S P E CI A L E DI T IO N 2019 Year in Review
ALUMNI
M A G A Z I N E Special Edition 2020 | Volume 102 | Issue 4
SHAPE
WHAT'S NEXT A look at the past with dreams for the future.
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VOL. 102 NO. 4 YEAR IN REVIEW CEO • DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86
UND Alumni Magazine Editor • Leanna Ihry, ’02
Lead Designer / Photographer • Sam Melquist Writers • Leanna Ihry, ’02
Contributing Writers • Nicole Polejewski, ’18, Dima Williams, Patrick Miller Contributing Photographers • Sara Titera, Shawna Noel Schill, ’06, Mike Hess, Russell Hons
Marketing & Communications
VP of Operations • Bob Knutson, ’79 Associate VP of Engagement • Sarah Prout, ’07
Senior Director of Public & Media Relations • Milo Smith
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Leading UND into the Next Decade Getting to know Dr. Andrew Armacost By Leanna Ihry
UND Alumni Association & Foundation Board of Directors Chair • Sara Garland, ’68, ’72
Vice Chair • Dr. John Gray, ’87
Directors • Darla Adams, ’84, ’85; Lisa Barnes, ’88; Cindy Blikre, ’91; Angie Freeman, ’91; Phil Gisi, ’82; Mike Hamerlik, ’84, ’88; Marten Hoekstra, ’82; Jonathan Holth; Linda Laskowski, ’72, ’73; Dr. Michael LeBeau, ’02; Rick Lee, ’78; Doug Mark, ’86; Chuck MacFarlane, ’87; Rob Mitchell, ’74; Carrie McIntyre Panetta, ’88; Karen Phillips, ’77; Doug Podolak, ’72; Jim Poolman, ’92; Jodi Rolland, ’92; Karen Thingelstad, 89; and Chad Wachter. Ex Officio • Dr. Tom DiLorenzo; Nancy Peterson, ’90; Jed Shivers; Dr. Joshua Wynne, and DeAnna Carlson Zink, ’86. The UND Alumni Magazine (USPS 018089: ISSN 0895-5409) is published three times a year by the University of North Dakota Alumni Association, 3501 University Avenue, Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157. Periodical postage paid at Grand Forks, ND 58201 and other offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the UND Alumni Magazine, 3501 University Avenue, Stop 8157, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157. For inquiries about advertising, additional copies, reprints, submissions, or general comments, contact 800.543.8764, 701.777.5819 or AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net.
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"If Jack Can Do It, I Can Do It!"
Jack Marcil, '63, '68, finds joy in giving back.
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By Leanna Ihry
UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
2019 YEAR IN REVIEW INSIDE
3 From the CEO 4 Meet the President 8 Stand Up and Cheer 11 Giving 12 Events 20 Impactful People 28 Leaders in Action 38 Eternal Flame Society
from the
CEO
You’re receiving this special edition of the UND Alumni Magazine as a thank you for all you have done to support your University in 2019. Our theme throughout the year has been “UND Hero.” Nobody merits hero recognition more than the young man I am pictured with above. You may remember Hunter from the last issue of the magazine where he's pictured with his great, great, great aunt Iris Westman, the oldest-ever UND alum. In December, UND football student-athlete Hunter Pinke was in a skiing accident in Colorado and sustained a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down. I was recently in Colorado and had the honor of visiting Hunter and his family at Craig Hospital, where he is undergoing rehabilitation. Talk about an amazing young man! His attitude remains positive, courageous and determined. He says he WILL walk across the stage for his UND graduation with his mechanical engineering degree in May 2021. I can’t wait to see you do it, Hunter! You are truly a UND Hero! As you flip through the pages of this issue, I hope you realize that without your support, UND wouldn’t be where it is today. When you read about student leaders going above and beyond, alumni gathering near and far, and learn about UND’s 13th president, Dr. Andrew Armacost, please know we continue to be great because of you.
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Impactful People
A look back at outstanding alumni, friends and faculty who made headlines in 2019.
Cheers to a happy and healthy 2020! DeAnna Carlson Zink, '86, CFRE UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO deannac@UNDfoundation.org UNDalumni.org
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DR. ANDREW ARMACOST
LEADING UND INTO THE NEXT DECADE
GETTING TO KNOW DR. ANDREW ARMACOST On Dec. 3, 2019, Dr. Andrew Armacost was named the 13th president of the University of North Dakota. He will begin his role on June 1. Armacost recently completed his service as the Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy. With more than 30 years on active duty and 20 years at the Academy, Armacost served in the rank of Brigadier General as the
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Chief Academic Officer for this nationally ranked institution. As a member of the Academy’s senior leadership council, he was part of the team that guided an annual operating budget of more than $500 million and a capital improvement portfolio of nearly $1 billion. As the Dean of the Faculty and Chief Academic Officer, he had direct
responsibility for an annual operating budget of more than $350 million, a faculty of 550, an academic program with 31 majors, and a student body of 4,300. He has been a champion of shared governance, academic freedom, inclusion, student growth, and applied learning and research. The Academy’s sponsored research program of more than $50 million annually makes it the nation’s topfunded research program among undergraduate schools.
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
Prior to this role, Armacost served as the head of the Academy’s AACSB-accredited business management program, leading 40 faculty members and the Academy’s largest academic major. As a faculty member, he attained the academic rank of professor while sustaining a focus on developing and delivering applied learning opportunities for his students. His additional service to the Air Force has included assignments as the chief analyst at Air Force Space Command and as a program manager for systems supporting the intelligence community and the White House. He has been widely recognized for his disciplinary expertise, academic leadership and commitment to interdisciplinary learning. His lifetime of work as both scholar and leader earned him recent recognition as a fellow of his discipline’s flagship professional society and lifetime achievement awards from both the Air Force and the Military Operations Research Society. In addition, he has received numerous teaching, research, and curriculum design awards at the institutional, national, and international levels.
Armacost has been an active member of the Colorado Springs community and in the state of Colorado. He has served on local non-profit boards, as an inaugural member of the governor’s Colorado Innovation Network (COIN), and as founding advisor to the QUAD Initiative, a collaboration between local colleges to craft innovative solutions for Colorado Springs organizations. He has been similarly active in support of academic bodies, including service on the Board of Directors of the Military Operations Research Society and key editorial roles for professional journals. As a former student-athlete and campus leader at Northwestern University, Armacost is a strong proponent of providing curricular and extra-curricular opportunities that promote growth and development in all students and the opportunity to leverage education for a better society. His degrees include a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Northwestern, and a Master of Science and PhD in operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His wife, Kathy, has been a great partner in supporting the Air Force Academy and the city of Colorado Springs. They have two daughters: Ava, a 2018 graduate of Northwestern, and Audrey, who will graduate from the University of Oklahoma this year. Watch a video of Dr. Armacost's news conference after being named UND's thirteenth president.
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ANDY’S GOT THE ANSWER
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
UND’s 13th President, Dr. Andrew Armacost, acknowledges philanthropy, success and goals for his upcoming presidency.
Alumni Magazine: It’s been several weeks since you were named UND’s 13th president. How are you feeling about this new and exciting role? Armacost: I feel truly honored to be selected to serve in this role. My excitement levels are just as high as December 3rd, when the board made their selection. Over the last five weeks, I’ve had the chance to connect with so many people, including students, faculty, alumni, board members, parents, and more. The outpouring of support shows that everyone affiliated with UND truly cares about our success. Alumni Magazine: Fundraising and alumni engagement will be major tasks for you as UND’s president. What is your experience in philanthropy?
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Armacost: Most people assume that the federal government fully funds service academies. But this is not the case. The Air Force Academy had many programs requiring private support. This included infrastructure needs, academic programs and endowed professorships. An important role I held as the chief academic officer was to build relationships with potential donors and to build the case for how private donations support students and faculty members. There was only one catch: as a federal employee, I wasn’t permitted to solicit donations. I spent a significant amount of time building the case for private philanthropy among alumni and industry partners. Doing so required close coordination with our foundation and development officers, who were then charged with the “ask.” We were quite effective. Among the key achievements during
my tenure were raising $60 million for our new cyber innovation center, the development and launch of a first-ever comprehensive campaign with a target of $280 million, attracting a $10 million single donor for endowed professorships, and strengthening the spirit of stewardship across the faculty. Alumni Magazine: In your opinion, what makes a fundraiser successful? Armacost: When people hear about my new role they often say, “Do you really want to get involved in all that fundraising?” I tell them that fundraising is really about relationship building and storytelling—those are the keys to success. It’s about highlighting how private donations can help create opportunities for students that wouldn’t exist otherwise. It’s explaining to potential donors how those opportunities transform students’ lives. There’s no better way to enrich a society than by contributing to higher learning and the development that happens on this campus. Alumni Magazine: What are your goals for your first 100 days as UND president? Armacost: A top priority in the early days of my presidency, and even into the months before I arrive at UND, is to make contact with as many of our key donors as possible, simply to say, “Hello, this is Andy Armacost, and I want to express my appreciation of what you have done for the University of North Dakota.” I will work very closely with the UND Foundation so that I understand existing donor priorities and how those match our strategic plan. I want to make sure I’m armed with the right information to go out and tell the story to attract private philanthropy for the key priorities of UND. Alumni Magazine: You seem very personable from the various news articles and videos that have been in the media. Have you been described that way before? Armacost: Thanks, and that has been a descriptor I have heard. I have a genuine care and concern for each member of our community. At the Academy, I tried to connect—truly connect—with as many people as possible. I will work my hardest to show that devotion to the members of the UND
community, both on campus and across the nation. Alumni Magazine: Will you attend alumni events across the county this spring? Armacost: I am very excited to participate in many alumni events and gatherings this spring, prior to taking over as President. I currently have trips planned to Texas, Florida, Arizona, and DC, in addition to many trips to Grand Forks. Alumni Magazine: Aside from financially, how do you believe alumni engagement elevates a university? Armacost: Alumni are the voice to the community about the experiences they had at the university. They are a conduit to others, whether in North Dakota or across the nation. Their eyes, ears and voices can have a tremendous influence on others. Those voices carry forth the pride in UND, and this really sells the case of the University. I think this sense of pride has to continue to be nurtured. As President, my responsibility is to make sure the alumni community hears the great stories about our students, faculty, coaches, and sports teams. In addition, I must be willing to listen carefully to the concerns of alumni, who are key voices of advice (and sometimes dissent). Finally, we must celebrate the success of our alumni, which reflects the experiences they had at UND. This provides an important showcase for UND’s academic excellence and our focus on developing extraordinary human beings. Alumni Magazine: Is there anything else you would like to say to alumni? Armacost: I must express my appreciation for the support you provide to UND. Whether it’s financial or moral support, you play an integral role. If alumni have been disengaged or wayward, we would love to have you back, even to just simply wear the colors of UND with pride. To those who have made donations or offered your time, rest assured, you have made a difference and we couldn’t do it without you. Please accept my fullest sense of gratitude for everything the alumni community does. UNDalumni.org
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FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA!
RECORD BREAKING YEAR
$67.7
MILLION committed to support the University of North Dakota 95% increase from last year
$12.2
MILLION committed for scholarships
$34.2
MILLION committed for programs, faculty and priority needs
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Alumni & Friends,
It’s safe to say, it was a monumental year for fundraising at the University of North Dakota. In fiscal year 2019 (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019) more than $67.7 million was committed to support UND – the highest amount in the University’s history. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your contributions surpassed our previous record year in 2011 by $17.8 million, which is an impressive 35.7 percent increase! In addition, we had more first-time donors than ever before with 9,016 alumni and friends generously giving or making commitments to the University. Your loyalty to UND supports student scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, new programs and facilities to help us attract the best and brightest students, faculty and staff and to conduct innovative research. Every gift makes a difference in transforming lives and providing opportunities. Each one makes a difference in the lives of UND students. /// Sincerely, DeAnna Carlson Zink
UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO
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BY THE NUMBERS 846
9,016
TOTAL DONORS
FIRST-TIME DONORS
6,085
$8 MILLION
ALUMNI DONORS
SCHOLARSHIP DOLLARS AWARDED TO STUDENTS FOR FY19
$284.8 MILLION
$8.7 MILLION
ENDOWMENT TOTAL
ANNUAL ENDOWMENT IMPACT TO UND FOR FY20
DONORS FROM ALL
50 STATES 1
4 5
2
TOP 5 STATES 1) NORTH DAKOTA 2) MINNESOTA 3) CALIFORNIA 4) COLORADO 5) ARIZONA
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GIVING
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Photo by Sam Melquist UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
, T I O D N A C K C A J F “I
” ! T I O D N I CA ing s joy in giv d n fi , 8 ’6 , 3 , ’6 Jack Marcil
back.
Jack Marcil is a true example of a cheerful giver. “For me, it's fun. One of the reasons I give is because it’s a gratifying experience for me to give to someone who really appreciates it,” Marcil explained. It’s an attitude that has made a huge positive impact on UND students and faculty over the years. Marcil, a 1968 UND School of Law grad and a longtime attorney in Fargo, began giving generously to UND in 2003 when he established the Jack Marcil Law School Scholarship Endowment through the UND Foundation. It’s a gift that keeps on giving as 27 UND School of Law students have benefited from his generosity. “I have personally given each of them their scholarship,” Marcil exclaimed. “I run into many of my past recipients professionally quite often. I was in mediation and this young lawyer came up to me and said, ‘Jack, you don’t remember me, but you gave me a scholarship way back.’ I’ve been very impressed with the caliber of UND students who become lawyers,” Marcil said. In addition to establishing three endowments at UND, Marcil has
also purchased 16 charitable gift annuities through the UND Foundation. “This was a way for me to receive a supplemental income in my retirement years with part of it being tax free. It is an enormous tax advantage and you can target when you want to start receiving the money. It was part of my retirement planning,” Marcil explained. Because of his cheerful giving, Jack’s name now appears in the UND Foundation Eternal Flame Society’s William Budge Circle for donating more the $1 million to support UND. “What happens when a lawyer sees that Jack Marcil gives to the law school? It encourages them to give too, because they say, ‘If Jack can do it, so can I.’” /// — by Leanna Ihry For more information on gifts that provide income to you, give us a call at 701.777.2611 or toll free at 1.800.543.8764. For more information or visit us at UND.giftlegacy.com. Join other UND supporters, like Jack, by making a gift to the University of North Dakota.
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2019 EVENTS
In 2019, the UND Alumni Association & Foundation hosted more than 100 alumni events across the country. Enjoy some of the highlights of the year, and mark your calendars for events coming to a location near you in 2020!
JANUARY UND WILD ROAD TRIP 1.10.2019
University of North Dakota alumni and friends gathered at the Xcel Energy Center to watch the Minnesota Wild take on the Winnipeg Jets for the first-ever UND Wild Road trip. Fans had the chance to purchase a ticket package which included a seat at the game, photo opportunity on the ice and a pregame party at the arena prior to puck drop!
FEBRUARY GIVING HEARTS DAY 2.14.2019
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
This year's regional Giving Hearts Day impacted students to a new level! Generous donors gave over $150,000, granting 40 scholarships to students immediately. This giving day focuses on providing a scholarship opportunity to every student at UND, whether they are on-campus, online, an incoming freshman, or an outgoing senior.
SPIRIT WEEK / PHILANTHROPY MONTH FEBRUARY
For the first time, UND celebrated Philanthropy Month. The month was focused on philanthropic efforts made at UND through celebrating the generous donors who have made the University what it is today, and by encouraging students to be active in saying ‘Thank You!’. Students and the campus community also had the opportunity to participate in philanthropy, thanks to a generous donation made by Scheels of Grand Forks. Scheels donated 500 beanie hats to be sold on campus with 100% of the proceeds designated to a fund voted on by the students. This generated over $3,500 in donations for the Food for Thought Food Pantry on campus.
MARCH UND IN FARGO 3.21.2019
UND alumni and friends in the Fargo/Moorhead area heard from marketing and personal branding expert Amanda McKinnon, Bodacious Brander & CEO of MSPIRE, on how you are building your brand without knowing it. She explained how to build it in a way that best represents you and then communicate it to the world. This event is part of a traveling alumni series to encourage lifelong learning with our alumni as well as professional growth.
APRIL WOMEN FOR PHILANTHROPY 4.16.2019
Our annual Women for Philanthropy luncheon featured keynote speaker Kris Engelstad McGarry. A sold-out crowd listened to a great conversation led by CEO DeAnna Carlson Zink. With over 200 applications submitted, two $2,000 Women For Philanthropy scholarships were awarded. UNDalumni.org
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2019 EVENTS
APRIL UND GIVES 4.24.2019
Generous donors joined together for the first-ever UND Gives, a day of giving back to the University of North Dakota in any area and capacity you can! Over 600 donors gave $380,000 in just 24 hours and made huge impacts on the campus community and students.
CHAMPIONS BALL 4.27.2019
UND and Athletics supporters came together this April to support studentathletes in the largest capacity in history. This year's Champions Ball raised a record amount of more than $300,000 in just one night!
MAY COMMENCEMENT/HONORARY DEGREE 5.11.2019
Josh Duhamel, Hollywood actor and North Dakota native; Heidi Heitkamp, the first North Dakotan to be elected to the U.S. Senate, serving from 2013 to 2019; and Clay Lacy, known throughout the world of aviation industry and education as a pilot, entrepreneur, innovator, record setter, and benefactor, were all awarded Honorary degrees from UND in 2019.
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
JUNE GOLF TOURNAMENTS JUNE 2019
Each summer, alumni around the North Dakota and Minnesota regions come together on the green. From Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Grafton, North Dakota, our alumni and friends support student-athletes and connect back to their alma mater through the Champions Club Golf Tour.
JULY UND AT TARGET FIELD 7.18.2019
This year, we had 2,315 UND alumni and friends in attendance at Target Field to watch a Minnesota Twins win against the Oakland A’s! Former UND men’s hockey coach Dave Hakstol threw out the first pitch. Before the game, alumni gathered for our pregame at The Pourhouse.
SEPTEMBER NAMING OF NISTLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS & PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 8.26.2019 UND and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation were thrilled to announce the College of Business and Public Administration at the University of North Dakota will now bear the name of Werner and Colleen Nistler. The Nistlers have generously stepped forward to be the lead donors on a new College of Business and Public Administration building on the UND Campus.
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2019 EVENTS
SEPTEMBER UND VS. NDSU FOOTBALL PREGAME 9.7.2019
UND held a pregame gathering before the UND vs. NDSU football game at the Fargo Air Museum. The event was attended by over 300 alumni, friends and fans. Red Pepper was the meal sponsor and served up grinders with chips and sauce and a cash bar was put on by SideStreet Grille & Pub with 20% of their sales going to UND scholarships.
OCTOBER HOMECOMING 2019
UND IN MSP 10.15.2019
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
As always, Homecoming was filled with excitement, tradition and cheer! Students participated in on-campus events all week with generous sponsors like Bully Brew Coffee Co., Ground Round and the featured sponsor for the week-long celebration, United Valley Bank. A Hawk's Hour was held at Bonzers to kick-off alumni focused engagement, which led to other traditional events including the Sioux Awards. The weekend ended with wins from both the football team and the men’s hockey team.
UND in MSP was held again this year at Summit Brewery in St. Paul. Alumni and friends in the area gathered, socialized and networked, while hearing about the expansive changes and good news from campus. Thanks again to Mark Stutrud, owner of Summit Brewery, for hosting this event!
NOVEMBER SEATTLE GATHERING 11.4.2019
Alumni & friends gathered at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The event was attended by more than 100 guests and was hosted by the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and the College of Engineering & Mines. Guests attended from across the U.S.!
VETERANS DAY CEREMONY 11.11.2019
We hosted our annual Veteran's Day Ceremony; a day where we remember and honor all those who have served this great country. We host this event in conjunction with UND’s Army ROTC program.
DECEMBER HOLIDAY CHEERS 12.9.2019 This year was the 6th annual Holiday Cheers event in which we welcomed those on campus and in the community to gather and celebrate the season. This year, we had a heartwarming amount on nonperishable food items donated by guests that went to the Food for Thought Food Pantry on campus. We had one very special guest, Santa, who visited and took pictures with guests.
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COMMUNITIES TO JOIN ... Alumni Chapters
Alumni groups are a great way to connect with fellow UND alumni and friends right in your hometown — no matter where you live! Don’t see a chapter in your area? Start one! For more information on how you can set up an alumni chapter in your area, head to undalumni.org/leader. Current Alumni Chapters:
Phoenix, AZ Cedar Rapids, IA Bemidji, MN Minneapolis, MN Fargo, ND Minot, ND Portland, OR Dallas/Fort Worth, TX Salt Lake City, UT Denver, CO Kalamazoo, MI Brainerd, MN Springfield, MO Grand Forks, ND Wahpeton, ND Boiling Springs, SC Madison, WI Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom
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EVENTS TO CONNECT ... Events
From the recognition of prestigious alumni at our Honorary Degree events, to our Women for Philanthropy program, to alumni gatherings in Minnesota Lakes Country, Florida, California, and Arizona, we connect our most loyal alumni across the globe.
Upcoming 2020 Gathering Cities: Grand Forks, ND Fargo, ND Bismarck, ND Park River, ND Detroit Lakes, ND
UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Minneapolis, MN St. Paul, MN Nashville, TN Denver, CO Naples, FL
Scottsdale, AZ San Luis Obispo, CA Washington, DC Seattle, WA Carefree, AZ
Alumni Chapters Events
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ALUMNI FAMILY LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!
You are the best reflection of the University of North Dakota and the education it provides. Upcoming 2020 Events So, please keep us informed! UND at Boulderanch, Feb. 22 Tell us if you've moved, if your UND in Naples, March 13 email address has changed, UND in AZ, March 14 if you've been promoted or UND in DC, March 18 honored, gotten married, or Women for Philanthropy Grand Forks, April 16 had a baby. Update your info Women for Philanthropy Fargo, April 23 at undalumni.org/profileUND at the Twins, July, 9 update or email Homecoming, Oct. 5-10 AlumniMag@UNDalumni.net Gamma Phi Beta - 100 years, Oct. 9 ATO Grand Opening, Oct. 9-10 US Hockey Hall of Fame, Oct. 17 UND vs. NDSU Football, Nov. 14
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2019 HEADLINERS
IMPACTFUL PEOPLE Photo by John M. Steiner
A look back at outstanding UND alumni, friends and faculty who made headlines in 2019.
Photo by Virginia DuBowy
Iris Westman, ’28, the oldest living North Dakotan, celebrated her 114th birthday in August. The College of Education graduate is also the oldest-ever living UND alum.
Robert Carlson, ’74, was inducted into the North Dakota Agriculture Hall of Fame. Previously, he was president of North Dakota Farmers Union and the first president of the World Farmers Organization based in Rome.
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Virginia (Steinhaus) DuBowy, ’77, was the first woman to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UND’s Fisheries and Wildlife Biology program. She is the chief of resources at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Wyoming and Montana.
UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Steven Maier, ’77, ’79, retired after a 35-year career as a general surgeon at Sanford Health in Jamestown, North Dakota, and Jamestown Regional Medical Center. Dr. Maier performed 40,000 procedures throughout his career.
Gordon Iseminger, ’78, was named a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor at the University of North Dakota after teaching for 57 years.
During his time at UND, he focused on European history before teaching about local studies of North Dakota’s past. Iseminger also achieved the title of longest-serving state employee in North Dakota. He is currently enjoying retirement.
Merilee (Nordhagen) Fowler, ’82, is the executive director of MATFORCE and Community Counts. MATFORCE is a program that determines a road map for reducing substance abuse in Yavapi County, Arizona.
Mary DesRosier, ’89, is the first woman in the Blackfeet Tribe in Browning, Montana, to earn a doctorate in medicine. Mary, now a doctor for Indian Health Services on Blackfeet Indian Reservation, was given the Native American name of Medicine Victory Woman from her tribe.
Greg Glasner, ’86, ’90, was named chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. Dr. Glasner has more than 25 years of experience as a practicing physician and healthcare executive.
Jon Jensen, ’90, North Dakota Supreme Court Justice, was appointed the court’s Chief Justice. Jensen’s five-year term as Chief Justice was effective January 1. He succeeds The Honorable Gerald VandeWalle, ’55, ’58, HON ’15, who has served on the court since 1978 and has been Chief Justice since 1993. VandeWalle was the longest-serving chief justice in the U.S.. He was recently awarded the Spirit Award from the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.
David Black, ’90, is deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration and he also serves as secretary to the Social Security Board of Trustees. Black is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and has served in the Army for nearly 30 years, both as an enlisted soldier and an officer. Black was also deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
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Photo by KOAT Albuquerque
was previously a private law attorney in Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Stephanie (Olson) Everett, ’94, has been the foundation director at Mountrail County Medical Center in Stanley, North Dakota, for six years. She is also the public relations and marketing director, as well as administratorin-training for the Medical Center.
Michael Bitz, ’01, ’08, was named the North Dakota Superintendent of the Year by the North Dakota Association of School Administrators. He's currently the superintendent of Mandan Public Schools.
Michael Lowe, ’02, has been a pilot for American Airlines since 2006. He surprised his parents, Bob and Kathy Lowe, on a recent trip by being their pilot for the flight.
Dan Traynor, ’94, ’97, was named U.S. District Court Judge for North Dakota by the U.S. Senate. Traynor was a member of the State Board of Higher Education and
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Kelly Franson, ’02, is a meteorologist for KOAT News in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Previously, she was a meteorologist with KIRO 7 in Seattle, Washington. During her time at UND, Kelly was active in Studio One, a television program that was produced by UND students and Television Center staff.
Jennifer Storm, ’02, ’04, is vice president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Foundation (AOPA) in Maryland. In this role, she is committed to making aviation more accessible and affordable, along with raising resources for programs that build a stronger, safer pilot community.
Photo by AOPA
Jeffrey Boerboon, ’92, made history at the Fargo Airsho by rolling out his one-of-a-kind plane called the Yak 110. Boerboon, who flew his first real airplane at UND in 1988, combined two planes to make his invention.
Naomi (White) Bender, ’05, ’09, ’17, is director of Native American Health Sciences at Washington State University. Bender aims to recruit and support Native American students as they pursue careers in medicine, pharmacy and nursing.
Kayla (Delzer) Dornfeld, ’08, ’14, was named 2019 North Dakota Teacher of the Year. She teaches third grade in Mapleton, North Dakota.
Photo by Eric Hylden
Photo by Denver Broncos Photo by Washington State University
Joseph Van Wie, ’03, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. The UND aeronautics graduate is currently assigned to the Alabama Air National Guard as an RC-26B aircraft commander. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two silver Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Chris Kuper, ’06, became the Denver Broncos assistant offensive line coach. Kuper played eight seasons for the Broncos before retiring in 2013 when he joined the Miami Dolphins’ coaching staff. Kuper was a two-time All-American at UND in 200405. He was also named to the Denver Broncos all-time Top 100 Team.
Cindy McMillan, ’08, is the only licensed addiction counselor on staff in a North Dakota school district. She focuses on addiction prevention and education with students at Grand Forks Public Schools. She has worked with adolescents in various roles since 1986.
Jade Rosenfeldt, ’08, is district court judge in Minnesota's Seventh Judicial District. Previously, Rosenfeldt was a lawyer with Vogel Law Firm and worked on criminal and family cases in state and federal courts in both Minnesota and North Dakota.
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Troy Krieger, ’11, ’15, was named to the prestigious 2019 American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 40 Under Forty list. He is a medical laboratory scientist performing clinical flow cytometry at Yellowstone Pathology Institute Inc. in Montana. Krieger was the first person to obtain the qualification in cytometry in the state. Cytometry is the measurement of the characteristics of cells.
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Harrison Weber, ’17, was named the new executive director of the Red River Valley
Sugarbeet Growers Association. The association represents about 2,500 sugarbeet growers from North Dakota and Minnesota, who cooperatively own the American Crystal Sugar Company.
UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Photo by Meagan Deanne
Ciciley Littlewolf, ’19, is the first female Native American doctor in the North Dakota National Guard. Littlewolf also became a first lieutenant in the National Guard and is currently a resident physician at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota.
UND FACULTY IN THE NEWS Photo by Susan Felege
Jon Godfread, ’11, North Dakota’s Insurance Commissioner, was named the World’s Tallest Male Politician by Guinness World Records. Godfread’s official height is 6 feet, 10 inches (210.767 centimeters tall).
Deion Harris, ’18, has signed an NFL contract with the Washington Redskins. The former Fighting Hawks defensive back was named second team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association and Associated Press and third team by Hero Sports Network, first team All-Big Sky, and the ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week on a pair of occasions. His 12 pass breakups during his sophomore season are tied for the second most in a single season in UND history and were the most during the program's Division I era (2008-present).
Susan Felege, an associate professor of wildlife ecology and management at UND, has been named The Wildlife Society’s Student Chapter Advisor of the Year for the second time in three years.
When Felege joined the UND faculty in 2011 and became chapter advisor, the group had about 10 students. Today, it is one of the most vibrant chapters in the country with about 25 members.
Thomasine Heitkamp, ’75, a nursing professor at UND, drew nearly $8 million in federal grants for UND’s efforts to bolster mental health services and combat opioid addiction in rural America. In addition, Heitkamp and her colleagues are working to reverse the stigma that is often attached to such afflictions. Don Jurivich, the chair of the department of geriatrics at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, was awarded a $3.75 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Dr. Jurivich will use the grant to advance geriatrics education and health care transformation in the Dakotas, with a focus on the American Indian population.
Nadeem Khan, assistant professor in the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, has been awarded a five-year, $1.78 million grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, to research pneumonia and influenza. Jay Metzger was named Physician Assistant of the Year by the North Dakota Academy of Physician Assistants. He is an assistant professor of physician assistant studies at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences. Metzger has over 25 years of clinical experience and has been at UND since 2013.
Ariana Meyers, ’16, assistant professor of law at the UND School of Law and attorney at Vogel Law Firm in Grand Forks, was named to the prestigious 2019 American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 40 Under Forty list. She’s co-founder and past president of the Greater Grand Forks Women’s Leadership Cooperative.
Gary Ramage is the North Dakota doctor of the year. He is the 44th person to receive the North Dakota Medical Association Community and Professional Services Award. Dr. Ramage is a Clinical Instructor of the Rural Medicine Program at UND and has worked at MedCenter One and McKenzie County Healthcare Systems in Watford City for over 20 years.
Mary Wakefield, ’83, HON ’12, was named one of five “Living Legends” by the American Academy of Nursing. The Devils Lake native was an associate dean at UND; the director of the Rural Assistance Center; and she also served as acting deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Currently Wakefield is a visiting scholar at UND.
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businesses in the region over the past 150 years.
Frank White, ’88, an assistant professor of sociology at UND, was presented with the Professor of the Year award for the second time within his 31 years of teaching at UND. White teaches two classes at UND: Introduction to Sociology and Drugs and Society.
Joshua Wynne was named interim president of the University of North Dakota in May of 2019. He’s also been dean of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences since 2010. In December, Dr. Wynne was named the Grand Forks Herald’s 2019 Person of the Year.
Byron Dorgan, ’65, HON ’02, is a New York Times bestselling author. He wrote, “The Girl in the Photograph,” a true story of a young Native American girl, and the abuse she endured along with the gruesome circumstances faced by Native American youth. He also served as a U.S. Congressman and was a North Dakota Senator for thirty years.
2019 ALUMNI AUTHORS Hiram Drache, ’63, HON ’12, and Bruce Gjovig, ’74, published “Innovative Entrepreneurs of North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.” It’s a book about entrepreneurs and innovators who’ve founded 65 successful
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Robert Noziglia, ’71, published “Free Kuwait”, a book about his adventures with the Kuwaiti Air Force in Operation Desert Storm and the Last Combat Missions of the A-4 Skyhawk. Noziglia is a retired commander in the United States Navy and is a retired Fedex Captain.
Nancy Borgeson Hvinden, ’73, published her childhood memoir, “Growing Up in the Valley: A Nodak Babyboomer.” Her husband, Marlan Hvinden, ’74, published his book, “Justice Was Swift: Tales of the Old West.” The couple from Thompson, North Dakota, writes and publishes through their own company, Hvinden Publications.
understand her story and how stroke survivors cam thrive.
Juliet (Rehrig) Cutler, ’96, is a writer, educator and designer of award-winning exhibits for museums, parks and cultural centers throughout the world. Her book, “Among the Maasai”, won a bronze medal in the inspirational Memoir by a Woman category in the 2019 Living Now Book Awards.
Photo by Jackie Lorentz
Gary Schnellert, ’76, was a professor in educational leadership at UND from 200415. After spending 43 years in education, he published a book about his youth called “Small Farm in the Swamp.”
Shirley (Freeman) Greves, ’93, ’98, published her novel “Penny for Your Thoughts,” a sequel/prequel to her awardwinning debut novel, “Love on the Misty Isles.” Greves writes under the pen name, Rosemary Vaughn.
Marcia (Wibe) Moran, ’84, an inspirational speaker and stroke survivor, landed on eight Amazon.com best seller lists, climbing to number one in the categories of brain diseases, injuries and rehabilitation, nervous system, and physical impairments in November 2019. Her book, “Stroke Forward” is based on her real-life experience of having a stroke at age 53. It helps readers more clearly
Dakota Krout, ’17, writes and publishes fantasy and science fiction novels. He and his wife, Danielle Krout, ’16, started the publishing company Mountaindale Press, based in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Dakota’s work landed him to be named to New York Times Top 10 Audiobooks list.
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LEADERS IN ACTION
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
LEADERS IN ACTION
Each UND student embarks on a journey to become a leader. It's work worth doing, making a positive impact locally, nationally and beyond. Meet some of our 2019 student leaders in action.
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UNDalumni.org Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
LEADERS IN ACTION
MICHELLE NGUYEN, ’21
A Will to Overcome Obstacles Michelle Nguyen, ’21 Majors: Political Science, Economics Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minnnesota National Scholarships: Dream Award, Mcnair Scholars Program
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
There was a time UND student Michelle Nguyen considered dropping out. Her family had financial trouble, but the firstgenerational student didn’t falter. It was another obstacle for her to overcome. The daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, who both work in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, to support a family of six, Nguyen has faced obstacles in her life. Nguyen’s story goes all the way back to the Vietnam War when her father, Michael, grew up in a family with 16 brothers and sisters. To help support the family, he walked many miles each day to sell ice cream. After a series of ordeals and misfortunes, Michael made his way to the U.S., where he eventually saved enough money to bring his wife, Diana, and their two sons to America.
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Although Nguyen and her younger brother were born in the U.S., they grew up speaking only Vietnamese at home. “When I went to school, it was like, ‘Why don’t these kids speak Vietnamese?’” she recalled. Even after she learned English, she continued to struggle with reading comprehension. None of that stopped her from taking up figure skating, getting involved in clubs, holding a job, and being elected student council president of Eden Prairie High School. As a high-school junior, Nguyen suffered a back injury that, at first, didn’t seem serious. “The next morning when I woke up, I couldn’t feel from my hips down to my toes; I was temporarily paralyzed,” she said. “I was in my bed screaming, ‘Dad! Mom! I can’t feel my legs!
I can’t skate!’ My mom looked at me and said, ‘You can’t walk!’”
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
The injury forced Nguyen to give up her dream of being a professional figure skater and channel her energy into other efforts, such as successfully managing the campaign of one of her teachers who ran for and won a seat in the Minnesota Legislature. However, at UND, Nguyen missed skating so much that she tried out for the University’s hockey cheer team. It was a challenge because she’d never been a cheerleader. Still, Nguyen said it was like a dream come true. “Now I get to skate at Ralph Engelstad Arena, a feeling that can’t be beat,” she said. “Every single time I step foot onto the ice, I have chills. I’m like a little kid at Disney World.” But there were other more serious challenges at UND. Nguyen faced the possibility of dropping out because of her parent’s financial difficulties – caused by an injury that prevented her father from working. “I was just going to drop out of school and go work with my parents,” Nguyen said. “I didn’t know what I else I could do.” But she persevered. With help from Yee Han Chu, UND academic support and fellowship opportunities coordinator, Nguyen applied for a national scholarship – along with more than 7,000 other students from around the country. Earlier this year, Nguyen was one of only 22 who received the $10,000-a-year renewable Dream Award scholarship. Last week, she was awarded a second national scholarship through the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Program for students planning to complete a Ph.D. The experience has changed her perspective on how she intends to live her life. “I want to be a role model for first-generation students, the families of refugees and immigrants, and anyone who aspires to receive
an education,” she said. “I don’t want to just be an advocate; I want to be a person who actually does something about it.” After graduating next year, Nguyen hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in economics, teaching the subject she loves and helping others learn about national scholarship opportunities. She’s been accepted to the London School of Economics summer program. Nguyen credits the inspiration provided by her parents and her mentors at UND with helping her to persevere and recognize the value of her education. “I knew I didn’t have much, and I knew that my parents sacrificed so much,” Nguyen said. “If there was one thing I had going for me, it was my education. Education is the most powerful tool that we can ever have; it’s the strongest thing I have going for me. That’s what kept me going.” /// — by Patrick Miller Watch a video featuring Michelle Nguyen. UNDalumni.org
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LEADERS IN ACTION
COLIN SABIE, ’21
The Journey Back to UND
When Colin Sabie – fresh out of high school – first arrived at the University of North Dakota a decade ago, he felt unready for college.
to Afghanistan and the other time to Iraq.
“I didn't declare a major, I didn't put the work that I should have put into classes, and I didn't do well,” said the Minneapolis native. “I knew that I was capable of getting decent grades, and I wasn't doing that.”
“I spent a lot of time doing maintenance,” Sabie said. “On the specific type of UAVs I worked on, there were a lot of very small spaces that I had to get my hands into in order to test a component or replace a component or fix something. And a lot of the setup seemed very counterintuitive to me.”
Sabie spent three semesters on campus “spinning his wheels,” he said, before leaving the classroom for the U.S. Army. He thought the military would provide the structure and direction he was seeking. And it did.
So, instead of pursuing a career in the military, Sabie decided to go deeper into his craft. He sought to understand the reasons behind the design oddities that had caused him so much frustration in the field.
For the next six years, Sabie served as an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mechanic, stationed in New York and deployed twice, once
Returning to UND was one thing. But adjusting to student life – despite Sabie’s determination to succeed at his second try in higher education
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Photo by Mike Hess
– came with its challenges. Some classes were hard. Physics was one of them, mostly because it heavily relied on calculus. Seven years after taking calculus in high school, “I was back doing this very hard math again,” Sabie said. “A lot of my skills … I mean, they were rusty, to put it lightly. The course moved very fast and I had to do a lot of catching up.”
“When I first got here, it was a struggle,” Sabie said. “I got a lot of help from people. And when I was given the chance to tutor, that was my chance to do the same for someone else. I know it can be hard for some people who, like me, might not have a traditional way of understanding things because I've taken a seven-year break from school.” Although it took him that long to find his calling in mechanical engineering, a span that included leaving college and serving his country, Sabie does not regret the journey.
But he succeeded. He asked professors for help. He got some math tutoring. And in the end, he earned a pretty good grade.
“If I had to do it all over again, including picking a school and a major, I would do exactly the same thing,” he said.
Today, Sabie is a junior, tackling courses with intimidating titles such as finite element analysis, differential equations, materials science, and intermediate thermodynamics. He is also a math tutor.
Next on his mind is a master’s degree from UND. /// — by Dima Williams Watch a video featuring Colin Sabie. UNDalumni.org
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LEADERS IN ACTION
ANDY SAMUEL, ’20
Where Dreams Land Far and High Andy Samuel ’20 Student-Athlete, Thrower Majors: Communication and Sociology Hometown: Burnsville, Minn. Internships: UND Insider, NASA
Photo by Mike Hess
Striding to the throwing circle, with all eyes upon him, Andy Samuel keeps his composure, even as the adrenaline surges. The trick to a great toss is to keep your head from spinning with jitters and your arm from flinging the ball too early, said the senior thrower at the University of North Dakota. In last season’s indoor home meet, known as UND Open, Samuel heeded his own advice. His warm-up tosses were impressive. He approached the competition with confidence. “I made the finals, and I kind of had a feeling I was going to get a big mark that day,” Samuel said. He hurled the 35-pound ball some 58 feet. It was a top-three result and his personal best, an accomplishment he had consciously reached for in every meet. “It can be hard at first, especially as a freshman, because you don't throw weight in high school,”
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
said Samuel. “Getting to college, trying to learn to throw weight is kind of like learning a new language. It's very difficult at first. Once you get the hang of it, it's a lot of fun.” The weight throw is an indoor track-and-field event in which the athlete holds a metal handle that’s attached to the ball, then spins several times before throwing for distance. Samuel’s passion for the event seems innate. When asked about it, he searches for the right words to describe his dedication to the sport, which he took up in high school. “Ever since ninth grade, I just had a love for the sport,” said the Burnsville, Minnesota, native, who gave up baseball to pick up the heavy ball. “I had a love for throwing.” But, Samuel, whom UND’s track-and-field coaches actively recruited, has other passions too. Like videography. A multimedia course in high school introduced
Photo by Mike Hess
“Driving through Johnson Space Center, it was like ‘Holy cow,’” said Samuel. “I'm actually here for the moon landing celebrations. I'm at this place; you know, ‘Houston, we have a problem.’ I'm at that actual Houston base. So it was crazy, but I definitely didn't take it for granted.” At such a historic site, Samuel’s major project appeared quite fitting. Along with starting a “Fun Fact Friday” social media campaign for the agency, he researched and produced a video series titled “One Small Step” that explored NASA’s past and present. In June, shortly after Samuel started out, an astronaut on the International Space Station tweeted out one of his first clips, a feature on physical training in space.
Samuel to video, sowing a fascination that has defined almost all aspects of his life. For one, videography has revealed a new lens to sports. Working for UND Insider, the official channel of UND Athletics, he filmed games, put together game hype prompts and edited highlight reels, among other duties. “The experience has given me a unique perspective of being a student-athlete,” said Samuel, a double major in communication and sociology at UND. “It’s been a great opportunity for me.” Video production at UND turned out to also serve as a trampoline to a prestigious gig as an intern multimedia developer with NASA. Samuel interned at the Johnson Space Center in Houston last summer, when the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apollo’s touch-down on the moon.
For Samuel, the only NASA intern from a Midwestern university that summer, the astronaut’s post felt like a win. Later in his internship, an even bigger moment occurred: NASA nominated Samuel’s “One Small Step” project for a Webby Award, the definitive prize for digital excellence. “I was super excited and just honored that NASA thought it is good enough to be submitted for an award like that,” Samuel said. While the distinction is remarkable, it is not Samuel’s sole recognition. As a high-achieving student-athlete, he also made the Summit League Academic Honor Roll in 2019. Keeping his grades above a 3.20 average, the benchmark for the honor roll is a no small feat for this athlete, double major and chair of UND’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The latter role is one Samuel embraces for its community involvement on and off campus. With all that, Samuel keeps his head cool and approach steady. He is just starting out. /// — by Dima Williams Watch a video featuring Andy Samuel. UNDalumni.org
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LEADERS IN ACTION
BRENDAN BLADES, ’21
Building What Lasts Brendan Blades, ’21 Major: Civil Engineering Current Town: Seattle Why Und? Online class quality and flexibility
Photo by Mike Hess
The pyramids in Egypt. Stonehenge in Britain. Roman bridges. The Great Wall of China.
a chance to meld that passion with something more practical.”
These everlasting wonders of architectural and engineering mastery fascinate Brendan Blades. It is a fitting allure for him, one that marries his past endeavors and current pursuits, one that hints at his aspirations.
Blades’ undergraduate education took him from his native Seattle to Arizona and later to northern Mongolia with the Peace Corps.
Blades holds a bachelor’s degree in history, which was supposed to lead to a career in education. Today, however, it kindles his passion for civil engineering, which he is studying online at the University of North Dakota. “I enjoy reading about how different cultures practiced engineering in the past, practiced architecture,” Blades said. “Civil engineering is
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
In a village with no running water and intermittent electricity, where temperatures dropped to 40 below zero Fahrenheit in winter, he taught English for two years. It was a time of little physical comfort but tremendous intellectual and emotional reward. It was a time of simple living and communal bonding. “There is a saying that Peace Corps volunteers have,” Blades said. “They say that you get a lot more from the culture you serve than you can ever give them.”
Photo by Mike Hess
I worked on, see the details I worked on,” he said. “How much cooler would it be if it was something that I actually decided rather than something I took off from someone else’s work?” But there were no local universities where Blades could study and work at the same time. UND, with its accredited online engineering program, which recently marked its 30th year, offered what Blades sought — quality, flexibility and engagement. Pursuing civil engineering online, however, is no small feat. After he leaves his cubical at 3 in the afternoon, Blades spends hours doing homework. Amid work obligations and family duties, he grinds through classes such as calculus, differentiated equations and fluid mechanics. These are subjects that once intimidated him. But his efforts are paying off, backed with the support he needs professionally and academically.
Teaching, though, proved to be a poor fit for him. So, upon returning to the West Coast, Blades leaped into the restaurant business for five years. In 2013, he began to feel restless, trapped in an industry for which he found little enthusiasm. He shifted gears, obtained a computer-aided design degree from a local technical college and started a job at a construction company that devises solutions for concrete walls. “Once I got there, I realized I really do want to become an engineer,” Blades said. The creative challenges of executing others’ designs perked him up, but he craved the thrill of chasing his own building ideas. “I can walk around Seattle and see a building
“You are not going to find [these classes] online anywhere else, you are not going to find them accredited anywhere else,” Blades said. “UND made such an effort to put infrastructure in place. There is a resource for everything. There is someone you can ask. I find people who are so helpful.” Balancing a couple of classes into his routine each semester, Blades plans to graduate in about two or three years. “Finishing this degree should be a lifetransforming event,” he said. It also would be a step toward what he hopes to be his own engineering wonder — a skyscraper in downtown Seattle. /// — by Dima Williams Watch a video featuring Brendan Blades.
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Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
T H A N K Y OU
DONORS The following donors reached a new giving circle in the Eternal Flame Society in 2019.
A DE L P HI
W IL L I A M B UDGE
$5,000,000+
$1,000,000 - $4,999,999
Werner & Colleen Nistler
Dr. John L.* & Ruth* Carter
CIRCL E
The UND Alumni Association & Foundation sincerely thanks all alumni and friends who have made gifts and commitments to support students, faculty, programs and places at UND. Thank you for all that you do! * indicates deceased For more information about the Eternal Flame Society, visit UNDalumni.org/EternalFlame
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
CIRCL E
Jill M. Cholewa & Steve Cholewa Sidney Green Four LLC Doug & Katie Mark Rockwell Collins, Inc. Jody & Duane Feragen Jack G. Marcil Scheels All Sports
E T ERN A L FL A ME
SOCIETY T HO M A S CL IF F OR D
CIRCL E
$100,000 - $999,999
Arthur & Elaine Hetland*
Michael & Theresa Reinarts
Ethel I. Anderson*
Donald L. & Sandy Hynek
William H. Saltzman
Lowell T. Anderson*
Michael C. Jackman*
Rep. Dr. Mark & Gloria Sanford
Mary* & Quentin Anderson
Mark & Betsy Jackson
Dr. John W. & Suzanne B. Shore
Drs. Robert Arusell & Janelle Sanda
Kurt & Tami Lamp
John R. Solberg
Azore, Inc.
Robert & Grayce Mitchell
Warren R. Stanchfield, Jr., M.D.
Richard & Linda Beall
Kevin & Jeanne Moug
Thomas & Sabina Sullivan
Orville J. Berg*
Robert & Rebecca Muhs
Allan* & Betty Swanson
Dr. Charles & Janine Bridgeford
Mark & Monica Musich
Audrey & Russ* Burfening
Michael J. Nicolai
The Honorable Gerald W. VandeWalle
Matthew* & JoAnn Butler
North Dakota Bar Foundation, Inc.
John S. & Linda Charlesworth
Otter Tail Corporation Foundation
FedEx
Sally J. Page*
Barbara & Gregory* Heck
Gary & Nancy Petersen
Island Harbor Beach Club, LLC
Piper Aircraft, Inc.
Jonathan & Amy Warrey Zahradka Land & Timber Company
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P R E SIDE N T ’ S
CIRCL E
$10,000 - $99,999
Jill & Michael DeSautel
Donald & Cheryl Johnston
Gary & Olga Anderson
Paul & Virginia DuBowy
Ryan A. Kaeding
David & Cynthia Baumgardner
Aaron & Jessica Dunphy
Cyrus P. Kahl*
Ryan & Dr. Stephanie Barstad
EGLJ LLC
Paul & Mary Keller
Lori A. Bazey
William C. Elder, M.D.
Christopher & Nanette Kennelly
Sandra & Jerry Bishop
Julia L. Ernst
Kelby J. Klosterman
John & Jodi Bjornson
Dr. Greg & Linda Everson
Stephen P. Kranz
Patricia Bohnet & Lowell Liebenow
Falkirk Mining Co.
Russell W. Kraus
Christopher B. Ford
Deborah L. Kukowski
Dennis H. Fossum
KS Energy - Power Africa
M. James Gibbs*
John & Nicole Kutch
Tim & Cathy Goodman
Cesar Larson
Brent & Devin Goska
Marvin & Susan Larson
Grand Forks Subaru KIA
Patrick Larson
Paul & Kay Grinnell
Randall L. Larson
Clifford C. Grosz*
Nick & Heidi Lee
Haldeman-Homme, Inc.
Harold & Susy Lemar
Jewell L. Hanna*
Rev. Donald W. Lemke
Randall & Carma Hanson
Levine Family Endowment
Steve J. Hanson
Erik G. Lips*
Jennifer & Casey Heller
John A. Lohse
Donald D. Hensrud, M.D.
Scott A. Lundberg
Jared Herndon
Terry & Suzanne Lundberg
Michael V. Hilgers
Douglas J. Luttenberger
Kyel & Kimberly Hodenfield
Charles & Linda MacFarlane
Dr. Heather & William Howard
Steven T. Martin
Jon C. & Yolande Dahl
Jesse J. Howard
Mike Marttila
Dennis & Mary Dahlen
Joanne & Robert* Howard
Dean E. May
Betty J. Dahlberg
Michael A. Howard
Dr. Kimberly & Monte McCulloch
Lucy A. Dalglish
Drs. Jason & Heidi Jensen
Robert McLennan
DayDreams Specialties
Rory R. Johnson
Neil B. McMurrin
John B. Buchwitz Bucks' Books Bell State Bank & Trust Dr. Dennis & Henriette Berge Cassandra Bowers Lyle F. Buchwitz Nancy* & John Burbidge Melissa J. Burchill Floyd V. Burton, M.D. Steven P. Butzon, O.D. James Casler Aaron J. Chalmers, M.D. Susan & Tom Chevins Twyla I. Chun Dr. Blaine & Denise Clausnitzer Cirrus Design Corporation Jeanne & Peter Crain in Memory of Nicole Jeanne Thorson
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
Michael Miller Janelle* & Daniel Mulroy
Dr. Brian Selland & Rev. Sharon Baker
Mary J. Groebner Gerald W. Hunt
Alison G. Myhra
Dr. Thomas B. Steen & Dr. Carol E. Cook
Connie M. Nelson
Steffes Corporation
John & Nettie Lindvig
Corby* & Mary* Newman
Doris E. Steingraber
Terry & Suzanne* Lundberg
Andrew L. B. Noah
Texas A & M University
Mike Marttila
Drs. Arlan & Diane Norman
The Coteau Properties Co.
Darrell & Kay* Moon
Cheryl D. Olson, Sheila R. Olson, Gary B. Olson, Sonja S. Olson, Bradley K. Olson, and Melody A. Vachal
The Delta Airlines Foundation
Col. Clark R. Penas, RET
The Wheeler Foundation
William H. Saltzman
Nicole & Jefferson Tellmann
W. William, Jr. & Diane Weispfenning
Philip J. Olson* Roger A.* & Annette* Ophaug Hope & Dr. Jeffrey Ottmar Paul F. Sullivan & Associates Park River Implement LLC Tammy & Shawn Peterson Psychotherapy Associates, PC A. Jeanne Pfeiffer QOL Medical LLC Dr. Jennifer & Michael Raum Jodi Thompson Rolland
Cherie Templeton* Dr. Patricia A. Torness-Smith Louis R. Unzelman Erven* & Ida* Weber Steve Williamson Winmar Sleep Center XTO Energy Inc.
L E G A CY
CIRCL E
David Scott
The Legacy Circle includes donors who have indicated they plan to give to the UND Foundation through their wills.
Dr. Brian Selland & Rev. Sharon Baker
Jacob K. Brandt
Gerald M. Rott Karen R. Ruth William & Carolyn Satterfield in Honor of David & Linda Kjelstrup
Loretta M. Johnson
Hal & Cathy Adams
Shawn M. Serba
John & Diane Brawley
David & Donna Severson
Jesse & Lee Bull
Gregory Shega & Amy Weber
Dr. Dale & Penny Cody
William F. Sheridan RADM Paul & Jacki Soderberg
Janet, James and Peter Klosterman in Memory of Annette Klosterman
Larry G. Solberg
David Dornacker/Jody Spencer
Matthew & Dr. Brooke Solberg
Glen & Marilyn* Gustafson
Photo by Shawna Noel Schill
UNDalumni.org
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IN MEMORIAM
“FOLKS, GET YOUR GREEN ON THIS WEEKEND.� REMEMBERING
LOWELL SCHWEIGERT
(1956-2019)
The University of North Dakota mourns the loss of Lowell Schweigert, who passed away suddenly on December 29, 2019. He was 63.
Schweigert was an avid fan, supporter and former student-athlete at the University of North Dakota. The Zeeland, North Dakota, native played quarterback for UND in 1976 and 1977 as well as pitched for the Fighting Sioux baseball team during his time at North Dakota. He is the brother of current UND Head Football Coach Bubba Schweigert. After his playing days, Schweigert spent 14 years as a math teacher at both the junior high and high school levels before taking his current position as a financial advisor for the last 24 years. He never strayed too far from his true love of UND and its athletic teams. Schweigert served for many years as the head of the UND Athletics Booster Board where he often greeted fans, student-athletes, coaches and opposing
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UND Alumni Magazine | Year in Review 2019
staffs with his smile, a quick joke and a rousing rendition of "Stand Up and Cheer" nearly every Friday at the Athletic Fan Luncheons. Schweigert was also heavily involved as a long-time member on UND's Intercollegiate Athletics Committee. UND Alumni Association & Foundation CEO DeAnna Carlson Zink, '86, said, "Lowell will be greatly missed. He was always that smiling and upbeat face at UND Athletic events. His support for UND was unwavering. He is a good one gone all too soon." Lowell was known to say, "Folks, get your green on this weekend," at UND Champions Club luncheons. Shirts with the phrase are being sold to honor Lowell, with all proceeds going toward the Lowell Schweigert Memorial Football Scholarship fund. To find out more or donate directly, please visit www.UNDalumni.org/Lowell.
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Pifer’s
AUCTION & REALTY
Bob Pifer
bpifer@pifers.com 701.371.8538
1506 29th Ave S Moorhead, MN 56560
Livestock Marketing Real Estate Sales - Land Auctions
877.700.4099 www.pifers.com 43 UNDalumni.org
3501 University Ave. Stop 8157 Grand Forks, ND 58202-8157
BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM FOR NASHVILLE TODAY.
The 2020 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation have created a one-stop shop for all your Nashville hotel needs during the Hall of Fame Game weekend. As the event producer, Ralph Engelstad Arena has contracted more than 2,500 hotel rooms nightly for this event to provide fans with a frictionless and convenient way to book hotel rooms in Nashville.
theralph.com/Nashville to book your hotel room directly!
