UND student wins 2008 Nontraditional Student Recognition Award Kimberly Rhoedes, a nutrition and dietetics student at the University of North Dakota, was selected to receive the 2008 Nontraditional Student Recognition Award for her commitment, leadership and the personal challenges she has overcome while reaching her academic goals. Rhoedes, of Fort Yates, N.D., is pursuing a bachelor's of science in dietetics from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was nominated for the award by the department. Professor Jan Goodwin wrote the nomination letter. Rhoedes is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. She also is a single mother of two children who returned to school at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck after several years working as a nutrition assistant in the Standing Rock Diabetes Program. She transferred from UTCC to UND in 2006. The award was presented by First Lady Marcia Kelley at a recent recognition ceremony held during National Nontraditional Student Recognition Week. Nontraditional Student Recognition Week was celebrated on campus to bring awareness to the successes of nontraditional students or adult learners at UND. The event was coordinated by the Adult Re-Entry Center, which is part of the University's Student Success Center. The Student Success Center specializes in student support in academic advising, learning services and programming for students at UND. Sandy Monette, coordinator of the UND Adult Re-entry Center, said Rhoedes couldn't believe that she had been selected for the award as First Lady Kelley read the nomination letter aloud at the recognition event. "When Kimberly came to accept, she was so emotional she couldn't speak," Monette said. "Kimberly shook her head no and started to walk away, but when she was at the end of stage, she came back to the microphone to express her heartfelt appreciation and thanks. The letter and her acceptance brought tears to many in the crowd." Prior to the award ceremony, there was a luncheon and the Allegro's Women Ensemble performed. The theme was "Celebrating Student Success" and concluded the campus activities for the week.