Rooted in Love and Loyalty
For Jeff & Kim Vigen, UND is more than their alma mater; it’s the foundation of their family, careers, and enduring generosity.
Jeff, ’86, and Kim, ’88, Vigen met while participating in Greek Life at UND. Jeff was a member of Kappa Sigma as a civil engineering major, while Kim was in Kappa Alpha Theta and studying business administration. Their bond began at a sorority dance and has continued to strengthen as they graduated and built a foundation of success together.
Jeff took over his family’s construction business, Vigen Construction, Inc., after many years of doing nearly every job imaginable under his father, uncle, and brother. The business has grown to become a respected leader in agricultural construction, strengthened by a loyal team of dedicated employees and the shared commitment of the Vigen family. In every stage of their lives, Kim has devoted herself to her family, supporting Jeff in his work and raising their sons as a stay-at-home mother.
Both of their sons followed in their parents’ footsteps at UND and now contribute to the family business — Andrew as a project manager with a civil engineering degree, and Jared as the comptroller with an accounting degree.
The Vigen family attends many UND hockey games together, both home and away. They enjoy the home games from their family suite, where they have hosted special guests, including former UND Hockey star, Zach Parise, ’04.
Their success has allowed Jeff and Kim to give back to UND, and their philanthropy spans decades while touching many areas of campus. From scholarship and priority needs support in the College of Engineering & Mines to named spaces in Upson Hall and the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, their impact is visible and lasting. They have also been members of the Champions Club since 1997 while supporting several UND Athletics programs along the way.
Jeff and Kim credit UND for shaping their success. “Every instructor taught you something valuable, not only about your education, but also about life,” Jeff said.
“A college education is about more than the degree. It’s about the experience and the lessons you learn along the way,” Kim added.
Their memories of UND come back to them when they receive thank-you notes from scholarship recipients. “We want to help out however we can, and it’s always nice to hear from the students we have supported,” Jeff said. “With us and our kids being UND graduates, there’s no doubt where our passion lies.”
Pledge Your Loyalty
Elevate your UND Athletics support by joining the North Dakota Champions Club and supporting student-athletes as they work to become champions in the classroom, in the community, and in competition.
