NE North Dakota News

Outside a door in O’Kelly Hall, a red light signals the message "ON AIR," indicating that important work is underway in Room 221. This room houses the new video production studio of the University of North Dakota (UND) Department of Communication. Nearby is a state-of-the-art photo studio.

Associate Professors Soojung Kim and Joonghwa Lee, along with student interns, have been using these facilities to document stories for an initiative called “Celebrating Constitution Day in North Dakota.” The project aims to showcase personal journeys to U.S. citizenship.

“It all started with some conversations with the President’s and Provost’s offices,” said Kim, who chairs the Communication Department within the College of Arts & Sciences. The initiative aligns with an annual naturalization ceremony at UND, established by President Andy Armacost on Constitution Day, Sept. 17.

The project gained momentum last June when administrators were inspired by an article about UND's Digital Storytelling Summit for high school students. Supported by the North Dakota Newspaper Association Education Foundation and UND CONNECT, this summit prompted discussions on telling new Americans' stories.

“They wondered if we could develop something similar,” Lee said. Both he and Kim recently became U.S. citizens themselves, adding personal significance to their roles in the project.

Lee noted that funding came from various sources including the Provost’s Office and his own UND CONNECT grant. The city of Grand Forks is helping recruit participants through a questionnaire process.

“This project will serve as an exemplar of Service,” Lee wrote in his proposal, highlighting its educational benefits for students involved in community storytelling.

Student interns have found value in this hands-on experience. Lauren Huso described it as unmatched access to advanced equipment and responsibilities. Dylan Niemi appreciated working as part of a team to complete projects from start to finish. Kiera Musil saw it as valuable portfolio material for her future career.

Lee praised his students’ ability to execute plans and troubleshoot independently. The team recently completed their first interview featuring Elizabeth Morrison from Paraguay, who has connections to UND through her husband Steven Morrison, a law professor there.

Morrison shared her journey toward U.S. citizenship during her interview: “When I first moved here, I felt like an outsider... But over time... I wanted... rights and privileges that come with citizenship.”

She reflected on how becoming a citizen transformed her life: “It’s not just about legal status or benefits... It’s about feeling like I truly belong.”

Lee hopes students will produce 30 interviews by next fall alongside multimedia materials promoting a September photo exhibit at Memorial Union Gallery; videos will be featured during next year’s campus naturalization ceremony on Sept 17th.

“After I became a U.S citizen...I thought ‘This project is what I can do for my community,’” Lee concluded envisioning it as long-term endeavor allowing future generations access their family histories through these stories.

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