Alumni in Action Archive

Becca Baumbach, ’09, ’11, balances nonprofit leadership with sustainable farming, applying the same values of stewardship, authenticity and community impact in both roles.

A former UND student-athlete, Joel Rovang, ..’87, has turned retirement into a second act focused on service, creating spaces, memorials and connections that enrich his hometown.

UND alum Sydnie Bahl, ’13, completes the 1,000-mile Iditarod, enduring -60°F temps and brutal conditions. From novice to musher, she and her sled dogs race from Anchorage to Nome in 12 days.

Chantel Carlson, ’14, turned a passion for community engagement into an unconventional NASCAR career, creating programs and experiences that attract and inspire new racing fans.

UND alumni Bobby and Amber Buzick combined careers in military service, social work and counseling to launch Beyond Therapy ND, helping individuals and families across North Dakota heal and thrive.

Two alumni turned favorite recipes into thriving businesses. Tony Hebert, ’93, launched Punch House cocktails, while Mark Monson, ’74, built Chico’s Gourmet Products.

Epidemiologist and ultrarunner Faye Norby, ’04, became just the third woman to complete the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Invitational on foot, enduring Alaska’s harsh winter conditions.

Laura Stengrim finds new challenges -- and a global perspective -- at DigiKey.

Airline pilot and musician Peter Buffington, ’96, blends two lifelong passions through his aviation-themed band, Speed Brake Armed, creating music inspired by life in the cockpit.

Lefse is rolling into the future thanks to two UND alumnae. One is reinventing the potato flatbread in Idaho; the other is preserving a family business rooted in tradition.

From North Dakota to the Navy and beyond, Pete Witucki, ’90, built a career in diving and hyperbaric medicine, treating underwater emergencies and advancing diver safety research.

Stacie Bell, ’91, turned a childhood desire to improve cancer treatments into a career advancing research in cancer and autoimmune disease while bridging pharma and philanthropy.

Investor and entrepreneur Mickayla (Zinsli) Rosard, ’11, is helping reshape startup investing by empowering more women to become investors and founders.

After earning two degrees from UND, Sam Anderson, '69, '71, built a five-decade career as a character actor, with memorable roles in Forrest Gump, Lost, and Matlock.

Jeff Frane, ’84, turned a childhood dream of flying into a remarkable career — and a lifelong commitment to mentoring UND students.

Tom and Konnie Middleton are recipients of the 2026 Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership.

Randy Hatzenbuhler has been named a recipient of the 2026 Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement and Leadership

Sharon Rezac Andersen, longtime UND International Center Director, received the UND Spirit Award for her "uncommon dedication" to UND.

Pi Beta Phi newsletter -- at 60 years strong -- builds ties that last.

Bob and Dawn Boyd shared a "wonderful" journey at UND.

Noren Pan, ’82, cofounder and president of MicroLink Devices, has built a career advancing technologies that shape how the world navigates, communicates, and connects.

TJ Oshie earned a reputation as one of hockey’s great clutch performers.

Young Alumni Achievement Award Honoree shares how perseverance, people, and purpose shaped his path after a life-changing injury.

Bob Hagerty, ’78, teaches others how to preserve their life stories.

Influenced by former UND Choral Director Roger “Doc” Wilhelm, Dr. Stan Engebretson, ’72, ’73, led the National Philharmonic and conducted choirs and symphonies for more than 50 years.

Walter Piehl brings Western Americana to Altru Hospital's walls.

Casey Opstad captures the rhythm of life across North Dakota through his 31-panel installation at Altru Hospital.

Phil Gisi has built a career that reflects the values of his alma mater.

Jill Newby, ’83, soared from UND to United’s top ranks — becoming one of the airline’s first female pilots.

Curt Tofteland brings Shakespeare full circle in his return to North Dakota.

Dave Badman is a metalsmith, custom jewelry designer, and owner of Badman Design. His downtown design lab and showroom showcase his unique creations.

Through drag, Sarah Galbraith, ’12, creates space for expression and belonging.

A former UND football player, Dr. Michael Greenwood,’07, ’11, blends athletic drive with surgical vision, launching virtual eye-care tech and expanding Vance Thompson Vision across seven states.

Lisa Persuitti-Huber ’05, ’08, 2025 Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient, blends UND loyalty with leadership, building connections and championing alumni at the University of Minnesota and beyond.

Dr. John & Karen Schmidt-Gray lifelong commitment to each other, their goals, and UND make them deserving recipients of the Sioux Award for Distinguished Achievement & Leadership.

A passion for hockey led Dave Hakstol, ’96, on a journey from UND to the National Hockey League.

Former astronaut Karen Nyberg, ’94, writes about the overview effect, the impact of seeing Earth from space.

Charity Weeden pursued a Space Studies degree from UND with the goal of becoming an astronaut. After taking interest in a U.S. policy course, she worked her way into a space policy career at NASA, shaping the future of space exploration to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

At NASA, Amy Ross, ’06, turns a legacy of exploration into the next generation of spacesuit design.

Caitlin Milera, ’12, ’22, Marissa Saad, ’14, ’22, and Kam Yee, ’15, share their passion for space; seek STEM opportunities for students

Paige Webster, ’19, earns 2024 Promise Award for leadership in space ops, blending engineering expertise with business in a rapidly changing industry.

Aurora enthusiast Vincent Ledvina, ’22, becomes leading space weather researcher.

In western North Dakota in the mid-2000s, hundreds of landmen arrived at local courthouses at the crack of dawn. Ben Fliginger, ’07 and Ben Larson, '02, '07, made a name for themselves in the oil business.

Jay Barton, ’05, and his team are helping map exploration of the Moon.

Bailey Carlson, ’24, is developing the world’s first commercial space station at Axiom Space.

Pearl Young, Class of 1919, laid the foundation for how to communicate technical research, establishing NASA writing standards

UND Alumna tackles mental health in a digital world.

Tasha Cahill, '23, takes a fun approach to food education

Lebanese student at the University of North Dakota Raneem Kobeissy discovers UND alum Sylvia Boutrous Trent, ’55, inspiring the "Empowered by Our Past" event and celebrating UND’s diverse history and cultural legacy.

Davide Callegari has carved out a finance career for himself for several luxury brands, but his work in the automobile industry led him to Porsche Middle East/Africa.