Retiring Bismarck State College Professor Receives Award
Published: Apr 26 2019
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Chere Allard, a 16 year veteran at Bismarck State College (BSC), received the Ambassador of Lignite award from the Lignite Energy Council at a ceremony on Wednesday. Each year, the Lignite Council honors those who are retiring from careers in the lignite energy industry. They are honored for their successful careers as well as for active participation with the Lignite Energy Council on various boards, committees, projects and programs.
Allard began teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the Power Plant Technology program at BSC in 2003. At that time, she was also in operations at the Coyote Station near Beulah, North Dakota. Allard retired from the plant after 24 years, ending her career there as an Operations shift supervisor, in 2004. That year, she began to work full time at BSC as a faulty member in the National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE).
“Chere's passion for her students and the lignite coal power generation industry are second to none,” says Bruce Emmil, Dean of the NECE.
Allard will retire from her teaching career at BSC on June 30th. Her experience in the energy industry allowed her to bring stories from her career in power generation to the classroom, bringing a first-hand perspective of the industry to future employees.
“This award is the capstone for a career I loved in power generation as well as a capstone for a career I loved in teaching,” Allard says.
Her students say her outgoing nature, upbeat personality and infectious attitude helped them learn.
“She always came to class with a smile on her face and made me look forward to being in the industry,” says Brookes Reinholt, a 2015 graduate from the Power Plant Technology program.
Allard has taught thousands of students in her time at BSC, both on campus and online. As a female in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Allard also served as a role model and mentor to an increasing number of women interested in power generation.
“You will be missed by our students, industry partners and BSC employees!” Emmil says.
Allard served on faculty senate and event planning committees at BSC, in addition to numerous boards and committees in the community. For years, she oversaw a job shadow program that online students are required to complete, networking and connecting students with hundreds of energy companies around the country.