alumni Review and Graphic Design Specialist Kirsten Gunnarson earned the 2009 National American Graphic Design Award for the Spring 2009 Foodies issue. Congratulations on a job well done!

mail permit

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

Jewels of Mediterranean the and Greek Isles October 23 – November 3, 2010 From $3,243 per person double occupancy (Including airfare)

Uncover the cultural and historical riches of the Mediterranean while cruising aboard the luxurious and intimate 684-passenger Oceania Cruises’ Regatta. Lose yourself at sea in the comfort and luxuries of fine cuisine, upscale amenities, country-club atmosphere, an attentive staff, and lavishly-appointed staterooms. This dynamic cruise begins in Athens, before traversing the deep blue sea, with stops in some of Europe’s most enthralling ports. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Turkey, Greece, Corsica and Italy, each destination with something distinctive to experience.

A true Mediterranean odyssey!

TO bOOk yOUr Trip or to view other Alumni Travel options go to www.undalumni.org and click on Events & Travel. Or call 800.842.9023. *Special price reduction for limited time only.

Call for info & brochure.