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BSC honors Alumnus of the Year

Published: May 06 2015

Terry Bourgeois & Scott Zainhofsky
The Bismarck State College National Alumni Association board of directors has chosen Terry Bourgeois, ‘84, for the 2015 Alumnus of the Year award for his dedication to community service and sustained leadership in raising money for cancer research.

BSC honors Bourgeois at a campus dinner for friends, family and the public Thursday, May 14, and during commencement May 15 at the Bismarck Event Center.

The dinner also recognizes Scott Zainhofsky, '95, recipient of the Alumni Association's 2015 Rising Star Award for his leadership and volunteer service. The award acknowledges young alumni of exceptional achievement.

Bourgeois studied Power Plant Technology and acquired transferable skills for his 12 years in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power submarine service and 20 years at Praxair, Inc., a Fortune 250 Company that produces, sells and distributes industrial gases. He now holds a master's degree and has worldwide influence for Praxair, Inc., providing guidance and support to 20 international workforce communities as the knowledge management and training program manager for global engineering.

His work for cancer began in 1999 after a chance entry with Praxair colleagues to test a new bike at a Roswell Park Cancer Institute fundraiser in Buffalo, N.Y., an event that changed his life. Moved by stories of cancer victims on T-shirts, Bourgeois became so involved that by 2004, he was one of eight volunteer co-chairs responsible for planning, operations, and a biker experience supporting 8,000 cyclists and 1,500 volunteers. The award-winning efforts of these co-chairs helps raise $4 million annually for cancer research.

Bourgeois emcees the Ride for Roswell and recently helped plan the Empire Ride by cycling across New York State to test his concept and raise more money for Roswell. He conducts practice training rides for bikers on weekends and routinely speaks at community cancer-related events. Sales of his children's book go toward pediatric cancer research at Roswell.

Zainhofsky graduated from BSC in pre-engineering and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from University of North Dakota. Since joining the state Department of Transportation in 2004, he has achieved several promotions, each with growing management responsibility. He now heads the Planning/Asset Management Division, one of 21 DOT divisions and eight district offices.

At the DOT, Zainhofsky has leveraged his opportunities and skills to help others succeed. He began his community volunteering while at BSC and continues today judging science and engineering fairs and talking to youth-based organizations about science concepts. He directs a Cub Scout den and is a leader in the North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers.

Reservations will be accepted until May 8 for the public dinner at the National Energy Center of Excellence, Bavendick Stateroom. Tickets are $25 per person. Checks can be made payable to the BSC Alumni Association and mailed to the BSC Alumni Office, P.O. Box 5587, Bismarck, ND 58506-5587.  For more information, contact Rita Nodland @ (701) 224-5692 or (800) 272-2586 or Rita.Nodland@bismarckstate.edu.
 

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.