UNDAAF Honors Three Esteemed Alumni from the Nistler CoBPA

Alumni Honors

Every year, the UND Alumni Association Foundation honors the University of North Dakota’s most esteemed alumni.

A banquet to recognize their achievements is held annually during Homecoming week. This year’s award ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

Distinguished Achievement & Leadership

The Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership is the highest honor given by the UND Alumni Association & Foundation for achievement, service and loyalty. Since its inception in 1962, this distinguished award has been presented to leaders in government and business, high achievers in various professions and alumni who have dedicated their lives in service to others.

2023 ALUMNI HONORS: MONICA MUSICH ’82

Former Valley Dairy CEO credits her UND education, and her team, family and faith to her success in a male-dominated convenience store industry.

Monica, named Valley Dairy CEO in 2000, said UND gave her a firm foundation, preparing her for the challenges of the convenience store and car wash industries. In many ways, Monica opened her industry’s world to what she called a “softer” side. “We were women running the stores. I think we saw things differently.”

In 2016, Monica sold the business to Petro Serve USA, owned by Farmers Union Oil Company of Moorhead and based in West Fargo. The president, Kent Satrang, ’80, is a UND graduate. Monica was happy to keep Valley Dairy in the UND family. She is also proud of her own UND family. She and her husband, Mark, ’83, ’86, as well as daughters Megan, ’20, and Madison, ’22, ’23, are all UND graduates.

“There’s a lot you need to learn when you go out in the real world, but my education prepared me. UND opened up my world.” – Monica (Schmidt) Musich ’82

Young Alumni Achievement Award

The Young Alumni Achievement Award was established in 2002 to recognize recent graduates of UND who have made a mark in the short time since they attended our university. The Young Alumni Achievement recipients are role-models for those who follow them on campus, as they prove that success can come to those with focus, drive and a willingness to work hard.

2023 YOUNG ALUMNI: JOSH BRANDSTED ’08

Young Alumni Award winner leans on UND experiences in the classroom and on the field to excel as CEO of Greco LLC.

Josh was offered a job in March 2008. At the time, Josh was finishing his degree in managerial finance and corporate accounting and working five nights a week managing a downtown Grand Forks bar. He wasn’t sure he was interested in the real estate industry. In order to start right away, he made a plan and managed to attend school, work for Greco, and manage a bar all at the same time. His UND experience – both in the classroom and on the football field – provided valuable lessons.

“I use everything I learned in the accounting and finance department every single day.” – Josh Brandsted ’08

2023 YOUNG ALUMNI: SALLY MISKAVIGE ’07,’08

Vice president of Grand Forks-based construction company mixes love of accounting, art, and asphalt to jumpstart community-wide philanthropy.

Sally graduated with two degrees, one in Accounting and the other in Art. Right out of college, she became the next human resource manager at Opp Construction, the Grand Forks-based company her father started in 1978. Now as vice president of the company, empowering employees remains a passion of Sally’s, and so is community involvement.

“We need to invest in our community and our children; they are our future.” – Sally (Opp) Miskavige ’07, ’08