Garry and Dona Bopp

Why would anyone name an Engineering Scholarship after a huge fiberglass and concrete cow? The answer is: I grew up milking cows on a small family farm south of New Salem, about 10 miles from “Salem Sue”. I have a lot of respect for the hard work and dedication required to be a dairy farmer. My interest in machinery aimed me for a career as an auto mechanic but my parents counseled me on the need for higher education and that led me to studying Mechanical Engineering at NDSU. I was also interested in aviation and joined the Air Force ROTC program. This led me into a 6-year commitment with the Air Force after graduating with a BSME from NDSU in 1971. My engineering degree was a great help in successfully completing pilot training and earning my “Air Force Wings”. I continued my aviation career with Delta Air Lines and retired at age 65 after 36+ years as a Delta pilot. My successful aviation career would not have happened without the love, support and sage advice from my parents, F.M and Louise Bopp.