October 11, 2024– Bottineau, ND – Since 1982 Dakota College at Bottineau Alumni Association has hosted an Awards Recognition banquet that honors athletes, students, supportive community members, and alumni. The DCB Alumni Association accepts nominations for the Golden Service, Friend of the

College, and Young Alumnus awarded annually. The Alumni Association and Lumberjack Athletic Hall of Fame recipients will be acknowledged at the Awards Recognition Banquet, Friday, November 1, 2024, in a semi-private event at the Cobblestone Inn, Bottineau. The award recipients and guests have been contacted by special invite.

Recipients of the Young Alumnus Award must have attended Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) within the last 15 years, be successful and show growth and promise in their chosen career, contribute in a beneficial way to community and/or society in general, and set a good example in the community.

The recipient of the 2024 Young Alumnus Award meets all the criteria and more. Cody Brooks graduated from DCB in 2014 with an AS Liberal Arts degree in Marketing and Management.

Brooks played for the DCB baseball team, becoming the team captain prior to his sophomore year, and earning Academic All-American Honors for the Lumberjacks. He was also a Collegiate DECA State Champion and competed at the national level.

“I enjoyed my time as a student at Dakota College at Bottineau. By helping with fundraising and community events, I know I’m helping students get more opportunities now and in years to come,” says Brooks, who is a Financial Advisor for Core Wealth Financial Advisors in his hometown of Bottineau. Brooks gives back to DCB by serving on the Logrollers Board and the Career and TechnicalEducation (CTE) Advisory Board for Business Administration. He also coaches high school hockey in Bottineau.

Brooks is married to DCB alumna Leah (Parizek) and together they have two sons, Bruin and Barrett. The family enjoys golfing, spending time together, and supporting local fundraisers and events.

The Golden Service Award is given annually to someone who attended DCB, is at or approaching traditional retirement age, and had a successful career or exceptional achievement that benefitted his or her community or society.

Scott Bartholomay’s career certainly meets and exceeds these requirements. He started his career with the Bottineau City and Rural Fire Department in June 1982 and retired in March 2023. Over the course of his 41-year career Bartholomay held the positions of Chief, Assistant Chief, Training Officer, and Safety Officer.

Bartholomay often said to his fellow firefighters, "We leave together and come home together," and “Stay safe in the black." Current Bottineau Fire Chief Dave Vad says, “Firemen live by these sayings every day. Scott is a great fireman, always a friend, and always has our back. It’s very hard to find people like Scott who have the respect and knowledge they want to pass it on to make the future strong for the community.”

Bartholomay’s top priorities while on the job included providing safety and top-notch gear and
training to ensure the community had the best firemen. Chief Vad says Bartholomay was always looking towards the future. He was instrumental in the expansion of the fire hall in 1999 and helping plan a new facility in the future. “Scott spent countless hours going to fire schools and state conventions to keep up with changes. His love of the North Dakota Firefighters Association made us very proud. Bottineau hosted the state convention three times and Scott was Chairman twice,” says Chief Vad. Bartholomay is a lifetime member of the State Firefighters Association.

Within the community of Bottineau, Bartholomay is a supporter of the Bottineau Park Board and a Board member. He has also been a member of DCB’s Logrollers and the Bottineau Wildlife Club for years. “Scott has a passion for the community and stands out by encouraging others to be involved in progress for the future and safety of the Bottineau community,” says Chief Vad.

The Friend of Dakota College at Bottineau Award does not have to be an alumnus, but must be supportive of DCB by donating time, money, and/or resources that have made a significant difference at the school. This year’s Friend of Dakota College at Bottineau Award is the Bottineau Fire Department which has provided numerous parade escorts for Lumberjack Athletics, volunteered at Market Place for Kids, provided Fire Prevention Week presentations as well as classroom presentations at MSU-Bottineau and DCB.

“The Bottineau Fire Department deserves the Friend of the College award because of response to emergency calls at DCB, presentations and safety coverage at various college events, establishing a Junior Firefighter program, and participating in sendoffs and welcome home events for our athletic teams,” says Scott Johnson, DCB Mathematics Professor.

The Junior Firefighter program trains DCB students to be future firefighters. The Fire Department also conducts fire safety inspections, volunteers at bonfire events, and participates in live shooter and other safety training events on campus. In 2023, the Fire Department had 1,281 hours of training and 796 hours responding to fire calls.

The Alumni Association sincerely thanks the Bottineau Fire Department, Scott Bartholomay, and Cody Brooks for their ongoing involvement with DCB. Congratulations to the three recipients of these much-deserved awards. The Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame banquet will take place November 1, 2024, at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites in Bottineau. Social will start at 6:00 pm, dinner served at 6:30 pm followed by the award ceremony and induction. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the college alumni office or the DCB bookstore.