This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President’s Column
• Music presents ‘Christmas at The Vault’ on Tuesday
• Bluegrass jam at museum on Saturday
• VCSU counselors help with Hurricane Matthew relief
• N.D. poet laureate Woiwode presents on campus
• Western attends NCA conference
• Redfearn attends NASM conference
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every Monday during the academic year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 4 p.m. the Friday before publication.

President's Column

by Tisa Mason, Ed.D., CAE
Valley City State University Presdient

Our second winter commencement

I am eagerly looking forward to winter commencement exercises on December 15, 2016. It is my distinct honor to confer upon our graduates the degrees for which they work so hard. I love the fact that the ceremony provides an opportunity for faculty, family, and friends to witness this significant accomplishment and for me to personally shake the hand of each student crossing the stage. I shake each student’s hand with the excitement of knowing the significant accomplishment that each student has achieved and with great confidence in the high-quality education provided by our talented faculty and staff.

This event will be our second winter commencement and the first time in many years that a commencement ceremony will be held in our beautiful Vangstad Auditorium. The event will celebrate the accomplishments of more than 70 degree candidates and will feature three speakers: Greg Stemen from the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, VCSU student Richard Langdeaux, and Andre DeLorme, Ph.D., professor and chair of the VCSU Science Department as well as director of our Prairie Waters Education and Research Center.

We are pleased to welcome back SBHE member Greg Stemen, who also delivered inspiring remarks at the May 2016 commencement exercises. Greg serves as the branch manager of First Community Credit Unit in both Valley City and Oakes. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Southwest Minnesota State and, near and dear to our hearts, a bachelor’s degree from Valley City State University. True to our mission, Greg holds numerous professional and community leadership positions as an engaged citizen leader.

Our new tradition is that at each winter commencement, the recipient of the Senior Faculty Award of Excellence is invited to deliver remarks. This award honors a faculty member who shows exceptional dedication and commitment to students and to the university through outstanding teaching, scholarly activities, and service. This honor was bestowed upon Professor DeLorme last May. His nominators outlined with gratitude his leadership in growing the Science Department, which includes two of our newer majors: Fisheries and Wildlife Science and Environmental Science. He also provides a number of students with undergraduate research opportunities and summer employment in aquatic studies, often receiving grant funding to support the students. I can’t think of a better person to address our new graduates; I’m eager to listen to his remarks.

Richard Langdeaux, a biology education major, will share his perspective around a theme of bravery. I love that theme because it applies to each transition we make throughout our life’s journey. Richard has not only boldly embraced his VCSU journey, but he has done so with a distinct flare of kindness and genuineness for all of us whom he encountered—traits which will make him an excellent teacher. Throughout his college days, Richard has supplemented his academic performance with a co-curricular career in cross country and track and field, along with service as a resident assistant, a Viking ambassador, a student assistant coach, and a myriad of other activities. He was also crowned VCSU’s Homecoming King in 2015.

Yes, December 15 will be a day of celebration and an excellent reminder about the journey we all share at VCSU. Indeed, it will be a great day to be a Viking!

Music presents ‘Christmas at The Vault’ on Tuesday

The VCSU Jazz Ensemble and University Singers will present “Christmas at The Vault” on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

The Vault is located at 233 Central Ave. N. in Valley City; the event is open to the public free of charge.

Bluegrass jam at museum on Saturday

This month’s Valley City bluegrass jam session is set for Saturday, Dec. 10, from 1–5 p.m. at the Barnes County Museum. The acoustic-only jam is free and open to the public; beginning bluegrass musicians are welcome.

The jam is sponsored by the Barnes County Museum and the Bluegrass Association of North Dakota (B.A.N.D.) For more information, call John Andrus at 701-762-4891.

VCSU counselors help with Hurricane Matthew relief

Erin Klingenberg, director of Counseling Services, and Kelsie Jo Carter, counseling intern, recently traveled to North Carolina as Red Cross volunteers, assisting with relief efforts in Lumberton, N.C., an area devastated by flooding due to torrential rain spawned by Hurricane Matthew.

The two volunteered from Oct. 27–Nov. 4, operating out of emergency response vehicles to deliver drinking water, hot meals and snacks twice daily to those in need. In addition to the food they delivered, another valuable service they provided was serving as compassionate listeners, hearing the stories and offering kind words of support to those who suffered losses in the flooding.

N.D. poet laureate Woiwode presents on campus

Larry Woiwode, North Dakota poet laureate and writer-in-residence at the University of Jamestown, led a poetry writing exercise for VCSU Language and Literature students on Nov. 18.

A reception with faculty and students preceded the event.

Western attends NCA conference

Kai Western, Ph.D., participated in the National Communication Association (NCA) annual convention in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 10–13. She attended sessions geared toward organizational communication, as well as sessions about instructional communication. She learned about current research in those fields and how to better teach the material, including how to effectively incorporate humor into teaching.

Redfearn attends NASM conference

Christopher Redfearn, D.A., assistant professor and chair of the Music Department, attended the annual meeting of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), held in Dallas, Texas, Nov. 18-21. The theme of the meeting was “The 21st Century Music Administrator: Addressing Today’s Issues, Planning Tomorrow’s Future.”

Redfearn represented VCSU at the general business sessions and attended content sessions on recruitment and enrollment management, the propensities of tomorrow’s music students, implementing music capstone experiences and developing effective ensemble programs. He also acted as recorder at a roundtable discussion for small departments (less than 100 majors) and participated in a hearing on the future of the NASM standards for undergraduate study.

Viking sports update

Men’s Basketball
Friday: VCSU 70, Mayville State 65
Saturday: VCSU 88, Presentation College 82
The Viking men’s basketball team opened conference play with a pair of road victories this weekend. VCSU is now 9-4 overall and 2-0 in the NSAA.

Women’s Basketball
Friday: VCSU 59, Mayville State 56
Saturday: VCSU 66, Presentation College 59
VCSU women’s basketball earned two road wins this weekend at Mayville State and Presentation College. The Vikings are now 9-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Football: McBeain named nominee for national Cliff Harris Award
Valley City State University senior linebacker Nicholas McBeain has been named a nominee for the Cliff Harris Award, presented to the nation’s top small college football defensive player. McBeain is one of 33 NAIA players nominated for the award, which also encompasses NCAA Division II and Division II players.

3 Vikings named NAIA Scholar-Athletes
Three Valley City State University student-athletes have recently been named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes by the national office. Cross country senior Alex Askerooth, and volleyball seniors Jaycee George and Darrien Cantelo all earned the honor that recognizes continued success in the classroom.

Upcoming Events:
Dec. 5: Women’s basketball vs. Concordia–Moorhead, 7 p.m.
Dec. 9: WBB/MBB vs. Dakota State University, 5:30/7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10: WBB/MBB vs. Bellevue University, 6/8 p.m.

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City ...

Monday, December 5

7 p.m. Viking women’s basketball vs. Concordia College–Moorhead, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Tuesday, December 6

11 a.m. General student recital, Froemke Auditorium
12:05–1:05 p.m. Rotary Club meeting, VFW
3–6 p.m. Marketplace Foods Holiday Preview

Wednesday, December 7

noon–1 p.m. Kiwanis meeting, Valley City Town & Country Club
12:10 p.m. 106th Annual “Sounds of the Season” Brown Bagger Series, Our Saviors Lutheran Church

Thursday, December 8

7 a.m. Optimists Club meeting, Vickie’s Viking Room
Thursday night shopping in Valley City
7:30 p.m. Valley City High School band and choir concert, Hi-Liner Activity Center

Friday, December 9

5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball vs. Dakota State University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Saturday, December 10

5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball vs. Bellevue University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Sunday, December 11

Mawlid al-Nabi begins at sundown

Monday, December 12

Finals week begins
3 to 5 p.m. VCSU Holiday Social, Student Center Skoal Room
4 to 6 p.m. VCSU Theatre Holiday Coffee House Café open mic, Theatre 320

Tuesday, December 13

12:05–1:05 p.m. Rotary Club meeting, VFW

Wednesday, December 14

noon–1 p.m. Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
12:10 p.m. 106th Annual “Sounds of the Season” Brown Bagger Series, Our Saviors Lutheran Church

Thursday, December 15

Payday
7 a.m. Optimists Club meeting, Vickie’s Viking Room
Thursday night shopping in Valley City

Friday, December 16

5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball vs. Viterbo University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Saturday, December 17

Sunday, December 18