Local students graduate from UND

More than 1,700 students graduated from the University of North Dakota (UND) this spring, in ceremonies whose speakers included the governor of North Dakota and a former Minnesota Vikings tight end — both of whom are UND alumni. Ceremonies were held across successive weekends, culminating with the Spring General Commencement on May 17 at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

  The process started on May 3, when dozens of new doctors received their diplomas at the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences’ Commencement. Then on May 10, seventy-one graduating law students earned their Juris Doctor degrees at the UND Law School commencement. North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong — a 2003 graduate of the Law School — spoke at the ceremony.

  During the May 17 General Commencement, Jim Kleinsasser, a UND Hall of Fame athlete and former tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, delivered the keynote address. UND also presented an honorary degree to Noren Pan, co-founder and president of MicroLink Devices. Pan is a 1978 graduate of Grand Forks Central High School and a 1982 graduate of UND.

Local students who graduated from UND include: Samuel J Kroening, Henning, Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Sciences and  Jackson L Rensch, Henning, Master of Science, Nursing