Alumni Awards

For more information about the BSC Alumni of the Year Awards program, please contact the alumni office at (701) 224-5692 or (800) 272-2586 or email bsc.alumni@bismarckstate.edu

The BSC Alumni Awards Recognition program is sponsored by the Bismarck State College National Alumni Association, Bismarck State College and the Bismarck State College Foundation.

2018 Alumni Awards Invitation

 

2018 Alumnus of the YearMikeBullinger.jpg

Mike Bullinger ('70) found both his inspiration and his career his senior year of high school when he met his future wife, Peggy, and enrolled in a bookkeeping course at Mandan High School. He completed his two-year degree at BSC, went on to UND and became a CPA. Today, he owns Western Products, a home improvement company in Fargo. The Bullinger family has made philanthropy a core tenet of their lives, through scholarships at BSC and UND for business and accounting students, as well as generous support through the FM Area Foundation, Dakota Medical Foundation and the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. Mike and Peggy were named Philanthropists of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2016. They live in Fargo.
 

HunkeJonjpg.jpg2018 Rising Star Award

Jon Hunke ('94) believes that those willing to give back can truly make a difference. As the BSC Rising Star Award winner, he's being recognized for that very attribute. An accounting major, Hunke paid for college as he went, earning degrees at BSC, NDSU and University of Mary. He worked full time while earning his master's degree. After NDSU, he worked at a regional accounting firm, before coming home to Bismarck where he first went to work for MDU Construction Services Group. He currently serves as Vice President of Accounting, Finance and Information Technology. Hunke and his wife, Sommer, are members of the BSC Alumni Association 1939 Society. He also serves on the BSC Foundation Student Housing Board and the BSC Business and Management Advisory Board.
 

0HarleyandMargaretSwenson.jpg2018 Legacy Family

The Swenson Family has not only attended BSC, Harley Swenson spent years getting his hands dirty making BSC the beautiful campus it is today. After graduating from BJC (now BSC), Harley went to UND where he met his wife, Margaret. They returned to Bismarck and established Swenson, Hagen & Company a civil engineering and land surveying firm in 1967. Over the years, Harley and his company worked on a number of BSC campus improvement projects from parking lots to planting trees. All three Swenson children, a son-in-law and a grandson have attended BSC. Members of the BSC Alumni Association 1939 Society, Harley and Margaret established a Swenson family scholarship for pre-engineering students at BSC in 2013. Harley was named BSC Outstanding Alumnus in 1995, and received the Presidential Merit Award from the BSC National Alumni Association in 1984.


 
 
For more information about the BSC Alumni of the Year Awards Dinner or program, or if you are unable to attend the dinner, but wish to share memorabilia, photos or stories about award recipients, please contact the alumni office at (701) 224-5692 or (800) 272-2586 or email Rita.Nodland@bismarckstate.edu.

The BSC Alumni Awards Recognition program is sponsored by the Board of Directors of the Bismarck State College National Alumni Association, Bismarck State College and the BSC Foundation.
 

Past Recipients

Recipients of the Alumni of the Year Award
Since 1978, 49 individuals have been named Alumni of the Year.

2017   Bob Martinson '67
2016   Michael LaLonde, ’62
2015   Terry Bourgeois '84
2014   Brenda Mihalicz-Tufte '85
2013   William Goetz '64
2012   Tamra Halmrast-Sanchez '79
2011   Wayne Stenehjem '72
2010   Dr. Michael R. Brown '82 and Dr. Ron Tello '70
2009   Alvin A. Jaeger '63
2008   Dr. Cheryl (Senger) Elsbernd, '81 and David Farnsworth, '75
2007   Chuck Suchy '68
2006   Linda Hansen Falkman '68
2005   Dr. Gary E. Johnson '63
2004   Michael Wickstrom '53
2003   Dr. Charles E. Murry '79
2002   Pat Dirk '69 and Rich Karlgaard '74
2001   Tim Holtan '74 and Tony Welder '58
2000   Gerald Skogley '54 and Linda Juhala '62
1999   LaVonn Boehm Steiner '62
1998   Frank Koch '62
1997   Morris Tschider '52 and Irene Boehm Tschider '57
1996   Bert Gerhart '61
1995   Harley Swenson '56
1994   J. Michael McCormack '62
1993   Warren Arman '54
1992   Dalles Krause '53
1991   Barbara Gibbons Evanson '64
1990   Edwin Edlund '41 and Dorothy Mueller Edlund '41
1989   Rod Tjaden '61
1988   Dr. Lawrence Watson '67
1987   U.S. Navy Commander Lee Gurke '66
1986   Patricia Higgins Caudel '51
1985   Dennis Meyer '58
1984   Gordon Weiss '69
1983   Ev Miller '55
1982   Dr. Curtis Juhala '61
1981   Tom Jordan '54
1980   Beulah Hedahl '41
1979   Tom Baker '41
1978   Ted Boutrous '41, Mary Moses Schwichtenberg '43, and Myron Atkinson '47


Recipients of the Rising Star Award

This award was established in 2006 as a way to recognize the accomplishments of our most recent alumni. Since then, 14 alumni have been recognized for their achievements. 

2017   Justin Reinicke '05
2016   Shane Balkowitsch, ’98
2015   Scott Zainhofsky '95
2014   Kirsten Baesler '99
2013   Sam Coleman '99
2012   Mick Miller '99
2011   Preston Schmidt '07
2010   Amanda Lewis '98
2009   Jon Fornshell '93 and Troy Sterling Nies '96 & '04
2008   Chad Ellingson '91 and Julie Schaff Ellingson '93
2007   Ken Bischof '92
2006   Alison Fallgatter '94

Recipients of the BSC Legacy Family Award
This award was established in 2015 to recognize the accomplishments of families with a long history of dedication to Bismarck Junior College/Bismarck State College.

2017  Frank and Barbara Gilchrist Family
2016  Myron and Marjory Atkinson Family