A newsletter for Bismarck State College alumni, contributors and friends. Volume 9. No 2 July 2005

www.bismarckstate.edu

Programs meet industry needs BSC’s start-up of a new program this fall

and the redesign of an existing program will give students attractive career choices in fields where workers are in demand.

Transportation and Supply Chain Manage-ment is a new two-year program that will educate graduates for work in the transporta-tion industry. Developed in collaboration with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) and North Dakota State University, the program emphasizes the business end of the industry.

Meanwhile, BSC’s Process Plant Technol-ogy program is undergoing some revisions to adapt part of the curriculum for the ethanol and biodiesel industries. With demand grow-ing for renewable and alternative fuels, a career in Process Plant Technology promises

job opportunities as new ethanol and biodie-sel plants are built to process corn and other feedstocks.

Transportation “The transportation program deals with

the movement of people, raw materials, and finished goods,” says Dr. Jane Schulz, BSC dean of instruction. “Graduates will have opportunities in trucking, airlines, transporta-tion agencies, shipping services, distribution centers, and other supply chain employ-ment.”

Study includes a general education com-ponent and specialized classes in business, accounting, management, electronic com-merce, transportation regulation and safety, and geographic information system (GIS) technology.

ArtsQuest guests share techniques

Continued on page 2

ArtsQuest, BSC’s springtime celebration of the arts, fea-tured the work of Canadian land artist Greg Blair. Pictured at top left are students and assistant professor of art Brian Hushagen constructing the work “Fallen Tree.” The finished work is shown below. Art, math and engi-neering students collabo-rated with Blair to construct several sculptural forms that transformed open spaces around campus. Sculptor Brad Bachmeier of Fargo spent three days sharing his pottery techniques. View additional photos on the Web at www.bismarckstate.edu/connections

Photos by Jennifer Weisgerber

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

The BSC Foundation Programs Commit-tee recently approved $29,676 in grants for equipment, speakers, student publications, campus events, and educational travel by students and faculty.

The BSC-FM Ambulance Paramedic pro-gram was awarded $5,948 for video equip-ment to provide skill demonstrations and program marketing to rural networks over the Interactive Video Network.

The committee funded $5,000 for partial publishing costs of Figments of Imagination, a student publication coordinated by the Eng-lish and journalism disciplines, and $1,500 for the 2005-06 Visiting Writers Series.

A $1,448 grant was approved for a student intern from North Dakota State University to work in the BSC Library Archives during this summer.

Several community outreach events re-ceived support. The music discipline’s Choir-

Grants support campus projectsFest was assisted with $3,500. Corporate and Continuing Education received $1,000 for the BSC Music Institute for string players, and the chemistry discipline’s two Science Olympiads were sustained with $1,700.

These equipment requests were funded: $1,980 for a public access automatic exter-nal defibrillator for the Vocational-Technical Center; $1,900 for a surgical instrument tray for the Surgical Technology program; and $1,000 for a geriatric manikin for the Certi-fied Nursing Assistant program.

Grants for student conference registrations or display booths went to Kappa Omicron Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa ($2,400), Board of Governors ($1,500), and the Automotive Technology program ($300). Staff Senate received $500 for expenses related to Staff Development Day and other presenters.

Program revised for ethanol industry (cont.)Students earn an associate in applied sci-

ence degree and can qualify for a variety of jobs.

Jon Mielke, associate research fellow for UGPTI, is based in Bismarck and will teach some of the transportation-related courses. He says the institute has four-year, master’s and doctoral degree programs at NDSU, however, the institute saw need for a two-year program and BSC was a natural fit.

Mielke says development between BSC and UGPTI actually took place before plans were announced to build Bismarck’s North-ern Plains Commerce Centre, a huge indus-trial, distribution, and technology park near the airport.

“The fact that the center happened em-phasizes the importance of this program,” Mielke says. “What we’re doing dovetails well with that facility. Commerce touches all of us and businesses are always looking for employees with a background in transporta-tion.”

Process Plant TechnologyThis program, begun in 1982, was origi-

nally developed in partnership with industry to supply workers for the Dakota Gasifica-tion Plant at Beulah. The program is now also offered online, making it possible for

students and workers anywhere to enroll.“BSC graduates have an edge before even

setting foot in a plant,” says Chad Wetzel, process plant technology instructor. “Our di-versified curriculum qualifies them for work in all kinds of energy operations. With jobs expanding for process plant graduates, we’re making curriculum changes with the ethanol industry in mind.”

Recently expanded to four semesters, the curriculum offers campus and online students more focused instruction and flex-ibility to take general education classes to fulfill the associate in applied science degree. The block-style curriculum allows first-time students or seasoned plant employees to con-centrate on one subject for up to four weeks and build skills sequentially.

Jeff Zueger, generation and operations support leader at Great River Energy’s Coal Creek Station near Underwood, helps select BSC graduates for 15-month paid internships at the plant.

“BSC is nationally recognized as produc-ing top quality job candidates– that’s cer-tainly what we find,” Zueger says. “We hear from a lot of facilities that hire BSC gradu-ates that they’re topnotch people.”

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

In memoriam

The Foundation welcomes new and renew-ing President’s Club members for March 30 through June 15, 2005.Zachery AllenPatrick J. AtkinsonBank Center FirstBasin Electric Power CooperativeJay BeyerBismarck Title CompanyBlue Cross Blue Shield Of North DakotaBoeing Gift Matching ProgramBrock White CompanyButler Machinery CompanyCapital Credit UnionDakota AwardsFalkirk Mining CompanyFPL EnergyGateway Pharmacy, Inc.Golder Associates, Inc.Hedahls, Inc.House of Color, Inc.Mike and Sue HummelInvestment CentersJC Penney CompanyKXMB-TVJane and Grant Lindstrom

The Foundation welcomes new and renew-ing Executive Club members for March 30 through June 15, 2005.BobcatChad Gilchrist FinancialDr. Douglas Eggert and Michelle LindblomPrairie Knights Casino and LodgeDr. Albert and Carol SamuelsonRob SchanerGary and Jane SchulzSkeels Electric

Burgum Lee is new grant writer for BSC Foundation

Donors are generous to collegeNorthland FinancialNorthwest Contracting Inc.Ken and Carmen RenoDwight SenneSt. Alexius Medical CenterStarion FinancialPat and Mary DirkVFW Charitable Gaming TrustWaterford on West Century

John Eckroth .......................BSC Employees Marjorie Thorne

Magnhild Hegland ..............BSC Employees

Cecelia Helfenstein ..............BSC Employees

Lucille Juhala ....................... Dr. Kermit and Patty Lidstrom Marcia Olson

Arnold Lahren ..........Paul and Judy Bodmer Marc and Jordis Conrad Joel and Donna Fricke Bryce and Maxine Hill Carol Jean Larsen Dr. Kermit and Patty Lidstrom Dr. Jon Martinson Daniel Rogers and Marlene Anderson Gary and Jane Schulz Robert and Linda Tonolli Debbie and Steve Van Berkom Duane and Vicki Voskuil

Barbara Burgum Lee joined the BSC Foundation in June as grants research special-ist. She has more than 15 years experience

in grant writing. A private consultant for eight years, Burgum Lee evaluated business practices for a Min-neapolis company and most recently did busi-ness planning for cities and nonprofit groups in eastern North Dakota. She has worked for the N.D. Department of Health as a program

manager and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in cancer education.

“The college has so much to offer the com-munity,” Burgum Lee said. “I’m very pleased to be part of the team developing resources for the college.”

Burgum Lee grew up in Garrison and grad-uated from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa., in political science. She has a master’s in public health from the University of Min-nesota. Burgum Lee and her husband, David, have two children and one granddaughter.

Barbara Burgum Lee

Students honored for excellenceBismarck State College honored its schol-

ars and outstanding students at the college’s Recognition Ceremony April 20.

Students were honored for selection as the Outstanding Student in 60 disciplines and programs; for induction into Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of two-year colleges; for selection to the 2005 edition of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges,” and for outstand-ing level of involvement in the BSC Board of Governors.

The BSC Foundation sponsors the awards program, which includes certificates and a $75 cash award for each honor. Guest speaker was Dr. Robert L. Potts, Chancellor, North Dakota University System. Master of ceremonies was Gordon Binek, BSC Vice President for College Advancement and Fed-eral Relations.

Other awards acknowledged included the first place Mark of Excellence as Best

Magazine for the 2004 edition of Figments of Imagination, student literary publication, from the Society of Professional Journal-ists Region 6. Accepting recognition for the honor was Jennifer Weisgerber, editor.

Officers of Phi Theta Kappa accepted the Pinnacle Gold Chapter Award, the Phi Theta Kappa Two-Star Status, and the Minn-Wi-Kota Region Spirit Awards.

Outstanding Phi Theta Kappa Member was Sarah Perius. Outstanding Phi Theta Kappa Officer was Melinda Kostelecky.

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 3.75, and are enrolled full- or part-time.

Who’s Who*Ashley Bender*Laura Evenson*Jason FieselNaomi Harr *Sabrina Lee

Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society

*BSC Foundation scholarship recipients

Kirsten Babuik Anthony Bachmeier*Zach Backstrom Damien Beinhart Brandon Bellerud Kimberla Bohrer Martha Bollin Wesley BraunKimberly Cymbaluk Stanley DembeckAnnie DockterChristyl Drake-Tremblay Shananne DuFrameShawn EbelingDustin Fleckenstein Adam GabbertEdwin Geiger Edward Going, Sr.

Brian Gross Kendra Grubb Jacqueline Huber Heidi Jacobs *Danielle Johs Pamela Key Kara LacherTravis Lang *Sabrina Lee Susanna Magstadt John McCleanCourtney Meland *Katie Monger Shawn Neidhardt April Neshem Kurt Neuberger Thomas Oakland*David Peterson

Jennifer Peterson *Lisa Rebenitsch Dillon RemmickJamie Rumple Jennifer Sabo Melissa Sailer *Lindsay SchatzRachel Schiermeister *Preston Schmidt*Danielle Stadick

*Sarah Perius*David Peterson*Justin Reinicke *Kristen Schaff Kristi Wist

Joshua Steinert Karmen Ternes Ernest ThurmanChristopher VoleskySummer Wald Rachel Walker *Shelly Wanek Maynard Williams Crystal Wohl

Justin Reinicke, Naomi Harr, Preston Schmidt Chris Hartze, Tara Karlberg, Arthur Miller

Lindsay Schatz

Jennifer Swanson

Travis Lang

Mike Wetzel

Troy Ahmann ......Air Conditioning, Heating & RefrigerationJerrica Albrecht ...........................................Nursing, PracticalJeff Andersen........................Electrical Transmission Systems

Technology - OnlineCynthia Arnold .......................................................PhilosophyKirsten Babuik ............................................................ EnglishAnthony Bachmeier ............................................Mathematics*Zach Backstrom .........................................................Speech*Conrad Bauer .......................................Music - Instrumental*Eric Bender ...................................... Carpentry - ResidentialSamantha Berget ..................................................... EducationLee Boehm ..................................... Process Plant TechnologyJean Brandt ......................Electric Power Technology -OnlineKimberly Cymbaluk .....................................................HistoryArthur Duppong ................. Power Plant Technology - Online*Sara Erhardt .................................................Commercial ArtSherri Erhardt ......................................................... JournalismJonathan Fettig ...................................................... Humanities*Jason Fiesel ...................Agribusiness - Agriculture TransferTara Fitzgerald .............................................. Human ServicesSheila Grimm ............................ Computer Support SpecialistBrian Gross ................................................................. Physics*Jenna Heinle .........................................................Visual ArtsMyles Henne ......Agribusiness - Farm & Ranch ManagementCraig Holden ...............................................Technical TheaterVanessa Imdieke .........................................................ReligionDevon Jesperson ...............Automotive Collision Technology*Jessica Kalvoda ............................................... Music - Vocal Kris Karls ......................................................Political ScienceMichael Kindsfater ........Co-recipient Engineering Technician*Loren Koppy ............................................ Computer Science*Melinda Kostelecky ............................................AccountingJoleen Krueger ........................................Surgical TechnologyTravis Lang ...............................................Foreign Languages*Sabrina Lee ............................................................... TheaterJennifer LeMaster ........... Paramedic (EMT) Technology - St.

AlexiusBonnie Lewton .................Administrative Assistant - MedicalLinn Little .................... Co-recipient Clinical Lab TechnicianDon Merhar ....................Nuclear Power Technology - OnlineKathy Michelson ....................................................Economics*Katie Monger ........................ Co-recipient Hotel-Restaurant

ManagementRandal Nass ....................................... Lineworker - ElectricalMaleah Nelsen ...................Information Processing SpecialistLeland Nelson ............................................... Fire TechnologyDarin Okerson ..................... Agribusiness - Sales and Service

*Laura Page ......................................................... Psychology*David Peterson ...................................................EngineeringMiranda Pfennig ................................................. Management*Justin Reinicke ..................................................... ChemistryBrooke Reisenauer ........................................Criminal JusticeRyan Repnow ...................................Power Plant TechnologyLori Rittenbach ............Co-recipient Clinical Lab Technician*Jaden Roehrich ............................... Automotive TechnologyCharlene Roller .......................................................... BiologyShawna Schatz .................... Administrative Assistant - LegalCole Schindler .............. Co-recipient Engineering TechnicianEric Schon ..................................................................WeldingSusan Schramm .......................................................SociologyRyan Stockdill .....................Electronics/Telecommunications

TechnologyJennifer Swanson .............Administrative Assistant - General*Christopher Wagner ..............Co-recipient Hotel-Restaurant

ManagementShawn Wagner ..................... Paramedic (EMT) Technology -

FM AmbulanceElizabeth Whitmore .........Process Plant Technology - OnlineKristi Wist .............................................................. Pharmacy

Nathan ArnoldGerard Beaubrun*Elon Eisenbraun Tyson Follman Chris HartzeJeffrey HauptBrandon Jund Tara KarlbergCatherine KleinArthur Miller

Board of GovernorsDeven Moser*Matthew Reister Jamie Rumple Katie Saueressig*Ashley Sieg*Kimberly Spear Kayla Wald*Sean Wavrin Mike Wetzel

Outstanding StudentsSamantha Berget, Sabrina Lee

David Peterson

Brian Gross

Ashley Sieg

Jamie Rumple

Miscellaneous awardsChemical Rubber Co. Chemistry Award

*Stephanie Meier

New Century Scholar Award*Ashley Sieg

Nomination to All-USA Academic Team *Justin Reinicke

*Ashley Sieg

Foundation adds five trusteesFive community leaders recently joined

the ranks of the BSC Foundation Board of Trustees.

Jim Rose is quality manager for Bobcat Company in Bismarck.

Dan Dorfschmidt serves as operations manager for Butler Machinery Company of Bismarck. He is a member of the Lignite Energy Council, the Society of Mining Engi-neers and the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute.

Steven M. Van Berkom, president of Van Berkom Business Products of Mandan, belongs to the BSC President’s Club and is the chair of the administrative team at First United Methodist Church.

Paul K. Sandness is general counsel and secretary for MDU Resources Group, Inc. of Bismarck.

Charles E. Wittenberg is vice president and district manager for State Bank and Trust of Bismarck. He is a member of Sertoma Club and N.D. Hunter Education.Charles E. Wittenberg Paul Sandness

Zachery Allen

Steven Van Berkom

Dan Dorfschmidt

Students interested in Energy Technology Online (ETO) courses at BSC have a new financial resource because of a gift from a BSC employee.

Zachery Allen, ETO multimedia coordi-nator, has endowed the department’s first scholarship. The Allen Energy Scholarship is a $1,000 annual scholarship for any of BSC’s five ETO programs. Allen’s gift was matched by the BSC Foundation to create the scholar-ship.

“I believe in the curriculum and what we do,” says Allen, who led development of BSC’s program in Electrical Transmission Systems Technology. “Without the industry support of friends and colleagues, I couldn’t have done these things. I’m not a trained engineer but have those resources, and the scholarship is my thank-you back to them.”

Allen spent three years creating online course content, interactive lab exercises, and Web-based simulations for ETST.

“The goal of the lab is to allow place-bound students to use the equipment virtually and bring them to a higher level of under-standing,” he says.

Part of Allen’s incentive to endow a schol-arship was to get new people into the indus-try and address the aging workforce issue. Not many people think about energy genera-tion as a career, he says. “It’s not a glamorous field like CSI (crime scene investigator), but

Employee endows new scholarshipanything you want to do can be found in the energy industry.”

BSC’s Energy Club is the region’s first college club of Optimist International in the Dakotas Manitoba Minnesota District. Lonnie Bertsch, assistant professor of com-mercial art and Optimist member, wanted to help Energy Club members gain recognition for the community service projects they have done throughout the school year.

“The main goal of Optimist International is friend of youth,” says Bertsch, Optimist governor assistant of North Dakota. “The biggest kicker for these energy graduates is that prospective employers are all looking for community service on their resumes.”

With benefits of Optimist membership, students acquire general liability insurance while acting on behalf of the club. Under guidance of club advisor John Holtan, as-sistant professor of power plant and process plant technology, the club has taken on a number of projects, such as cleaning the grounds at Salvation Army sites.

Optimist dignitaries from St. Louis and Brookings installed the members.

BSC group is region’s first college Optimist Club

Employees receive recognition

Jill Carter

Dawn Hagerott

Janelle Masters

BSC honored six employees with Awards for Excellence at the spring recognition ceremony.

Receiving faculty awards were Linda Tonolli, associate professor of mathematics, for her patient, generous, and enthusiastic

mentoring of students; and John Holtan, as-sistant professor of power and process plant technology, for his contagious enthusiasm in the classroom and outstanding leadership of

the BSC Energy Club.Chosen from the adjunct faculty were mu-

sic instructor Dawn Hagerott for her good-will and creative approach to student learn-ing; and Jill Carter, biology instructor, for excellence in teaching and student rapport.

Staff recipients were Dr. Janelle Mas-ters, dean of faculty, for mediating creative solutions to issues and her caring vision for enriching teaching quality and student life; and Kristie Petersen, food service supervisor, for superior customer service, leadership, and exceeding expectations for college food service.

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 from the BSC Foundation. Part-time employees received a $250 cash gift.

John Holtan Linda Tonolli

Commencement 2005At left: Tim Hennessy, chairperson of the BSC Foundation Board, speaks after receiv-ing the BSC Distinguished Service Citation, the college’s highest honor, from BSC Presi-dent Donna S. Thigpen.Above: Justin Reinicke of Bismarck and fel-low Phi Theta Kappan in procession. Kristie Petersen

Photos by Lonnie Bertsch

Record numbers take in golf classic

AFLAC Bank of North Dakota Bill Barth Ford Bismarck Parks & Recreation

District BSC FoundationBismarck State College BNI Coal Ltd.Butler Machinery Capital Trophy Cashman Nursery Cedric Theel Inc. Country Inn and Suites Dakota Awards Dakota Gasification Co. Dakota Pharmacy Flash Printing Food Service of America Fort Abraham Lincoln Foun-

dation

Hole sponsors and others contributing $500 or more

4 Bears Casino ABC WestAllegiant AirlinesAWBW ArchitectsBank Center FirstBasin ElectricBismarck BobcatsBismarck TribuneBNC National BankCass ClayClear Channel RadioCloverdale FoodsMidwest Coca-ColaCongressCoventry Health CareDakota CommunityDakota Screen ArtsDakota WizardsDan’s Super ValuDoublewood/Seven SeasEide BaillyFox WestFrito LayGateway Pharmacy

Hawktree Golf ClubJoe and Kris HarrisMissouri Valley PetroleumNorthwest Tire O’Brian’s Tavern Peacock Alley Prairie Rose Family Den-

tistry Ramada Limited Ressler Chevrolet Space Aliens Stan Puklich Rod Skytland AgencyTheodore Roosevelt

Foundation Unisys Scheel’s All Sports

Gilchrist FinancialI Keating Furniture WorldJerome DistributingKevin Gilchrist, DDSKirkwood Bank and TrustReiten TelevisionMarshall Field’sOld DutchPepsiPiper JaffrayPolar Package PlacePrairie KnightsPresort PlusRamkota InnSatrom Travel and TourSpit’n ImageSt. AlexiusStarion Financial Terry Kraft AgencyTropical IslandUnited PrintingUS BankWilliston Basin Interstate PipelineWells Fargo

Supporters with contributions valued less than $500

First place gross team winners for 3rd consecutive year, from left, Kevin Gilchrist, Jon Anderson, Jon Joersz and Kevin Bjork

First place net team, from left, Adam Wogsland, Adam Aarestad, Aric Wogsland and Dan Wogsland

Brock Lesnar, right, at his induction into BSC’s Athletic Hall of Fame. At left are Buster Gilliss, BSC athletic director, and Frank Bavendick, BSC Foundation trustee.

Photos by Michael McCormack

A record number of 184 golfers made their

way around three courses in Bismarck-Man-dan for the BSC President’s Cup Golf Classic on June 24. The tournament was paired with a welcome home event for Brock Lesnar, honorary chairperson for the tourney. A 1998 BSC alum and heavyweight championship wrestler, Lesnar was inducted into BSC’s Athletic Hall of Fame at the golf social.

Lesnar, who lives near the Twin Cities, also was the guest at an event for friends and fans to hear about his experiences at the Uni-versity of Minnesota and with World Wres-

tling Entertainment.Proceeds from both events will help fund

athletic scholarships.

Retired English professor dies

Arnold Lahren

Chuck Suchy, ‘68, of Mandan has another hit on his hands. His fifth album has received kudos from Acoustic Guitar magazine in Cali-fornia and a Chicago radio station.

Producers at WFMT-FM and “The Mid-night Special” chose the collection of original

folk music for its Top 10 compact discs of 2004. Twelve Acoustic Guitar magazine edi-tors and reviewers placed “Evening in Paris” among 60 of their best album picks for 2004.

Suchy’s longtime collaborator, Peter Os-troushko, produced the album, released last June and recorded at Minnesota Public Radio studios with Minneapolis musicians Joel Say-

Chuck Suchy album gains noticeles, bass, and Joe Savage, dobro.

Similar in style and theme to his other re-leases, “Evening in Paris” attests to the value of the Great Plains experience. The lyrical and reflective “Diminishing Winds” takes listeners inside, while the title cut resonates with memories of youth.

“It’s a time-of-life song for those who ac-tually know what Evening in Paris is,” Suchy says. “The image goes back to my sister’s dresser and seeing a bottle of perfume. The name seemed like such an exotic idea – to have that in a farmhouse in North Dakota was remarkable.”

As folksinger, farmer, songwriter and sto-ryteller, Suchy has reached a national audi-ence with reviews in the Boston Globe, the French acoustic music magazine, Le Cri du Coyote, and the Folkworld Website. “Eve-ning in Paris” includes a song written by son Ben Suchy, a more blues based musician and singer.

More information is available at www.chucksuchy.com.

Arnold Lahren, 70, retired associate pro-fessor of English, died May 27, seven months after being diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer. Relatives and friends filled the BSC

Student Union Mis-souri Room for his memorial service on June 1.

When he retired in the spring of 2000, Lahren had taught at BSC for 32 years. He spent 10 years in other schools before com-ing to BSC in 1968. At retirement he said, “I’ll miss the stimulation of

people with ideas and a lot of those people are in my classrooms. I learn every day from my students.”

His English faculty colleagues considered Lahren the mentor and guiding light to new English instructors. He had served as English department chairperson for about 20 years, coordinated the Visiting Writer Series, and started the literature as film classes in the

early 1970s. In early years at BSC, he also taught art classes. An accomplished artist, Lahren spoke on the creative process and re-flected upon some of his paintings and sculp-tures during a showing of his art in January.

Lahren leaves his wife, Lynn, his mother, a brother, four children, and their families.

“A man with a rich wide-open-spaces voice.”– Boston Globe

“One of the great undiscovered treasures of contemporary American folk music . . . a refreshing divergence from the trend . . .” – Rick Warren, “The Midnight Special,” WFMT in Chicago.

Ashley Sieg of Drake, Class of 2005, was selected as a 2005 New Century Scholar for outstanding academic excellence and scholas-tic achievement. Her selection was based on scores earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition.

As the highest scoring student in North Dakota, Sieg received a $2,000 stipend funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. She was recognized at the convention of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in Boston in April.

Graduate from Drake earns $2,000 stipend for excellence

1950sEdward W. Agre, ‘57, Glendive, Mont., is sports news director of KXGN Radio-TV, the smallest TV market in the country. Stories about the station have appeared on HBO’s “Real Sports” and in Sports Illus-trated and The Chicago Tribune.

1960sKen Davis, ‘68, Belcourt, was elected tribal chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in 2004. He was appoint-ed to the National Budget Advisory Council to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in February.

1970sNatalie (Upton) Wrangham, ‘72, Perham, Minn., was selected to take part in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher in Japan Program. She traveled with other educators from across the country to Japan for three weeks to study Japanese education and cul-ture. Natalie is a teacher for grades 1-2 at St. Paul’s Lutheran School.

U.S. Army Major Timothy J. Holtan, ‘74, assumed command of the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, N.Y., in June. He was recently the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Field Band in Fort Meade, Md. During his military career, he has presented concerts and clinics in 35 states, Canada, Japan, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe. He was named one of BSC’s Out-standing Alumni in 2001.

Tami Halmrast-Sanchez, ‘79, Alexandria, Va., received a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National Defense University, Washington, D.C., in June. She has been deputy director and acting direc-tor of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and was selected to attend the University because of her service with USAID. She has been deployed to more than 40 countries, responding to natural disasters and civil wars, and led Disaster Assistance Response Teams into Ethiopia, Kosovo and Iran.

class Connections

Name:_______________________Class:______Address_________________________________City_______________State_____Zip_________❏ Check here if new address❏ Check here if your name has changedPrevious name___________________________ BSC Degree & Major______________________Employer name__________________________Your Position____________________________Phone (Home)___________(Work)___________Recent achievement__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Let us know what’s new in your life by submitting updated information to:BSC Alumni AssociationP.O. Box 5587Bismarck, ND 58506-5587

1980sMark Dyrdahl, ‘85, CasaGrande, Ariz., has been promoted to supervisor of an ongo-ing unit of child protective services with the State of Arizona.

Donna (Hennager) Chmelar, ‘89, Echo, Minn., is working as the human resources co-ordinator at Project Turnabout, a substance/gambling abuse treatment center in Granite Falls, Minn.

1990sBecky (Serr) Humann, ‘95, Linton, is working for the N.D. Department of Health, Health Facilities Division as health care sur-veyor. Before that she worked at the Wishek Community Hospital as compliance coordi-nator for eight years.

2000sMelissa Schumacher, ‘00, Mandan, is the executive director of Arts on the Prairie Theatre.

Tami Halmrast-Sanchez

Major Tim Holtan

class Connections

Name:_______________________Class:______Address_________________________________City_______________State_____Zip_________❏ Check here if new address❏ Check here if your name has changedPrevious name___________________________ BSC Degree & Major______________________Employer name__________________________Your Position____________________________Phone (Home)___________(Work)___________Recent achievement__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Retirees plan to enjoy outdoors

Mary ProchnowJund leaving, Prochnow retiring from Student Life

Patrick Jund

Jeff Auch, assistant professor of computer information systems, and Sam May, assistant professor of agribusiness, worked on opposite sites of the campus, tinkering with the nuts and bolts of advancing computer technology and farm equipment. Teaching BSC students

to understand the network between small and bigger things culminated in 33 years for Auch and 31 years for May.

Both retire this summer and plan to spend a good share of their time outdoors. Auch has a cattle ranch, and May has a motorcycle that needs exercise, he says. May also hunts, fishes, and enjoys competitive shooting, a skill for which he was named to the N.D. Marksmanship Hall of Fame in 2004.

“I had a great teaching career and enjoyed giving students skills they can use the rest of their lives,” May says.

“I’m not quitting because I dislike my job. After 36 years teaching it just seems like enough, and I have a ton of things I want to do. One priority is my 10-month-old grand-daughter in Minnesota.”

May advised the BSC Agribusiness Club, served as Faculty Senate president, and was a member of the Learning First Council and BSC Foundation board. Besides mechanics, he taught welding and electricity and says he always strived for high interaction with students. In 1981, the N.D. Vocational Agri-culture Association named him Outstanding Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Auch was chairman of the Computer In-formation Systems Department and received the Faculty Achievement Award in 1988. He taught word processing and was responsible for the research, purchase and installation of the Business and Office Technology Depart-ment’s computer network in the mid-1980s. He chaired the Academic Network Advisory Committee of the NDUS’s Higher Education Computer Network.

Auch appreciates the flexibility BSC al-lowed him to work creatively to design and constantly upgrade the business and computer information technology programs.

“We looked at trends and did our home-work, so a lot of the advances were initiated here, like the Web page degree,” Auch says. “I could dream just about anything and find support.”

A CISCO network instructor, Auch con-ducted technology seminars for faculty and served as a computer consultant throughout campus. He believed strongly in teaching students to apply their learning to realistic life situations.

Sam MayJeff Auch

Pat Jund, director of student life since 1997, left BSC this summer to pursue a ca-reer in the insurance business in Anamoose, N.D. A 1993 graduate of BSC, Jund was a strong advocate for students. Through his advisement, the Board of Governors took an active leadership role on campus, and began membership in the American Student Asso-ciation of Community Colleges (ASACC).

BSC won three national ASACC awards during Jund’s tenure, most recently this spring, when BSC was named Campus of the Year at the National Conference on Student Advocacy in Washington, D.C. Previous ASACC awards went to BSC President Dr. Donna Thigpen, who was named College President of the Year in 2002, and to Jund, named Advisor of the Year in 2001.

“It’s my hope that BSC will continue to be affordable,” said Jund. “It’s a quality institu-tion, a great place for students.”

Replacing Jund is Heather Sheehan, who has been Swensen Hall residence supervisor for four years.

Mary Jo Prochnow retired in May from her position as administrative secretary to Pat Jund. She has spent the past 14 years help-ing students and others who visit the Student Union. She also was the contact for students applying to live on campus, and assisted with the Board of Governors.

“It’s been a fun job,” she said. “I’ve en-joyed working with the students and helping them in any way I could.”

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Dan Leingang, assistant professor of math and Phi Theta Kappa advisor, received a

2005 Paragon Award for New Advisors at the PTK international convention in Dallas in April. He was one of 30 recipients of the award, which recog-nizes distinguished service by chapter ad-visors who are serving their second through fourth year. Leingang and four BSC PTK

members were among 4,000 students and advisors attending the convention.

BSC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa spon-sored several projects throughout the year, including a satellite seminar series on popu-lar culture; fundraisers and awareness activi-ties for the American Cancer Society, includ-ing the formation of a Relay for Life Team; and collection of children’s books and food items for area charities during Project Gradu-ation.

Phi Theta Kappa advisor receives Paragon Award

Dan Leingang

Part of the campus becomes a construc-tion zone this summer as work begins on the Career and Technology Institute. Construction will occur in two phases, with Phase I involv-ing site preparation, utilities, wells for ground source heating and cooling, and parking lots.

BSC also plans to build a new residence hall east of Swensen Hall, the women’s resi-dence. Work this summer will include moving dirt from the hillside east of Swensen to the CTI site.

Location for the Career and Technology Institute is southeast of the BSC Armory on seven acres donated by the city of Bismarck. It will house a Workforce Training Cen-ter, Higher Education Center, and National Energy Technology Training and Education Center.

Phase II, construction of the Career and Technology Institute building, will be bid in early 2006 with construction beginning in June 2006. Completion date is December 2007.

Work on the residence hall for 128 students also will begin in 2006.

Phase 1 of construction on CTI begins this summer