This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President's Column: Welcome Window Project and Back to the City Night
• Mills receives 'Difference Maker' award
• Drenth attends ceramic workshop
• Viking Family Picnic scheduled August 15
• Wear your VCSU name tag
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every other Monday from May 8 through August 14 and every Monday through the academic year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. the Friday before publication.

President's Column: Welcome Window Project and Back to the City Night

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

The calendar might indicate that we are in the middle of summer, but our Viking volleyball team returns to campus on July 31, which is a sure sign that fall is rapidly approaching. Following a summer of camps and conferences, our residence halls are being prepared to welcome our students home. Opening traditions will be upheld, and related events are being planned, including new faculty and staff orientation, the Viking Family Welcome Back Picnic, several new- and returning-student events, and a brand-new event: the Valley City Welcome Window Project and Back to the City Night on August 24.

I am very excited about this new welcome back tradition spearheaded by Jackie Owen, VCSU Faculty Association president, and Sarah Larsen, our Staff Senate president. Jackie and Sarah want to ensure that our campus community is well acquainted with and appreciative of our city partners—especially the businesses on Central and Main that are so intentionally connected to campus by the beautiful footbridge. Jackie and Sarah’s mission: to create a big, bold, visually old-fashioned welcome throughout our city.

The project includes two phases: the Welcome Window Project and the Back to the City Night. The Welcome Window Project involves local businesses painting their storefront windows. The goal is to provide an old-fashioned welcome for our students (especially our incoming students), the kind that says we’re glad you’re back, we appreciate you, and we hope you will get to know our businesses and think of Valley City as your city. Simple, yet impactful!

The Welcome Window Project will run from August 16–24 and conclude with the Back to the City Night when VCSU students, faculty, and staff will meet on the VCSU side of the footbridge and walk “Back to the City” to meet business owners and check out the many things our city offers. For more information about these events, please feel free to contact Jackie (jacqueline.owen@vcsu.edu) or Sarah (sarah.larsen@vcsu.edu) directly.

I am really excited about this event and the opportunity to enhance the relationships between “town and gown”— just like we do every day through the Gaukler Family Wellness Center, churches, internship experiences, participation with local service organizations, and more.

Let me give a special thank you to Natalie and Doreen Sayler at Central Avenue Pharmacy, who immediately embraced the idea and are busy planning ways to engage students inside the store August 24; Damon at Bong’s Bootery, who responded to our inquiry with “It’s a terrific project”; Mary Lee Nielson of the Quilted Ceiling for suggesting we make a large template of a Viking to make the stenciling of the logo easier; Dean at Valley Officeworks, who reminded our team that he is the go-to person for banners; Bryan Wolla at Blush Boutique, who immediately said, “I love the idea and am behind it 100%”; and Noelle at NuCara Pharmacy, who enthusiastically offered design ideas.

Thank you, city leaders and business owners for your positive energy. Community is a word that describes the quality of relationships, and our town shines bright in this regard.

I also wish to thank Jackie and Sarah for embracing the idea, garnering enthusiasm, and nurturing this grass-roots pop-up event. Their success is a clear sign that our leadership this year will benefit the campus and the community greatly.

One thing is for sure: August 24 will be another great day to be a Valley City business owner, community member, and, of course, a Viking!

Mills receives 'Difference Maker' award

Staff Senate representatives and employees in student affairs presented Brad Mills a Difference Maker award during an impromptu ceremony July 26.

Mills was nominated for the award by the Student Affairs employees. His nomination read, “Brad has provided excellent service, support, and teamship to the division of student affairs. We recognize the hard work and dedication that he has to trouble shooting and solving our technical issues, helping us generate ideas to for our programs/services, providing us with time-lines to when we can expect tasks to be completed, and keeping us well informed about progress. We value his sense of teamship and Viking pride, and we appreciate the collaborative spirit he brings to his work.”

Congratulations, Brad!

Drenth attends ceramic workshop

Brock Drenth, assistant professor of art, attended the ceramic workshop, “Pattern and Design in Clay,” with renowned artist Molly Hatch. The workshop took place at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Mont., July 5–7, 2017.

Drenth studied various decorative techniques to create surface designs on forms and how it affects the aesthetics of ceramics. Drenth created his designs using the elements of line, shape, color, and texture then transferred the designs onto his ceramic pieces. Once the designs were placed, he implemented a decorative technique that was presented in class. The decorative techniques that Drenth practiced include mishima slip inlay, sgraffito, stamping, and various resist techniques.

Viking Family Picnic scheduled August 15 - NOTE CHANGE IN DATE!

VCSU employees and their families are invited to the 3rd annual Viking Family Picnic on Tuesday, August 15, at Chautauqua Park in north east Valley City.

This event has swapped days with the Staff/Faculty Golf Scramble which will take place on Monday, August 14.

The fun begins at 4:30 with burgers and dogs off the grill at 5 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a pot luck dish - watch for an Outlook calendar invitation where you can respond indicating what you'd like to contribute and how many from your family will join in the festivities. Fun and games will be available and organized by VCSU Volleyball and Cross Country teams.

Thank you to our sponsors - Sodexo Food Service, Pepsi, Valley Office Works, Stoudt-Ross Ford, VCSU Century Club, and VCSU Volleyball and Cross Country teams.

If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Fairfield at 701.845.7102 or rhonda.fairfield@vcsu.edu.

Wear your VCSU name tag

As we prepare for the upcoming academic year, VCSU employees are encouraged to wear your name tag everyday.

If you need a nametag, check with your department chair. Nametags can be ordered at Allard Trophy in downtown Valley City.

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

Monday, July 31
Payday
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot

Tuesday, August 1
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, August 2
noon Kiwanis, VC Town & Country Club
5:30 5th Annual Gaylon Hansen Youth Outdoors Day, Valley City Trap and Skeet Club

Thursday, August 3
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Norway Room
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot

Friday, August 4

Saturday, August 5

Sunday, August 6

Monday, August 7
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot

Tuesday, August 8
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, August 9
noon Kiwanis, VC Town & Country Club

Thursday, August 10
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Norway Room
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot

Friday, August 11

Saturday, August 12

Sunday, August 13


Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.