Generosity in Action
The College of Engineering & Mines celebrates students, donors at annual Scholarship Ceremony
UND’s College of Engineering & Mines honored scholarship recipients and the donors who support them at its annual Scholarship Ceremony, now in its third year. The event brought together students, alumni and donors to celebrate academic achievement and the generosity that fuels it.
Dean Ryan Adams opened the ceremony by welcoming guests and introducing a new tradition: the Pins of Philanthropy. Each year, attendees will receive a commemorative pin with a unique design that tells part of a larger story of giving. This year’s pin, The Heart, represents the belief that a single act of generosity can grow into a lasting legacy of impact.
UND Alumni Association Foundation Chief Executive Officer DeAnna Carlson Zink addressed donors, speaking to the value scholarships provide to students pursuing engineering degrees. Donor Dwight Wendschlag, representing the Wendschlag Family Mechanical Engineering Scholarship Endowment, also took the stage to share what motivates his family’s commitment to student success.
Throughout the ceremony, donors were recognized alongside the students their generosity supports. Scholarship recipients came to the stage to receive their pins and shake hands with Dean Adams, putting faces to the names behind each award. Several students received multiple scholarships, reflecting the depth of donor investment in CEM’s student body.
Ian Graves, recipient of five scholarships, offered remarks on behalf of the student body, speaking to the freedom scholarship funding provides. Financial support, he noted, allows students to pursue leadership roles, research and extracurricular activities that enhance their education, not just survive it. Graves has served in multiple leadership roles at UND, including Chair of the Dean’s Engineering Council.
Robin Turner closed the ceremony with remarks celebrating the students and donors who make the event possible.
The College of Engineering & Mines extends its gratitude to all donors whose contributions continue to open doors for UND’s next generation of engineers.
Written by Amy Chandler // UND College of Engineering & Mines
