{"id":47071,"date":"2026-04-30T15:38:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/?p=47071"},"modified":"2026-04-30T15:38:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:38:38","slug":"nearly-600-grad-students-join-week-of-appreciation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/und-today\/2026\/04\/nearly-600-grad-students-join-week-of-appreciation\/","title":{"rendered":"Nearly 600 grad students join week of appreciation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Events across campus foster connection, interdisciplinary collaboration and recognition of UND\u2019s graduate community<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Group
UND graduate students gathered at Brick & Barley in downtown Grand Forks as part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week at UND. Photo by Carley Swanson-Garro\/UND School of Graduate Studies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Madison Dame<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the University of North Dakota, Graduate Student Appreciation Week \u2013 April 7-10 \u2013 was a week full of events, giveaways and hearty appreciation, plus a little interdisciplinary networking.<\/p>\n

“With more than 3,500 graduate students representing the United States and some 69 other countries, our graduate community plays a vital role in advancing the University\u2019s research, creative activity and clinical practice,\u201d said Soojung Kim, dean of the UND School of Graduate Studies.<\/p>\n

\u201cGraduate Student Appreciation Week is an opportunity to recognize their hard work and dedication as they drive innovation, generate new knowledge and serve their communities. We are incredibly proud of their commitment to growth and lifelong learning.\u201d<\/p>\n

A total of 598 graduate students took part in the week\u2019s events, which focused on helping the students connect and interact with each other and faculty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe week lets graduate students know that the university cares about them,\u201d said Julie Bean, director of Graduate Student Engagement and the Gershman Graduate Center. \u201cAnd we do care about them. But it also gives them an opportunity just to take a break and connect with other students and share how things are going in their classes and in their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the grad students agree.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s nice because it makes you feel appreciated, first of all,\u201d said Imelda Mashalia, a master\u2019s degree student in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics. \u201cAnd I think it\u2019s also really nice to come and see other people and just interact with them as a student.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brad Rundquist, dean of the UND College of Arts and Sciences, finds the week important for both himself and the students. The event is a great opportunity for faculty members and UND administrators alike to talk with grad students, learn about their experiences and connect with them personally, he said.<\/p>\n

There were events and prizes all week, including an ice cream social, Brick & Barley dinner social, Taco Thursday and Breakfast Burritos. Each event had its own surprises, and every day, a free coffee, hot chocolate or chai tea was available at the Gershman Graduate Center\u2019s Starbucks machine.<\/p>\n

Vouchers for free admission to any movie at River Cinema 15 in East Grand Forks were available during the week. And Grand Prize drawings for participants led to giveaways of such graduate-student lifestyle staples as an Amazon Kindle, a Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker and a Black & Decker combination Waffle Iron, Grill and Sandwich Press.<\/p>\n

\"Graduate
As part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week at UND, a taco bar was set up in the Gershman Graduate Center. Photo by Julie Bean\/UND School of Graduate Studies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fun with a purpose<\/h2>\n

Mashalia talked about how much fun she had at the Brick and Barley social. And not only were get-togethers enjoyable, they also were a great way to meet people in other disciplines \u2014 a few of whom might prove to be potential research collaborators, she said.<\/p>\n

Bean agreed. \u201cThese events are truly interdisciplinary, because they do help the students engage with people who are outside of their programs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

UND offers more than 170 graduate degrees and certificate programs, and seeing that variety of programming represented at the events was also remarkable, Rundquist said.<\/p>\n

UND\u2019s online graduate students also had the chance to take part in Graduate Student Appreciation Week festivities, either by attending in person or taking part in online contests and celebrations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do have some online students who are in the region and come to these things, so that\u2019s exciting,\u201d Bean said. \u201cI actually had a student yesterday who said, \u2018I never get to campus, and so this is why I\u2019m coming every day this week.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Dean Rundquist noted his appreciation for Dean Kim and her leadership with events such as this one for the Graduate School.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecognizing the important work that graduate students do and what they bring to the University of North Dakota \u2013 just to take a minute, stop and recognize that and celebrate it \u2013 that\u2019s why this week is so important,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

About the author:<\/h2>\n
\"Madison
Madison Dame<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Madison Dame is a graduate student in Communication at UND.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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