Going Once, Going Twice
Engineering graduate Brian Milne, ’78, has been a great friend of the North Dakota Champions Club, and has built a collection of UND Athletics memorabilia from winning bids at the Champions Ball.
One of Brian Milne’s treasures from the North Dakota Champions Ball is an old gate from the original Ralph Engelstad Arena — a piece that once greeted visiting teams as they headed onto the ice.
“That was the start of my addiction,” he said.
The North Dakota Champions Ball is the largest fundraiser for the University of North Dakota Athletics Department. In 2024, more than 800 Fighting Hawks fans attended.
Brian doesn’t shy away from high prices or large items. He has won several bids on iconic UND pieces.
“I always go to these fundraisers and I’m that contrarian guy; I don’t look for deals,” Brian chuckled. “I try to bid things up, because I know the money’s going for a good cause.”
Student-athletes today are so engaged — not only in their education but also community involvement.Brian Milne, ’78
A room dedicated to the University of North Dakota showcases his purchases – old benches autographed by the last four UND hockey coaches, smoked glass doors from Ralph Engelstad Arena, championship banners, and a giant interlocking ND that stood atop the Frederick “Fritz” Pollard Jr. Athletic Center.
“Every other year I go to the Ball with the intent of buying something and my wife (Linda Boyd) asks, ‘Do you have a budget?’ and I say ‘Yeah.’ But that’s usually blown in the first 20 minutes,” Brian joked. “I could write a check and just say, ‘Here you go,’ but I enjoy going and giving that way.”
While Brian is passionate about athletics, his affinity for the Delta Upsilon fraternity is part of his core. When he joined the fraternity as a freshman, the house was brand new.
“I’m old and I know I’m old because four years ago I get a letter from the frat that says, ‘Hey, our house is nearly 50 years old and we need a new house,’” he said. “I thought, ‘It can’t be that old;’ and then I did the math.”
In 2024, Delta Upsilon unveiled its new $8 million house, a project Brian was happy to contribute to. “We had a glorified dormitory built like a residential house,” he said. “The new house is quite the endeavor.”
Whether for student-athlete scholarships or a fraternity house, fellowship drives Brian’s support and charitable giving. He already has his calendar marked for April 25, 2026: the next Champions Ball. That’s when he’ll add to his collection.
