Founders Day is Thursday, Feb. 15
The University of North Dakota will mark its 141st anniversary at its annual Founders Day banquet Thursday, Feb. 15, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. There will be a social at 5:15 p.m., and the banquet will begin at 6 p.m.
The program will feature a welcome from President Andy Armacost, who will emcee the event, and remarks from Sarah Prout, vice president of Marketing & Communications at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. Presenters will include Eric Link, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and Becca Bergee, director of human resources for Academic Affairs.
Founders Day marks the anniversary of the signing of the 1883 Dakota Territory legislation establishing the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and is the official birthday of UND. The first celebration of Founders Day was held in 1904.
Retirees with at least 15 years of service, employees with 25-years of service, and department and faculty award winners are recognized at the banquet.
Academic awards
The following will receive awards at the annual Founders Day banquet on Feb. 15.
UND Foundation/McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching
Patrick Henry, Assistant Professor, English, College of Arts & Sciences
Panini Radha, Teaching Associate Professor, Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences
UND Foundation/McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate or Professional Teaching
Radomir Mitic, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, Education, Health & Behavior, College of Education & Human Development
UND Foundation/Lydia & Arthur Saiki Faculty Award for Excellence in Service
Jessica Zerr, Teaching Professor, English, College of Arts & Sciences
UND Foundation/McDermott Faculty Award for Excellence in Research and / or Creative Activity
Taufique Mahmood, Associate Professor, Geology & Geological Engineering, College of Engineering & Mines
UND Foundation/B.C. Gamble Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research or Creative Activity, and Service
Diana D’Amico Pawlewicz, Associate Professor, Education, Health & Behavior Studies, College of Education & Human Development
UND Foundation/Karleen Home Rosaaen Faculty Award for Excellence in Academic Advising
Samantha Peterson, Assistant Professor, Medical Laboratory Science, School of Medicine & Health Sciences
VPAA Award for Outstanding Professional Academic Advising
Andrea Gargano, Academic Advisor, Student Academic Success & Career Engagement
Shannon Lee, Academic Advisor, Dean’s Office Aerospace
Lani Moen, Academic Advisor, Social Work
Carla Sanden, Academic Advisor, Dean’s Office NCoBPA
Beau Simon, Academic Advisor, Student Academic Success & Career Engagement
Katlyn Storm, Academic Advisor, Academic Services & Career Engagement
Trudy Soli, Administrative Officer, Army ROTC
VPAA Award for Excellence in Assessment
Tracy Enger, Clinical Associate Professor, Nursing, College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines
UND Award for Excellence in Course Development & Innovative Teaching Strategies
Melissa Gjellstad, Professor & Director of Norwegian, Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures, College of Arts & Sciences
UND Award for Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Research and Creative Activity
Anne Kelsch, Professor History, College of Arts & Sciences
Alena Kubatova, Professor, Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
Shaina Mattingly, Teaching Associate Professor, Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences
Kanishka Marasinghe, Professor, Physics & Astrophysics, College of Arts & Sciences
Daphne Pedersen, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences
Rebecca Simmons, Professor, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
Gregory Vandeberg, Professor, Geography, College of Arts & Sciences
Ryan Zerr, Professor, Mathematics, College of Arts & Sciences
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Teaching
Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering & Mines
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Research and Creative Activity
Music, College of Arts & Sciences
UND Award for Departmental Excellence in Service
Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
Service awards
The following faculty and staff will be honored for 25 years of service.
- David Bradley, Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
- Rob Brooks, Director of the Pride of the North Athletic Band Program, Music
- Eric Burin, Professor, History & American Indian Studies
- Chad Carlson, Aircraft Technician, Flight Support Services
- Patrick Carr, Associate Dean Med Curriculum, Biomedical Sciences
- Robert Clausen, Assistant Chief – Flight Training Manager
- Diane Fore, Complex Security, Housing Residence
- Bryon Grove, Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
- Nasser Hammami, Assistant Professor/CIO, Information Resources
- Patrick Hill, Technical Director, Chester Fritz Auditorium
- Tejinder Kaur, Advanced Cataloging Specialist, Chester Fritz Library
- Matthew Nilles, Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
- Hassan Reza, Professor, SEECS
- Jeremy Roesler, Chief Flight Instructor – Airplane, Flight Operations
- Stacy Sailer, Laboratory Technician II, Biomedical Sciences
- Bradley Stevens, Senior Research Engineer, EERC
- Roxanne Vaughan, Professor, Biomedical Sciences
- Jeffery Weatherly, Professor, Psychology
- Steven Westereng, Chair/Associate Professor, Sports Medicine
- Michael Wittgraf, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, Music
- Elizabeth Wold, Systems Administrator, Academic Support Services
- Pamela Yon, Administrative Secretary, Aviation
Retirees
Members of the UND community who retired in the last year will also be honored. They are:
- Tammy Anderson, Administrative Secretary, Flight Support Services
- Cynthia Beiswenger, Auditor, Internal Auditing
- John Bratton, Building Services Technician, FM – Cust/Maint
- Meridee Danks, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
- Schawnn Decker, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
- Dale Drake, Carpenter, FM – Cust/Maint
- Harry Duchscherer, Application Analyst, EERC
- Sherrie Fleshman, Associate Professor, Modern & Classical Languages & Literatures
- Carol Grabanski, Chemical Technicians, EERC
- Janet Jedlicka, Professor, Occupational Therapy
- Laureen Johnson, Admissions & Records Officer, School of Law
- Judy Johnson, C-Store Supervisor, Dining Services
- John Kellebrew, Electronic Equipment Manager, FM – Cust/Maint
- Robert Knutson, Vice President of Operations, UND Alumni Association & Foundation
- Kevin Lacey, Building Services Manager, Housing Residence
- Steven Light, Professor, Political Science & Public Administration
- Patrick Miller, Strategic Communications Editor, Marketing & Communications
- Victoria Morrissette, Student Conduct Coordinator, Community Standards/Access for Students
- Christine Naas, Administrative Officer, President’s Office
- Carolyn Nyberg, Research Engineer – Chemist, EERC
- Cynthia Pariseau, Barista Supervisor, Dining
- Shelly Pecka, Administrative Secretary, Community Standards/Access for Students
- Raymond Pikarski, Drafter/Graphic Designer, EERC
- Kathryn Rand, Professor, School of Law
- Timothy Rerick, Director of Internal Auditing, Internal Auditing
- Mark Romanick, Professor, Physical Therapy
- Claudia Routon, Professor, Languages
- Cheryl Schreiner, Senior Administrative Officer, Dean’s Office A&S
- Dick Schultz, Senior Aviation Manager, Flight Operations
- Mark Schwieters, Building Services Technician, FM – Cust/Maint
- Diane Skean, Assistant Director of Business & Finance, EERC
- Jeffrey St Michel, Food Services Assistant Director, Dining Residence
- Brian Strom, Aquatics Facilities Manager, Athletics
- LaVonne Thompson, Laboratory Technician, Human Nutrition Center
- James Tibbetts, Research Engineer, EERC
