From Campus to the Cosmos

The Greatest Step Forward

I was a 5-year-old child perched on the living room carpet. Flickering black-and-white images on the screen held me captive — men in bulky suits on a dusty surface 238,000 miles away. 

It was 1969, and the world was watching as Neil Armstrong took a “giant leap for mankind.” And then, Walter Cronkite, covering the historic occasion for CBS News, said, “For one priceless moment in the whole history of man, all the people on this Earth are truly one.” That phrase, “one priceless moment,” has echoed through the decades, a reminder of what humanity can achieve when we dare to dream big.

That moment was the culmination of contributions from scientists, engineers, and visionaries. At the University of North Dakota, we are a vital part of the story. From aerospace pioneer Pearl Young, class of 1919, to astronaut Karen Nyberg, ’94, to Space Studies Chair and 3D printable spacesuit designer Dr. Pablo de León, our University consistently pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.

Forever UND

Just as the Apollo program needed significant investment to achieve its goals, UND needs your support to continue educating this century’s workforce. We launched the public phase of Forever UND: The Campaign for the University of North Dakota in 2023, setting an ambitious goal of raising $500 million for UND by December 2026.

Thanks to your astronomical support, we have already reached that goal and are raising the bar! In May, we announced an expanded target of $625 million to further fuel the ambitions of our outstanding students. This increased support will allow us to create more scholarships, enhance faculty and research support, improve facilities and boost programs.

Please join this effort. Your contribution, no matter the size, will help future generations experience their own priceless moments of discovery and innovation. Walter Cronkite’s words still resonate — we can unite in a common purpose, achieving the impossible.

As you read this issue, I hope you’ll feel the same sense of pride and wonder that I felt as a child watching those first steps on the Moon. And I hope you’ll join us in taking the next giant leap for UND.

Board of Directors

We ask a lot of our Board of Directors, so we are expanding its size to increase expertise and skills, enhance representation, and improve governance and oversight.

Joining our board are John Solberg, ’76; Nathaniel Leben, ’05; Lucy Dalglish, ’80; and Reid Walker. Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, dean of the School of Medicine & Heath Sciences and Vice President for Health Affairs, is an ex-officio member of the board. Welcome to all these excellent additions!

Pat Sogard, ’82, ’86, is leaving our board early, but for good reason. He has been selected by Gov. Kelly Armstrong to serve on the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. Congratulations, Pat!

Homecoming 2025: September 15-20

From socials to the parade to the football showdown with Valparaiso, Homecoming promises to be an out-of-this-world experience! See the back page for more. 
I hope to see you on campus!

Sincerely,
DeAnna Carlson Zink
CEO, UND Alumni Association & Foundation