Danielle Simpson Receives UND Student Award

Third-year law student Danielle Simpson received the University of North Dakota's 2012 Nontraditional Student Award, recognizing her as the outstanding nontraditional student on the UND campus. "It means a lot to me to receive this recognition," said Simpson.  "There are so many deserving nontraditional students on this campus, it is truly an honor to be recognized."

The award recognizes a non-traditional student's successful efforts in academic commitment, leadership, and considers personal challenges they faced on the way to reaching those academic goals. Simpson received the award at a recognition ceremony for nontraditional students in November. The award is given as part of Nontraditional Student Recognition Week. The week is a national celebration held in the first week of November each year by ANTSHE, Association of Nontraditional Students in Higher Education.

UND Law School Career Services Director Trish Hondy nominated Simpson for the award. In her nomination she said, "While attending law school, Danielle doesn't have the luxury of just being a law student. She has to constantly balance raising her now five-year-old son with the demands of studying law and gaining legal experience. Danielle faces daily the many challenges associated with being a single mother, productive member of school and society, and a law student -- she has to prioritize which usually means spending many early mornings and late nights getting all of her work completed so that she can give her son the attention he needs and deserves. She makes sure she finds time to read with her son, attend his school functions, and volunteer in his classroom. I truly believe Danielle serves as a role model for current and future students at UND – and more specifically at the School of Law."

Simpson has spent the past two summers adding to her legal experience. She worked an unpaid internship for the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and spent her second summer in Atlanta, GA working an unpaid internship with the Federal Defender Program. She is currently enrolled as a certified student attorney in the Legal Clinic and serves as a clinic director this semester.  In addition, Simpson works as a student representative for Westlaw where she assists her fellow law students with legal research. After graduation she plans to work in public service.

In her first year of law school Simpson was featured on the law school website; read her story here.