The vista along the English Coulee will soon have a new look, thanks to the generosity of the late Roy and Elnora (Hopper) Danley.  Elnora, a Brinsmade, N.D., native, graduated from UND in 1937 with an education degree, and Roy, a Cando native, majored in electrical engineering.  They bequeathed $10 million, the second-largest individual gift ever received by the University.  “We are very grateful to the Danleys,” said President Charles Kupchella.  “Theirs is a classic, heartwarming story about a couple whose lives were enriched by a UND education and who have given something very substantial back, to the benefit of many others to come.”

A portion of the gift will support a number of projects designed to create areas for reflection and meditation within the Coulee environment.  Part of the bequest will be used to build and furnish a spiritual center near the Coulee.  It will be used for meditation, prayer, small worship groups, and weddings.  The bequest also includes restoration of the Adelphi Fountain and construction of a memorial wall to honor students, faculty, and staff who passed away while part of UND.  A quiet lounge and memorial garden will become part of the new Wellness Center, which is now under construction near the Ralph Engelstad Arena.  The projects are expected to be complete by Homecoming, Oct. 4-7.  The balance of the bequest will be endowed and used for student scholarships and other needs.

A new major, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and New Art Media, was approved by the State Board of Higher Education to be awarded through the Department of Art.  An inaugural project for the new program was the design and display of posters for bus stop shelters in Greater Grand Forks.  Under the direction of Lucy Ganje, associate professor of art, the participating students conducted research on the history of public transit in the communities and then worked to create a “typographic portrait” of the architecture, geography or events that highlight the cities.  The students’ ideas were critiqued by professional graphic designers, and the final poster designs were presented to city transit officials.  The students gained experience in exploring approaches to a project, exposure for their designs, and materials to build their professional portfolios, all while enriching the cultural environment of the community.

The UND Flying Team took the crown in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association’s (NIFA) Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference, held in early May at The Ohio State University in Columbus.  Capturing its 14th national title in the last 22 years, UND competed against the top 29 flying teams from 11 regions around the country.

West Point cadets fly UND

Two groups of West Point cadets will soon complete helicopter flight training at UND.  Through an agreement with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, UND trains cadets to fly Army helicopters.  The cadets also complete academic studies in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.  After completing the training, each cadet earns a student pilot certificate and has logged enough flight hours to solo.  To date, UND has trained 100 West Point cadets.