N.D. Native And Former Minnesota Viking To Speak During UND Commencement Ceremonies

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — University of North Dakota Hall-of-Famer Jim Kleinsasser will give the main address for both graduate and undergraduate ceremonies at UND next month.

The Carrington, North Dakota native played tight end at UND from 1995-98 and went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings from 1999 to 2011.

In 2025, he was inducted into the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame.

Spring commencement ceremonies at UND will be held on Saturday, May 17 at Alerus Center.

More than 1,100 undergraduate students and more than 600 graduate students are eligible to graduate.

UND will give an honorary degree to 1982 UND graduate Noren Pan, co-founder and president of MicroLink Devices.