Scott grew up in Cottage Grove, Minnesota where his parents Gerry and Judy Stafne still live. He graduated from Park High School in 1990 and from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1995. He worked in information technology for Accenture in Minneapolis after graduation and later, for Guidant Corporation in St. Paul. In 2002 he married his wife Kirsten.

Scott was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease in 2004, a few weeks after learning he and his wife Kirsten were expecting a baby. His daughter Eva, now 2 1/2 years old, brings light, energy and hope to Scott despite his steady disease progression.

Scott has taken a very serious and difficult disease and opted to do everything he can with the time he has available to educate and spread awareness of ALS. Scott and his family are working to raise over $100,000 for research through a variety of events and activities. Scott enjoys speaking at engagements to promote ALS awareness, as well as share his own experience with ALS. Scott finds taking proactive, positive action to educate others about ALS to be enormously meaningful and therapeutic.

No longer employed, Scott pursues his interests in writing and film by publishing a blog and recording and editing video as part of a legacy project for his daughter.

Scott and Kirsten are expecting another daughter in March 2008. Scott looks forward to enjoying life with his newly expanded family and friends. He and his family live in Woodbury, Minnesota.

Scott was awarded the 2007 MDA Courage Award at the St. Paul Black and Blue Gala in April 2007. The MDA Courage Award recipient is someone who MDA serves. Their positive mindset and relentless determination to defeat the disease not necessarily defines who they are, but enhances who they are becoming. This person does not sit back and accept the disease, but works hard to educate and spread the message of MDA. The recipient has an outstanding attitude, despite their disease, and embraces life to the very fullest. Their life is a true definition of courage. Following this award, Scott was asked to appear live on the 2007 MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon in Las Vegas over Labor Day weekend.

Scott was awarded the Stephen Heywood Patients Today Award at the 2007 ALS TDI Leadership Summit in November 2007. This award is presented to a member of the ALS community who has proven to be a strong advocate for research and awareness. He consistently stays abreast of current research trends both in the United States and abroad. This person challenges his own community to collectively fight the disease while serving as an educator for those unfamiliar with ALS. He challenges ALS research institutions to focus on patients today in the hopes of accelerating a treatment or cure. They serve as a role model for patients today to find strength and determination to fight this disease each and every day.