From six national scholarship recipients in 2018 to 26 today
National Scholarship Ceremony honors award-winning UND student scholars, as well as their mentors
On Friday, Nov. 14 in the Henry Family Ballroom, UND students, their family members and friends, as well as faculty mentors, gathered to celebrate the most recent cohort of the University’s recipients of national scholarships.
In total, 28 students were recognized that afternoon for their accomplishments, in an event that was attended by President Andy Armacost and Provost Eric Link, both of whom, once the celebratory reverberations of the Hawks in Harmony choir wound down, gave introductory remarks.
Armacost expressed his gratitude to Yee Han Chu, UND’s academic support and fellowship coordinator (who hosted the event), for her support of students seeking national scholarships, as well as those faculty mentors who lent their experience and expertise to the application process.
In reference to the opening song “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles, (and the UND Alma Mater and Varsity songs) and as performed by the Hawks in Harmony, Armacost said:
“What a great song to just think positive vibes about being here and the light that is shining upon each of our recipients today and the other songs of the University, the Alma Mater, which talks about being a beacon over the western land,” Armacost said. “Our students are those beacons. The light that you shine and the light that you bring to others is really, really important.”
In her own remarks, Chu noted the growth in national scholarship recipients in recent years. As recently as 2018, about six students received national scholarships per year. Last year, 21 students were awarded, and this year 28 different awards were handed out to 26 UND students.
“It shows the enthusiasm students have for these types of experiences, and it shows the kind of support that UND offers,” she said.
Brian Urlacher, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, noted the importance of faculty mentorship in assisting the “capable, motivated and ambitious students” who received the awards.
“I’m going to say again and clearly that mentorship needs to be a part of the educational experience for the good of both faculty and for the good students, and working with students applying for national competitive scholarships is one of the most reliable ways for us to do meaningful work,” he said.
Greyson Orne, a double-major in UAS Operations and Political Science, who earlier this year became UND’s 15th Truman Scholar recipient, then took the stage to speak.
In his remarks, Orne noted the maturing aspects of working with a faculty mentor in revising the application packet for a national scholarship. Such revisions are lengthy, he said, but the process reveals something about one’s inner character. It’s a process that leads to personal growth — a trait that has benefits beyond the tangible rewards of a scholarship, which typically include tuition dollars and networking opportunities.
“I hope that fellow awardees can share that belief that it’s really changes you in impressive ways and really makes you more well-rounded and more in tune with what your future goals are,” he said.
The full list of 2025 national scholarship awardees can be found on UND’s National Scholarships and Fellowships website.
