energy center under construction - bismarck state college

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A newsletter for Bismarck State College alumni, contributors and friends. Volume 10. No 2 July 2006 www.bismarckstate.edu Energy Center under construction Construction is under way on the new building that was a dream of college, energy industry and business leaders for years. The new name - National Energy Center of Excellence - was unveiled May 10 dur- ing the ground breaking ceremony for the $15,400,000 building. As donor of the $2 million lead gift in the capital campaign, Basin Electric was given naming rights for the facility, previously called the Career and Technology Institute. A large gathering of energy industry and business leaders, government officials, and educators attended the event. The 106,200 square-foot building will house the National Energy Center, Workforce Training Center and Higher Education Center. May 2008 is the expected completion date. Gordon Binek, vice president for college advancement and federal relations, will serve as interim president of BSC, effective July 1. President Donna S. Thigpen retired June 30 after 11 years of leadership. Binek’s appointment was approved by the N.D. State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) in June, upon recommendation of University System Chancellor Robert Potts. The search committee has selected 11 semifinalists from 26 applicants. Informa- tion on the semifinalists is available on the Presidential Search Site on BSC’s Web site. In September, the committee will conduct interviews and hold open forums for campus and community input, and then recommend three to five unranked finalists to the SBHE. The board will interviews finalists in Oc- tober and November and select BSC’s new president. The new president will take office between Jan. 1 and July 1, 2007. Binek named interim president From left: Ron Harper, CEO of Basin Electric; BSC President Donna Thigpen; Gov. John Hoeven; Sandy K. Baruah, Asst. Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development; Mandan Mayor Ken LaMont; John Giese, president Wells Fargo Bank ND and campaign co-chair; Gordon Binek, BSC vice president for college advancement and federal relations; Bismarck Mayor John Warford; Erik Sakariassen, president of BSC Foundation; John Weeda, plant manager for Great River Energy at Coal Creek Station; Greg Buhr (representing U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy), and Kathleen Schneider (representing U.S. Senator Kent Conrad) Gordon Binek View construction pho- tos at www.bismarck- state.edu/connections

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Page 1: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

A newsletter for Bismarck State College alumni, contributors and friends. Volume 10. No 2 July 2006

www.bismarckstate.edu

Energy Center under constructionConstruction is under way on the new

building that was a dream of college, energy industry and business leaders for years.

The new name - National Energy Center of Excellence - was unveiled May 10 dur-ing the ground breaking ceremony for the $15,400,000 building. As donor of the $2 million lead gift in the capital campaign, Basin Electric was given naming rights for

the facility, previously called the Career and Technology Institute.

A large gathering of energy industry and business leaders, government officials, and educators attended the event. The 106,200 square-foot building will house the National Energy Center, Workforce Training Center and Higher Education Center. May 2008 is the expected completion date.

Gordon Binek, vice president for college advancement and federal relations, will serve as interim president of BSC, effective July 1. President Donna S. Thigpen retired June 30 after 11 years of leadership.

Binek’s appointment was approved by the N.D. State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) in June, upon recommendation of University System Chancellor Robert Potts.

The search committee has selected 11 semifinalists from 26 applicants. Informa-

tion on the semifinalists is available on the Presidential Search Site on BSC’s Web site. In September, the committee will conduct interviews and hold open forums for campus and community input, and then recommend three to five unranked finalists to the SBHE.

The board will interviews finalists in Oc-tober and November and select BSC’s new president. The new president will take office between Jan. 1 and July 1, 2007.

Binek named interim president

From left: Ron Harper, CEO of Basin Electric; BSC President Donna Thigpen; Gov. John Hoeven; Sandy K. Baruah, Asst. Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development; Mandan Mayor Ken LaMont; John Giese, president Wells Fargo Bank ND and campaign co-chair; Gordon Binek, BSC vice president for college advancement and federal relations; Bismarck Mayor John Warford; Erik Sakariassen, president of BSC Foundation; John Weeda, plant manager for Great River Energy at Coal Creek Station; Greg Buhr (representing U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy), and Kathleen Schneider (representing U.S. Senator Kent Conrad)

Gordon Binek

View construction pho-tos at www.bismarck-state.edu/connections

Page 2: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

BSC Connections is published quarterly at Bismarck State College, Bismarck, North Dakota.

Vice President for College Advance-ment and Federal Rela-tions Gordon Binek

BSC Foundation Staff Jaclyn Bugbee Barbara Burgum Lee Julie Erickson Mary Friesz Jason Matthews Rita Nodland Rhonda Weyer

BSC Foundation (800) 272-2586 or (701) 224-5700

BSC Connections Staff Jordis Conrad, Editor Crystal Forster Vicki Voskuil

Connections on the Web Patrick Bjork

BSC Foundation President Barbara Heinle

BSC National Alumni Association President Dr. Steve Chuppe

Send alumni notes to: Jordis Conrad BSC, P.O. Box 5587 Bismarck, ND 58506 or e-mail to: Jordis.Conrad@bsc. nodak.edu

Send address changes to: Jason Matthews Alumni Coordinator BSC, P.O. Box 5587 Bismarck, ND 58506 or e-mail to: Jason.Matthews.1@bsc. nodak.edu or call: 1-800-BSC-ALUM

BSC’s World Wide Web site address is www.bismarckstate.edu

Golf tourney funds scholarships

Supporters with contributions valued less than $500

Al WolfBank of North DakotaBill Barth FordBNI Coal LtdBorrowed Bucks Road

HouseBSC Athletic DepartmentBSC Food ServicesBSC FoundationButler MachineryCaptain Jacks Liquor LandCapitol TrophyCashman NurseryCedric Theel Dodge ToyotaCentral MarketCold Stone CreameryCountry Inn and SuitesDakota AwardsDakota Gasification Com-

pany

Dakota PharmacyFlash PrintingFood Services of AmericaHawktree Golf CourseMissouri Valley PetroleumNorth Dakota Rural

ElectricsNorthwest TireO’Brian’s TavernPebble Creek Golf CoursePrairie West Golf CourseRamada Limited SuitesRessler ChevroletSpace Alien’s Bar and

GrillStan Puklich ChevroletState Farm Insurance –

Rod Skytland AgencyTom O’Leary Golf Course

4 Bears Casino and LodgeABC West/West Dakota FOXAdidasAllegiant Air/Satrom Travel

& TourAmerican Family Insurance

– Terry KraftAWBW/EAPC ArchitectsBank of North DakotaBasin Electric Power Coop-

erativeBill Barth FordBNC National BankBuffalo Wild WingsClear Channel RadioCloverdale Foods CompanyCongress Inc / Sauza Mar-

garitaCoventry Health CareCumulus BroadcastingDakota Community BankDan’s Super MarketEide Bailly, LLPFronteer PersonnelGateway PharmacyGilchrist Dentistry

Supporters with contributions of $500 or more

Gilchrist FinancialI Keating Furniture WorldJerome DistributingKFYR TVKirkwood Bank and TrustKXMB CBS 12MDUMidwest Coca-Cola Bottling

Co.Midwest LanesPepsiPlay it Again SportsPolar Package PlacePrairie Knights Casino &

LodgePresort PlusScheels All-SportsStarion FinancialTropical Island Restaurant

and BarUnited Printing/Spit’n ImageUS BankWells FargoWilliston Basin Interstate

Pipeline Co.

Perfect weather greeted 148 golfers partici-pating in the BSC President’s Cup Golf Clas-sic on June 23. Teammates Kevin Gilchrist, Jon Anderson, Jon Joersz and Kevin Bjork

Rob Ford receives award from AD Buster Gilliss

Matt Dutt receives his award

(pictured) took first place gross team prize for the fourth consecutive year.

Rob Ford, ’92, and Marv Dutt, ’59, were welcomed into the Mystic Hall of Fame at

the golf social. They are the only two Mystic baseball players to be named to the NJCAA All-American team.

Also honored was Joe Harris, ’86, as this year’s honorary chairperson. Harris, vice president of operations for Coventry Health Care, is a BSC Foundation board trustee and active supporter of Mystic athletics.

All tournament proceeds help fund athletic scholarships.

1st place net team left to right: Bill Hickok, Brian Seiler, Randy Remmick, Ron Hopfauf

1st place gross team left to right: Jon Joersz, Kevin Bjork, Kevin Gilchrist, Jon Anderson

Photos by Michael McCormack

Page 3: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

Contributions were made to the Foundation in memory of: Given by:

In memoriam

The Foundation welcomes new and renewing President’s Club members for April 1 through June 30, 2006.

The Foundation welcomes new and renewing Executive Club members for April 1 through June 30, 2006.Capital TrophyCheryl ElsberndRachel EmmonsDr. Curtis and Linda Juhala

Donors are generous to college

Eva Binek ............................. Rachel Emmons Helen Holkup ........................BSC Employees

Dr. Lloyd and Susan Anderson

LeRoy Huber ........................BSC Employees

Harry Ming ............................... Dennis Ming

Howard Snortland ..............Bis-Man Retired Teachers Assn.

Grant Starck ........................BSC Employees

Casey Teunissen ...................BSC Employees Dr. Lloyd and Susan Anderson Dr. Wayne and Ellen Boekes Dr. Kermit and Patty Lidstrom Judith E. SwartzDarrel Wilke .........................BSC Employees Neoma Wurscher ..................BSC Employees Marjorie Thorne Alice Yeasley ....... Bis-Man Retired Teachers

Assn.

Warren Robinson

Brian Kroshus

Two community leadersjoin Foundation trustees

Community leaders Warren Robinson and Brian Kroshus have joined the BSC Founda-tion board of trustees.

This is a second tour of duty for Robinson, who retired in January from MDU Resources Group Inc., where he was executive vice president and chief financial officer. Robin-son continues to be involved in community volunteerism.

Kroshus is publisher of The Bismarck Tri-bune and Lee Agri-Media. He has been with Lee Enterprises for nine years, and before that was employed for 10 years with Forum Communications in Fargo.

Alliance PipelineAWBW Bismarck PCBank Center FirstBergquist DevelopmentBismarck Title CompanyBismarck TribuneBobcatArnold A. BurianCapital Credit UnionCentury 21 Morrison RealtyConnecting PointCook Sign CompanyCrawford Capital Corp.Dakota AwardsDakota PharmacyWilliam and Marietta EkbergJudith Ekberg Johnson and Bruce JohnsonFalkirk Mining CompanyFM Ambulance Service, Inc.John and Lorrie GieseGolder Associates, Inc.Lee and Sharon Gurke

Barbara and Duffy HeinleThomas JackL & H Manufacturing Co.Art and Grace LinkMDU Resources Group, IncMidwest Coca-Cola Bottling Co.National Information Solutions Co-opNorthland FinancialNorthwest Contracting, Inc.Outdoor Services IncPresort PlusTom and Mary ProbstReiten TelevisionKen and Carmen RenoWarren and Joan RobinsonJohn and Betty Sakariassen, Jr.Erik and Amy SakariassenSt. Alexius Medical CenterStarion FinancialState Bank and TrustTesoroDr. Donna and Sloan ThigpenUS BankWaterford on West CenturyWBI Holdings Inc.Wells Fargo Bank North DakotaCynthia Welken-Place, Aflac Regional Sales CoordinatorWilliam Zidel

Page 4: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

Students honored for excellenceBismarck State College honored its schol-

ars and outstanding students at the college’s Recognition Ceremony May 3.

Students were honored for selection as the Outstanding Student in 69 disciplines and programs; for nomination to Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges; for selection to the 2006 edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges,” and for outstand-ing level of involvement in the BSC Board of Governors. Other individual awards given were the Chemical Rubber Company Chem-istry Award, outstanding Phi Theta Kappa officer; Coca-Cola Scholarship winner; and recognition for being nominated to the All-USA Academic Team. The BSC Foun-dation sponsors the awards program, which includes certificates and a $75 cash award for each honor. Guest speaker was Paula Crain Grosinger, a BSC alum and owner of Crain Grosinger Publishing. Master of ceremonies was Gordon Binek, BSC Vice President for College Advancement and Federal Relations.

Officers of Phi Theta Kappa accepted the Phi Theta Kappa Three-Star Status Award.

Outstanding Phi Theta Kappa officer was Samantha Berget.

Students named to Phi Theta Kappa com-

pleted at least 15 semester hours of associate degree course work in residence, with a mini-mum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5, and are enrolled full- or part-time.

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

*BSC Foundation scholarship recipients

*Jordan AndersonJenifer ArteserosTracy Bachmeier*Conrad Bauer*Andrea BeckerJamie Berger*Samantha Berget*Colt Bohn *Molly BoschPaul BrownAlexandria Buchholz*Jodi BurrerJayme CarsonClifford CogdillGordana CokrlicMichael DahmanJennifer DallmannAllison DolajakSarah Dordahl*Sheyann Dunn*Nicholas Eberle*Jodi EicheleTravis ElkinsLisa EllisSherri Erhardt*Heidi Fettig

Jesse FleckMatthew ForemanJoshua Gallion*Nicole Gerhardt*Tamela GossTravis GumeringerFaye HagenMelissa Harildstad*Kaye HatzenbihlerWilliam Haupt *Kayla HausauerJarrett HilliusSteven HlavekTony Jensen*Lisa Johnson*Angela Keller*Melissa KlockeMelissa Kostelecky*James KrugerCarter Kunz*Evan LaibAmy Laine* Jacob Larson* Kari Lepp Russell LindsayChristopher Locken

Megan LorenzNicole Malard*Jacqueline Materi*Elizabeth McGillivray*Stephanie Meier*Lauren MelandJasmin MellertDonald MerharJenna Milbrath*Hannah MillerJohn MittleiderJayme MorastLisa MurryMaleah NelsenKari Ness*Cody Odom*Courtney OlsonStefan OlsonRita OstranderAmber PetersonRyan RaderMichelle RichardDanielle RidlChad Riess*Charlene RollerBrianne Roth*Alexia Sadowsky

Ploiphan SaengpormJerry SauterLoren SchanerCarissa Schatz*Aaron Schmidt*Wade Shaver*Amber St. Onge*Irma StericAshlee Strege*Amy SvihovecJennifer SwansonSpring SwearsonMiranda SzuderaDuane Thorsen*Jamie Toepke*Hillary TylerEli UlmerKendall Vetter*Ashley WagnerAndrew WeissJames Wilks*Jonathan WilliamsWilliam ZimmermanKimberly Zins

Nicole Gerhardt

Kelsey Lennick

Jamie Toepke

Jack Kroh

Courtney Olson, Wade Shaver and Danielle Stadick

Deven Moser and Sean Wavrin

Page 5: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

Jenifer Arteseros ...........................................................History*Conrad Bauer .......................................Music - Instrumental*Conrad Bauer ............................................................ TheaterJamie Berger .........................................................PsychologyRiley Bertsch ........................ Paramedic (EMT) Technology -

FM Ambulance*Molly Bosch ...............................................................SpeechJasmine Cowell ............................................. Human ServicesTana Deckert .................................... Nursing Certificate (PN)Lindsey Deile ..................Agribusiness - Agriculture TransferSusan Dingle ........................Administrative Assistant - LegalNita Doyle .........................................Phlebotomy TechnicianHailey Dumdai .............................Pre-Radiologic Technology*Sheyann Dunn ....................................................EngineeringSherri Erhardt .............................................................. English*Andrea Ficek ........................................Music - InstrumentalTyler Fode ...............................................................ChemistryDustin Frounfelter ....................Agribusiness - Farm & Ranch

Management*Nicole Gerhardt .........................................................BiologyWalter Gosnell....................................Electrical Transmission

Systems Technology - OnlineSheila Grimm ............................ Computer Support SpecialistJoe Hall .................................................................AccountingJoe Hall .........................................................Political ScienceJoe Hall ......................................................................Religion*Kayla Hausauer ............................... Clinical Lab Technician*Danette Heinle ...................................... Nursing (ADN-RN)Harley Jacobs .............................................................GeologyTessa Kahl ............................................................... EducationJames Kapsh ...................Nuclear Power Technology - OnlineRon Kopp ............................ Agribusiness - Sales and Service*Jared Kovarik ........................................................... WeldingJack Kroh ............................................................ManagementJames Kruger ............................................Foreign Languages*Kelsey Lennick ..........Nursing, Pre-Baccalaureate (MOCN)Sean Leppert ......................................................... HumanitiesMike Lewis ........................................ Lineworker - ElectricalRussell Lindsay .................... Paramedic (EMT) Technology -

St. AlexiusNicole Lindseth ..............................................Commercial ArtChristopher Locken .....................Heating, Ventilation and Air

Conditioning*Stephanie Meier .................................................EngineeringJayme Morast .....................................................MicrobiologyMeghanne Naylor ...................................................Visual ArtsMaleah Nelsen ...................Information Processing Specialist*Kari Ness .........................................................Pre-PharmacyWil Norton ........................................Automotive Technology*Courtney Olson ............................................... Music - VocalNicholas Pope ................Electric Power Technology - OnlineRyan Rader ....................................... Power Plant Technology Lynn Rath ................................................Surgical TechnologyMatthew Reed ............................................ Computer ScienceAndrew Renner .................Automotive Collision TechnologyBrianne Roth .................... Administrative Assistant - GeneralJeffrey Ruest ...................... Power Plant Technology - OnlineJon Sarkilahti ...................................Hospitality ManagementJennifer Sarsland ................................................Pre-Dentistry*Jared Schaff ................................................. Criminal Justice

*Preston Schmidt ............................................... Mathematics*Wade Shaver ........................................................Journalism*Danielle Stadick ..............................................Music - Vocal*Irma Steric ........................................................... Philosophy*Preston Stewart ..................................................... Carpentry*Amy Svihovec ................................................... Pre-MedicalSpring Swearson ............. Administrative Assistant - Medical*Jason Thigpen Electronics/Telecommunications TechnologyEric Triplett ...................................... Automotive Technology*Rachel Turitto................................ Hospitality ManagementScott Ver Straten...............Process Plant Technology - OnlineTravis Voegele .............................................. Pre-ChiropracticTonya Vogel ...................................Process Plant Technology *Summer Wald ............................................................Science*Summer Wald ........................................................SociologyAustin Wolf ................... Web Page Development and DesignJoshua Wolff .................................................... Pre-Optometry

Andrew BrownMarytza BeaubrunAshley Eckroth*Elon Eisenbraun*Tara KarlbergCatherine KleinSarah Meier

Board of Governors*Arthur MillerDeven MoserKatie Saueressig*Rachel SchiermeisterJamie Tittle *Sean WavrinMichael Wetzel

Outstanding Students

Miscellaneous AwardsChemical Rubber Co. Chemistry Award

Jacob Froehlich

Coca Cola Scholarship*Preston Schmidt

Nomination to All-USA Academic Team *Samantha Berget*Preston Schmidt

Ryan Rader

Preston Stewart

Jared Kovarik

Kayla Hausauer

Who’s Who*Zach Backstrom*Conrad Bauer*Samantha BergetLindsey Deile*Adam Gabbert*Danette Heinle

*Angela Keller*Jacqueline Materi*Tyler Merkel*Tom Oakland*Miranda Schirado*Preston Schmidt

Sherri Erhardt, Jennifer Swanson and Rachel Turitto

Page 6: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

Dr. Michael Schueth, ’94, Omaha, Neb., earned his Ph.D. in English from the Uni-versity of Nebraska at Lincoln in December 2005. He earned his undergraduate degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead, and his master’s degree from UNL. He is currently on the faculty at Creighton Univer-sity in Omaha.

Chad Riedlinger, ’95, Mott, owns the Col-lision Clinic in Mott. The business special-izes in auto body work. Chad and his wife, Melissa, have two daughters.

Diane Kraft, ’98, was presented with a Doc-tor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the Uni-versity of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in May. She will go on for residency training in internal medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Program, Iowa City, Iowa.

1990s1950sGeorge Stelzmiller, ’57, Bismarck, retired after 50 years with the ND Department of Transportation. He worked in the design divi-sion of the agency as a professional engineer. George and his wife Marti raised two chil-dren and have two grandchildren.

Casey Teunissen, retired associate profes-sor of automotive technology, died April 21 in Billings, Mont., of injuries from a mo-tor vehicle accident. He was 68. Teunissen taught at BSC for 23 years before retiring in 1999. He also taught at schools in Mount Vernon, Mitchell, and Aberdeen, South Da-kota.

During his years in the automotive tech-nology program, Teunissen was involved in various improvements to reflect national guidelines of the automotive industry. He and other faculty and the program became ASE certified (Automotive Service Excel-lence).

He was an active leader in Boy Scouts of America and participated in many commu-nity projects.

Teunissen leaves his wife, Laura, four children and their spouses, four grandchil-dren, and other family members.

Casey Teunissen dies in automobile accident

Marvin Baker, ’86, Carpio, recently re-ceived third place in the feature story catego-ry in the Keith L. Ware Journalism Awards, which recognize journalistic excellence in the Department of the Army’s internal-informa-tion program. Baker, a master sergeant in the N.D. Army National Guard, received a com-mendation ribbon at his unit’s deployment send-off ceremony April 13. Baker is on duty for 18 months with the 129th mobile public affairs detachment. Portions of the unit will deploy to overseas locations. Baker is the ag-riculture reporter for The Minot Daily News.

1980s

Casey Teunissen

Diane Kraft

Marvin Baker

Neoma Wurscher, housemother for the BSC men’s residence from 1974-87, died June 7 in a Bismarck nursing home at the age of 83. “She held that position for 13 years, supporting, encour-aging, scolding and counseling the many

young men who lived there,” according to the obituary. She retired in 1987 to the Patter-son Hotel in Bismarck.

She leaves three children, two brothers, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Neoma Wurscher dies at 83

ALUMNI: Send information on new jobs, promotions or honors for Class Connec-tions online at www.bismarckstate.edu/alumni/InTouch.asp

Will Vance, ’93, Dickinson, a N.D. Highway Patrol state trooper, was named State Trooper of the Year for 2005 by the N.D. Motor Carriers Association. Criteria for the award include community involvement, character of the individual, and commitment to the job and highway safety.

Page 7: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

Employees receive recognitionBSC honored six employees with Awards

for Excellence at the recognition ceremony in May.

Receiving faculty awards were Dr. Ann-Marie Kajencki, professor of English, for her dedication to students and colleagues, and her role as an ambassador for BSC through

teaching English via interactive television; and Michelle Lindblom, assistant professor of art and chairperson of the Arts and Com-munication Department, for maintaining a personable nature while juggling many activities as a teacher and department chair.

Staff recipients were Heather Sheehan, director of student life, for her helpfulness, concern and encouragement of students to do their best; and Debbie Van Berkom, execu-tive assistant to the president, for her exem-plary dedication to the college and students, and skill in communicating with a full range of constituents and in crisis situations.

Chosen from the adjunct faculty were mu-sic instructor Dawn Hagerott, for her teach-ing abilities, encouragement of students, and personable nature; and Michael Hubbell, electric power technology online instructor, for building rapport with students and mak-ing the program interesting and fulfilling.

The awards, coordinated by the Learning First Managing Excellence Team, recognize significant or meritorious achievement in performance of professional roles. Full-time employees received a $1,000 cash gift and part-time employees received a $250 cash gift from the BSC Foundation.

Debbie Van Berkom

Heather Sheehan

Dawn Hagerott

Dr. AnnMarie Kajencki Michelle Lindblom

Michael Hubbell

Melba Millard

Melba Millard, Phoenix program eq-uity coordinator, retired May 31 after an

education career that spanned 40 years. She spent 13 years at BSC, building the award-winning Phoenix program, an assess-ment and exploration program designed to recruit and prepare women for training and employment in high-wage, high-skilled

technical or nontraditional careers.Nearly 1,000 women benefited from the

one-semester program, and many are em-ployed in careers not usually associated with women, such as turbine assistants and boiler operators, heavy equipment operators, and welding technicians.

Millard said many Phoenix graduates are recruited for jobs in the energy industry, and they are employed in North Dakota and nine other states.

Her job is the “best position you could ask for,” Millard said. “You get to watch the whole thing, because in two to three years, these students become your colleagues and are part of the network of helping other women.”

Awards include the 1999 Women Work! Program of the Year (national network for women in employment), 2000 N.D. State Board for Vocational-Technical Education Marketing Council Award, 2001 National Bellwether Finalist Award for Community Colleges addressing services and retention of nontraditional students, and 2002 American Association of Women in Community Col-leges finalist addressing model programs for women.

Millard and her husband plan to move to Florida, where they remodel and re-sell houses.

Millard’s career spans 40 years

Page 8: Energy Center under construction - Bismarck State College

Bismarck State College�P.O. Box 5587�Bismarck, ND 58506-5587

Nonprofit�Organization�US Postage�

PAID�Permit # 251�

Bismarck, ND

Nonprofit Organization US Postage

PAIDPermit #9

Bismarck, ND

BSC’s Corporate and Continuing Educa-tion recently became certified by the Learn-ing Resources Network (LERN), the leading training and consulting service for lifelong learning professionals.

LERN officials wrote: “CCE is a strong corporate and continuing education unit with a great deal of potential and opportunity. We were impressed by the programs being of-fered, many of the processes being followed, and the unit’s willingness to prepare for the future. We would rank CCE as one of the best lifelong learning units we have had the op-portunity to review.”

Preston Schmidt of Mandan was elected international vice president of Division III of Phi Theta Kappa for 2006-07 in Seattle in April. Nine BSC students and faculty advi-sors Dan Leingang, Michelle Lindblom and Ryan Pitcher were among the more than 3,800 attending the conference. Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society of

the two-year college.He is the first North Dakotan

and the first student from the four-state region (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wis-consin) to hold an international office in Phi Theta Kappa. He ran against 10 others before becoming one of two division finalists.

BSC’s chapter has been very active recently, with awards to show for its leadership, service and fellowship programming. Leingang, associate professor of math, says Preston’s elec-

tion is a tribute to Preston’s leadership of the chapter and the chapter’s growth and devel-opment.

Schmidt credits his campaign manager, Samantha Berget, a 2006 BSC graduate from New Richmond, Wis., with helping him achieve this success. They formulated a full campaign around his theme of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. As a finalist, he was required to give a speech on the Phi Theta

Kappa honors topic: “Gold, Gods and Glory: The Global Dynamics of Power.”

Preston will be enrolled at BSC again next year. His international position will require traveling to colleges in the region and other events.

Schmidt is elected to international Phi Theta Kappa office

LERN certifies CCE and ranks it ‘one of the best’

Samantha Berget and Preston Schmidt

EDITOR’S NOTE: Multiple mail lists were used to distribute this issue of Con-nections. Although efforts were made to reduce duplication, some readers will receive more than one copy. We ask you to share it with a friend.