This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President's Column: Students recognize Teacher of the Year
• Faculty Symposium to be held Tuesday
• Athletics to sponsor blood drive
• Western attends communication conference, visits Target HQ
• VanHorn book chapter published
• Viking sports update
• What’s going on 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 President

Students recognize Teacher of the Year

Two weeks of classes left followed by final exams—unbelievable! It has been such an amazing year of progress and accomplishments for Valley City State University. I am so grateful for the talents and energies of our faculty, staff, and students. We are indeed a community of difference makers.

The best part of the end of an academic year is taking the time to celebrate our Faculty Excellence Award winners: Bob Anderson, Ph.D., Senior Faculty Award; Emily Fenster, Ph.D., Junior Faculty Award; and Laurel Westby, M.S., Adjunct/Special Appointment Award.

We also recognize our faculty and staff members entering a new phase of life: retirement; our students’ accomplishments as leaders, researchers, artists, and athletes; and, of course, commencement. Commencement is set for May 13, 2017—an opportunity to congratulate 254 of VCSU’s newest alumni!

Our commencement speakers include Don Morton, vice chair of the State Board of Higher Education; our student representative, Morgan Nalley, a graduating senior from Pocatello, Idaho; and a professor. We will continue our new tradition of having the Teacher of the Year offer remarks on behalf of the faculty.

The Teacher of the Year Award is a long-standing recognition program of Student Senate. All students are invited to nominate their favorite professor, and then the student senators select the award recipient. I think it’s especially meaningful that our commencement speaker is someone selected by the students, someone who has inspired them to do their best work and mentored them toward a purposeful life.

I am pleased to announce that Student Senate has selected professor Jodi Shorma as the 2017 Teacher of the Year!

Jodi Shorma, assistant professor of language and literature, has been a member of the VCSU faculty since 2009, teaching in several areas, including English, business, and communication. She served as director of our Learning Center from 2009–16.

According to VCSU student Deborah Haley, “Professor Shorma works to be sure all of her students understand the material in class. She cares about each of us and helps us do our best. She always come to class at least 10 minutes early and greets every student personally, asking how their day is going and how they’re doing with their assignments. She knows who is in which clubs and student activities, where they work on campus, and other information pertinent to their lives. Her connection with students runs deep.”

Jordan Bushaw, Student Senate president shared the following about the award presentation: “When presenting the Teacher of the Year Award, we aim to do it with as many senators as possible in one of the selected professors classes. This year we also included her fellow faculty, as well as the vice president for academic affairs, vice president for student affairs, and the president. I wanted to include others because Professor Shorma should know she is appreciated by students as well as by her colleagues and supervisors. We surprised Professor Shorma with the presentation during one of her upper-level writing classes because the students are primarily English/English ed majors who she has known for years, and with whom she has the strongest relationships. This is one of my favorite things to do in Student Senate—I love letting the faculty of VCSU know just how much they mean to us.”

Professor Shorma has earned the respect and admiration of our students and her colleagues. She embodies the phrase “the heart of a teacher,” which makes her a great choice to speak to our graduating students on a very significant day in their lives. I can’t wait to hear her message and for the opportunity to celebrate our graduates. Indeed, May 13 will be a great day to be a Viking!

Faculty Symposium to be held Tuesday

Join your colleagues at the VCSU Faculty Symposium, Tuesday, April 25, from 11–noon in the Student Center Skoal Room.

Faculty from throughout the campus will be showcasing a variety of activities. Wandering Scholars will be visiting with them and assessing their presentations. Refreshments will be served.

We need your help! One of the prizes will be “Viewer’s Choice,” voted on by symposium attendees.

Please plan on attending and supporting your colleagues at the Faculty Symposium.

Athletics to sponsor blood drive

The VCSU Athletic Department is sponsoring the Bleed Cardinal Blood Drive, to be held Monday and Tuesday, May 1–2, in W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.

The blood drive will run 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. on Monday and 9 a.m.–2 p.m. on Tuesday.

To arrange an appointment or for more information, contact PJ Peterson at (218) 791-9142 or email paul.lenard.peterson@vcsu.edu.

Western attends communication conference, visits Target HQ

Kai Western, assistant professor of communication arts, attended the Central States Communication Association conference in Minneapolis March 16–19. She attended several panels where scholars presented research on organizational theory, including training and development in organizational settings.

While in the Twin Cities, Western also toured Target corporate headquarters to see what the corporation is doing currently in regard to marketing, public relations and social media.

VanHorn book chapter published

Shannon VanHorn, Ph.D., director of distance learning and faculty development, has published a chapter in “The Sage Encyclopedia of Communication Research,” a four-volume reference set edited by Mike Allen, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

VanHorn authored the chapter “Communication and Futuristic Studies,” where she explores this interdisciplinary topic, including what it is, its history in the communication field and various research methods used to explore it.

A rising area of study, Futuristic Studies examines long-term thinking in futuristic societies, mediated communication and technology. It explores cultural, social and economic impacts of change as possible threats to societies. By exploring futuristic issues, theorists often discover solutions to present-day problems.

“The Sage Encyclopedia of Communication Research” includes 652 chapters created by key figures in the communication field and explores all areas of communication theory, research and methodology.

Viking sports update

Baseball
Monday: VCSU 8, Presentation College 2
Saturday: VCSU 13, Dakota State 2; VCSU 3, Dakota State 0
Sunday: VCSU 14, Dakota State 3; VCSU 13, Dakota State 7
The Vikings went 5-0 on the baseball diamond this week, moving their overall record above .500 at 24-20. VCSU is 16-2 in the month of April. VCSU is now 17-3 in conference play and sits in second in the NSAA standings with four conference games remaining.

Softball
Saturday: VCSU 8, Dakota State 4; VCSU 8, Dakota State 4
Sunday: VCSU 13, Dakota State 9; VCSU 15, Dakota State 0
The Viking softball team swept a four-game conference series at Dakota State and moved into sixth in the NSAA standings. VCSU is now 19-25 overall and 10-12 in conference play with four games remaining.

Golf
The Viking golf teams wrap up the season this week it the final 36 holes of the NSAA Conference Championships. The teams will play Monday and Tuesday at The Golf Club at Cedar Creek in Onalaska, Wis.

Track & Field
Dennis Gonzalez ran the third fastest 10K time in VCSU history on Friday as he won that event at the Sioux City Relays in Sioux City, Iowa. The VCSU junior crossed the line in a time of 31:43.58, just missing qualifying for nationals by 13 seconds. It was the fastest 10K time at VCSU since 1989. VCSU also had athletes compete at the Lyle Hokanson Classic in Fargo. View the complete recap from the weekend at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/2646.php.

Upcoming Events
April 24–25: Golf @ NSAA Championships (Onalaska, Wis.)
April 29: Track & Field @ Al Cassel Relays (Jamestown, N.D.)
April 29: Baseball @ University of Jamestown, 1/3 p.m.
April 29: Softball vs. University of Jamestown, 1/3 p.m.
April 30: Baseball @ University of Jamestown, noon/2 p.m.
April 30: Softball @ University of Jamestown, 1/3 p.m.

What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

Monday, April 24
Viking golf @ NSAA Championships, Onalaska, Wis.
5–7 p.m. Aleisha Kiser Benefit (spaghetti dinner and silent auction), Valley City Eagles Club

Tuesday, April 25
noon Rotary Club meeting, VFW

Wednesday, April 26
noon Kiwanis meeting, VCSU Student Center Skoal Room

Thursday, April 27
7 a.m. Optimists Club meeting, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters meeting, VCSU Student Center Norway Room

Friday, April 28
5 p.m. VCSU Scholarship Auction, Eagles Club
7:30 p.m. Ashely Boe senior recital, Froemke Auditorium, Foss Hall
2 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D. (doubleheader)

Saturday, April 29
Viking track & field @ Al Cassell Relays, Jamestown, N.D.
1 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D. (doubleheader)
1 p.m. Viking softball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D. (doubleheader)
7:30 p.m. Instrumental concert, Vangstad Auditorium

Sunday, April 30
Viking Track & Field @ Al Cassell Relays & NSAA Multi-Event Championships, Jamestown, N.D.
noon Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D. (doubleheader)
1 p.m. Viking softball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D. (doubleheader)

Monday, May 1
10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Bleed Cardinal Blood Drive, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Tuesday, May 2
9 a.m.–2 p.m. Bleed Cardinal Blood Drive, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
11 a.m. General student recital, Froemke Auditorium, Foss Hall
noon Rotary Club meeting, VFW

Wednesday, May 3
noon Kiwanis meeting, VCSU Student Center Skoal Room

Thursday, May 4
7 a.m. Optimists Club meeting, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters meeting, VCSU Student Center Norway Room
7:30 p.m. Composition Concert, Froemke Auditorium, Foss Hall

Friday, May 5
2 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D. (doubleheader)
7:30 p.m. Choir Concert, Epworth United Methodist Church, Valley City, N.D.

Saturday, May 6
Viking track & field @ Ron Masanz Invitational, Moorhead, Minn.

Sunday, May 7