Commencement for BSC graduates is May 13

Post Date: May 11 2016
Commencement for BSC graduates is May 13
Bismarck State College awards diplomas to 1,081 graduates during its 76th spring commencement Friday, May 13, at the Bismarck Event Center.
 
Ceremonies begin at 2:30 p.m. and will stream live to computers and mobile devices from bismarckstate.edu/livestream/.
 
Graduates represent 46 states and three foreign countries and include those completing instruction during the academic year, and who expect to finish requirements this summer. The college will grant 98 Bachelor of Applied Science degrees, 953 associate degrees, and 201 program certificates and diplomas.
 
Drake Carter, provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, presides over the ceremony, along with BSC President Larry C. Skogen. 
 
Major General (Retired) David Sprynczynatyk, gives the graduation address. He is receiving an honorary degree from BSC. Other honorees are Paul Swanson, professor emeritus; Mike LaLonde, Alumnus of the Year; Shane Balkowitsch, Rising Star awardee; and BSC’s first Legacy Family, the Myron Atkinson family.
 
Sprynczynatyk served as adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard from August 2006 to December 2015. He held many positions during his military service, which began in 1972. Prior to his appointment to adjutant general, he was National Guard Bureau director of logistics. A graduate of the U.S. Army War College and North Dakota State University, he began his career in government at the State Water Commission, becoming state engineer in 1989. He was appointed state Department of Transportation director in 2001.
 
Student speakers are Kathryn Ann Gerving of New Salem/Almont and Marcie Woehl of Mandan.
 
Gerving is graduating with an Associate in Applied Science in surgical technology and plans a career as a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. She worked at CHI St. Alexius Medical Center throughout college.
 
Woehl enrolled as a liberal arts transfer student and plans to pursue a double major in philosophy and English at the University of North Dakota. She was president of the BSC Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
 
In addition to the livestream, the commencement ceremony will be recorded and available to view from May 20-June 20 at bismarckstate.edu. The ceremony also will air on Dakota Media Access, Channel 12 (see dakotamediaaccess.org for schedule) and be available for download on BSC’s iTunes U site.
 

About Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College, an innovative community college in Bismarck, N.D., offers high quality education, workforce training, and enrichment programs reaching local and global communities.