UND to celebrate Constitution Day Sept. 17
Events around Thursday, Sept. 17 holiday include New Americans showcase, naturalization ceremony and ‘Hamilton’ sing-along
On Sept. 17, 1787, state delegates signed the U.S. Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Two hundred thirty-nine years later, the University of North Dakota will be among the hundreds of schools and organizations hosting events celebrating the federal government’s foundational document.
Among other events detailed in this post, UND will host a naturalization ceremony on campus with 49 citizenship candidates — representing 25 unique countries — taking the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens.
Speakers at the ceremony will include North Dakota First Lady Kjersti Armstrong, UND President Andy Armacost, Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee and North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe.
Also known as Citizenship Day, commemorations of the signing of the U.S. Constitution date back to 1861, according to Congress.gov.
Though the holiday held different names over the next 143 years, its modern observance was established by Congress in November 2004. The legislation also directed educational institutions receiving federal funding to hold educational programs about the U.S. Constitution every Sept. 17.
UND’s events around Constitution Day 2026 are listed below. All are encouraged to participate.
Constitution Day Project Photo Exhibit Reception and Video Showcase
Following its debut last year, the student-produced Constitution Day Project is again exhibiting its photo gallery at the Memorial Union Gallery throughout September.
A reception for this year’s exhibition, “From Many Places, One Community,” is set for noon on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at the gallery.
On Constitution Day, the project’s video showcase will be held at the Memorial Union Social Stair from 9 to 10 a.m., prior to the naturalization ceremony.
UND Today recently published coverage of the photo exhibit’s run at the North Dakota State Capitol over the summer.
Under the direction of Associate Professor Joonghwa Lee, chair of the Department of Communication, students interviewed and photographed 15 New Americans from 14 countries to document their journeys and aspirations, as well as their contributions to their communities.
North Dakota First Lady Kjersti Armstrong is among those who shared a naturalization story in the collection, and she will again be on campus for this year’s Constitution Day celebration.
Naturalization ceremony
Immediately following the Constitution Day Project Video Showcase will be a naturalization ceremony in the Memorial Union Henry Family Ballroom starting at 10 a.m.
A more recent tradition at UND, the ceremony will see the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota lead New Americans in taking the Oath of Allegiance to become citizens.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal will preside over the ceremony as 49 candidates of 25 unique countries take their oaths.
Several dignitaries are set to speak, as previously listed, and the UND Goliards, under the direction of Assistant Professor Casey Behm, will perform the national anthem and “God Bless America” during the ceremony.
Eye of the Hawk Lecture Series
Later in the afternoon, at 3 p.m., the UND School of Law will host the first of four Eye of the Hawk Lecture Series talks set for the academic year.
The return of this longtime lecture series at UND will feature Judge Ralph Erickson of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, Senior Status. His talk, “Drowning in Information: How our Arrogance, Superficiality, and Partisanship Undermine the Constitution,” will also be held in the Memorial Union Henry Family Ballroom.
More information on the subject of Erickson’s talk, as well as the Eye of the Hawk Lecture Series, is available to read in University Letter.
‘Hamilton’ Sing-Along
To end the day, the Chester Fritz Library is hosting a screening and sing-along for the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” starting at 4:30 p.m. in Room 406.
All are invited to shout along through the production’s cabinet battles, dueling warnings and revolutionary romance in honor of the document that started it all.
Also planned for the screening are games, trivia and refreshments to turn Constitution Day into an off-Broadway night at the library.
