BSC and community celebrate opening of NECE

About 500 people attended the Ribbon Cutting Celebration and Open House of the National Energy Center of Excellence Monday morning.

President Skogen opened the ceremony with his welcome and remarks. Following him at the podium were N.D. Gov. John Hoeven, Basin Electric CEO Ron Harper, former BSC President Donna S. Thigpen, BSC Vice President for College Advancement Gordon Binek, capital campaign chairs Michael Hummel and John Giese, and Patricia Hoffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy.

U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan spoke via conference call during the program. He and Congressman Earl Pomeroy were unable to attend as planned because of their work in Washington, D.C.

Closing the program before tours was BSC Vice President of Energy Technology Programs Kari L. Knutson.

Photos from the event will be online in the next few days at this site: bismarckstate.edu/nece.

Campus Read events begin Monday night

Campus Read events begin Monday night with the showing of the film "Smoke Signals" at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium in the National Energy Center of Excellence. Click here to view the Campus Read schedule.

Juhala selected to write book chapter

Dr. Amy Juhala, assistant professor of English, was in Scotland recently to attend a presentation honoring her primary doctoral supervisor, Michael Lynch, distinguished professor at the University of Edinburgh. Juhala was one of 18 scholars and historians asked to write an essay for a "festschrift," a collection of work by associates honoring a person. The collected essays demonstrate the vitality of the political, cultural and religious history of Scotland during the Renaissance and Reformation. Juhala's contribution was Chapter 15 with a piece titled, "An Advantageous Alliance: Edinburgh and the Court of James VI." One of the book's co-editors, Dr. Julian Goodare, was Juhala's secondary doctoral supervisor.

Miller accepts award on behalf of AgrowKnowledge

Carmel Miller, associate professor of Agriculture, Technology and Natural Resources, accepted an achievement award on behalf of AgrowKnowledge at the annual Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) International User Conference Aug. 6 in San Diego. ESRI is a leading maker of geographic information system (GIS) and mapping software. AgrowKnowledge, a national consortium of community colleges that focus on technology, recently published a Model Ag Geospatial Program of Study with a list of recommended courses to build or enhance geospatial programs. Miller chairs the AgrowKnowledge Geospatial Resource Team and led BSC's membership in AgrowKnowledge in 2005. The ESRI award recognized AgrowKnowledge for its vision and leadership in using ESRI's geographic information system technology and applying GIS solutions in an educational setting. Announcement of the award appeared in AgrowKnowledge E-News, an electronic newsletter. Miller appeared in a photo with two others as part of the story.

Schreck selected for national panel of English instructors

Jane Schreck, associate professor of English, was one of 17 English instructors from two- and four-year colleges selected nationwide to discuss issues affecting teaching and learning in English composition programs. The McGraw-Hill National Symposium for Freshman Composition Rhetoric was held Sept. 4-7 in Atlanta and focused on course goals and pedagogy. Instructors met in roundtable discussion with four publisher representatives to exchange ideas for developing better textbooks and instructional materials. Topics included use of media and technology, course curriculum and assignments, research and documentation, evaluation and grading, and student motivation and engagement.

Former BSC president Ralph Werner visits campus
		President Larry C. Skogen invited former BSC President Ralph Werner to tour the new buildings and the renovated Schafer Hall first floor on Sept 11. Werner was president from 1961-1977, although his title was "dean" for many years. Skogen wrote this in his e-mail to inform employees about the visit: "Where we are today has much to do with his vision and leadership decades ago." Photos courtesy of Art Rude, Assistant Professor of Mathematics/Physics.
President Larry C. Skogen greets former President Ralph Werner as he arrives on campus				President Skogen with Ralph Werner in the NECE lobby

BSC welcomes new employees Karen Erickson, enrollment services coordinator, was distance education academic advisor at University of Mary this past year. Before coming to North Dakota, she held coaching positions in Minnesota. Erickson has a BS in sports recreation management and minor in coaching from University of Minnesota-Crookston. Between 2004-07, she was head women's golf coach and assistant women's basketball coach at Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Raised in Evansville, Minn., Erickson is active in the Bismarck-Mandan Young Professionals Network and city league sports. She is married to Mark Erickson.
Kristin Krause, academic advisor, assumes this new position after working a year in Fargo as a psychology technician at the Veterans Administration Medical Center. She was advisor coordinator at BSC from 2005-07. Krause has a BS in psychology from North Dakota State University and master's degree in education from Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas. She spent 13 years in Texas, working as a special education teacher and school counselor for Big Spring High School, and rehab teacher at Big Spring State Hospital. Larson grew up in Hazen and has a daughter, 13, and son, 10. She is active in Relay for Life and enjoys sporting events, reading and gardening.
Chris Beckler Yellow Bird, Distance Education office assistant, graduated from BSC with an AAS in information processing specialist in 1998. She has worked the past two years on campus for Dickinson State University as a teacher education assistant and is pursuing a bachelor's degree through DSU. Beckler Yellow Bird was BSC bookstore assistant from 2004-06. Before that, she was a hairstylist for 16 years, mostly at the JC Penney Styling Salon in Bismarck. A native of Mandan, Chris is married to Doug Yellow Bird and enjoys boating and outdoor activities. They have a daughter, Sydney, age 10.
Kene Miller, collaborative process and graduation coordinator, has a BS in business management from University of Mary. She also studied secondary education at Minot State University. Miller grew up in Bismarck and has managed people her entire working life. She was circulation customer service manager at the Bismarck Tribune the past seven years, and spent another six years in advertising and production. Miller also managed Skippers in Bismarck and Zales Jewelers in Bismarck and Sioux Falls. She enjoys reading and traveling.

Faculty and Staff News

Bonnie Weisz, testing and assessment coordinator, attended the National College Testing Association's Annual Conference in Baltimore Aug. 30-Sept. 5.

Richard Malsam, assistant professor of automotive collision, attended the National Automotive Collision Expo to receive training on new products and equipment. The event was held in Las Vegas Sept. 4-9.

Zachery Allen, energy technology programs project manager, attended the 12th Annual Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Power Switching Safety and Reliability Conference in San Antonio Sept. 14-16.

Dave Clark, executive vice president, traveled to Washington, D.C., Sept. 18-19 for the National Association of College and University Business Officers New Board Member Orientation.

Dr. Drake Carter, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Janet Decker, research and grants specialist, attended the American Association of Community Colleges Washington Institute in Washington, D.C., Sept. 20-23.

Attending the Maxwell AFB Meeting in Montgomery, Ala., Sept. 18-20 were Lane Huber, director of distance education, Mary Eisenbraun, student finance manager, and Dr. Drake Carter, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Mike McCormack and Dr. Perry Hornbacher, professors of history, attended the 43rd Annual Northern Great Plains History Conference in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, Sept. 24-27. McCormack is a member of the Conference Council (the governing board) and will be chairing a session on "Commercial Navigation on Northern Waters."