A signature milestone for UND’s STEM Complex
Students, faculty and community members leave their mark during a beam-signing ceremony for the new STEM Complex
On Oct. 2, members of the UND community gathered to leave their signatures on a steel beam that will become part of the University’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Complex.
Eric Link, provost and vice president for academic affairs, opened the ceremony with a few words on how the complex came to be and what it will mean for students on campus.
The project began nearly seven years ago with the idea of bringing science and engineering together, placing them side by side in a student-focused learning environment that would transform education on campus.
President Andrew Armacost thanked state legislators and supporters who helped make the project possible. During his remarks, he reflected on the symbolism of the beam itself.
“A beam is a connecting device,” Armacost said. “It’s a support mechanism, supporting the education of students and the development of future scientists and engineers who will serve North Dakota and the world.”
Armacost continued to explain that the beam will remain visible within the STEM Complex. The signatures will be more than ink on steel, serving as a reminder of the people who believed in the project and helped make it possible.
Among those in attendance was U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, a UND alumna, who reminisced about the former Hyslop Sports Center, where she once played racquetball as a student.
“Such an important investment in the future of North Dakota, but also the future of our country, because the biggest challenges we face are going to be solved by the people who are educated in the STEM areas,” Fedorchak said.
Following the remarks, attendees were invited to add their signatures to the beam, which bears the words “Discover, Innovate, Inspire.”
Once installed, the beam will carry the signatures of those who supported the STEM Complex and its vision for the future.
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