UND celebrates 124th Founders Day The University of North Dakota will celebrate the 124th anniversary of founding of the University Thursday, Feb. 22, in the Memorial Union Ballroom. UND will present more than $20,000 in faculty and department awards, made possible by the UND Foundation, Fellows of the University, the University of North Dakota. UND also recognizes retiring and recently retired faculty and staff, as well as those who are in their 25th year of serving the University. The social begins at 5:45 p.m., with the banquet at 6:30 p.m. The highlight of the annual Founders Day banquet will be the faculty and department awards for excellence in teaching, research and service. Eight faculty and one department will be honored with cash awards and plaque: * Steven Light, associate professor of political science and public administration, and Kathryn Rand, associate dean and associate professor of law, co-winners of the UND Foundation /McDermott Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research or Creative Activity, and Service, $1,250 each; * Jack Weinstein, associate professor of philosophy and religion, UND Foundation /McDermott Award for Individual Excellence in Teaching, $2,000 * Daphne Pedersen-Stevens, assistant professor of sociology, UND Foundation /Bertin C. Gamble Award for Individual Excellence in Teaching, $2,000 * Thomas Hill, professor of microbiology, UND Foundation /Lydia and Arthur Saiki Prize for Graduate or Professional Teaching Excellence, $2,000 * Michael J. Gaffey, professor of space science and interim chair, UND Foundation /Thomas J. Clifford Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Research, $1,000.00 * Wayne S. Seames, associate professor of chemical engineering, UND Foundation /Thomas J. Clifford Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Research, $1,000. * Frank White, assistant professor of sociology, UND Foundation /Karleen Rosaaen Faculty Award for Excellence in Academic Advising, $2,000 * Chemical Engineering, Fellows of the University Award for Departmental Excellence in Teaching, $2,000.