Amy Whitney Director | University of North Dakota
Amy Whitney Director | University of North Dakota
UND students Michelle DiCicco and Paige Jones are excelling both academically and athletically on the world stage. Both are distance learners in Biomedical Engineering, with DiCicco competing in figure skating for Argentina and Jones participating in ski jumping for the U.S.
DiCicco, originally from Connecticut, competed at the FISU World University Games in Turin, Italy. Despite a challenging year due to major back surgery, she has returned to skating while maintaining her studies. "I spent a year completely debilitated," she said. Her dedication to academics continued even during her medical leave. She expressed appreciation for UND's supportive academic environment: "I don’t think I’ve ever had such a supportive academic group."
Jones hails from Park City, Utah, and began ski jumping at age nine. She is currently aiming for the 2026 Winter Olympics after recovering from an ankle injury that kept her out of the 2022 games. "Having a spot at the Olympics is looking pretty promising," she noted. Jones values UND's flexible program which accommodates her travel schedule: "The online students aren’t separate from what’s happening in the physical classroom."
Both athletes highlighted how UND's program supports their athletic commitments without compromising their education.
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