Every year, UND’s Student Aviation Management Association hosts perhaps one of the largest aviation career fairs for visitors to enjoy. Companies, such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest, Frontier, and Sun Country, are just a few of the well-known names in the industry that attend annually. This year, the event took place on Apr. 25, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the UND Flight Operations Center Hangar.
At the SAMA Career Fair, companies were able to talk to students seeking information on potential jobs, pathway programs, internships, and scholarships. UND students were able to attend the event, ask questions, and grab swag from booths. The event has a reputation for being incredibly helpful to students and functions as a way for UND to stand out from other aviation schools across the country. The career fair is an excellent way for students to establish unique connections with industry professionals and make lasting impacts that will benefit them for years to come.
The SAMA Career Fair did not just serve as an excellent networking opportunity. It also served as a chance for students to practice professionalism, social skills, and conversations with professionals in their desired industries. The importance of this practice extends beyond just a connection at the Career Fair but into every professional connection going forward. The SAMA Career Fair is an opportunity that not many other universities offer, making UND’s incredibly unique for students pursuing an education to enter the aviation industry.
In addition to the SAMA Career Fair, SAMA also hosted a few guest speakers for UND aviation students to attend. Some of the speakers included United First Officer, Lisa Ruedy, and Dr. Micheal Gillen, who currently serves as the Senior Manager of Fleet Standard and Captain for United. Throughout the day, there were other speakers that made up a reputable, experienced line up that provided outstanding advice and excellence to those who attended.
UND Flight Operations is about to begin its renovation of the dispatch building. This past weekend, in addition to the SAMA Career Fair and guest speakers, students, alumni, and UND family were able to visit the building to say their goodbyes prior to its renovation. The project is set to begin in the coming weeks and will bring a breath of fresh air to Grand Forks as well as the Grand Forks International Airport.
The weekend did not stop with the Career Fair. On Friday, UND’s chapter of Alpha Eto Rho organized an F-16 flyover, performed by two UND Aerospace alumni in two F-16s. Students and families were able to gather on the ramp to watch the jets.
SAMA is one of UND’s many student organizations that has enacted positive change and hosted successful events around UND’s campus. To find out more about SAMA as well as other student organizations and how to get involved, visit the UND website or Instagram.
Sadie Blace is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
