This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President's Column: Introduction of new staff
• Schumacher retirement party
• Klingenberg named Best of the Best
• Gjovik selected as NDACTE Teacher Educator of the Year
• Da Vinha publishes book
• Van Gijssel presents at PATT 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 3 p.m. the Friday before publication.

President's Column: Introduction of new staff

In my previous column, I introduced our new faculty members at Valley City State University. It is now my pleasure to introduce our new staff.

Brandon Bouma joins our football coaching staff as a graduate assistant. He graduated from Presentation College with a bachelor’s degree in business–sports administration. He was a member of the Presentation football team from 2013–17 and earned two NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards and three NSAA Academic All-Conference awards. For the past two summers, he worked with the Minnesota Twins and Delaware North as a concessions supervisor. Brandon is enrolled as a student in our Master of Arts in Teaching program.

Also joining our football coaching staff as a graduate assistant is Jacob Crawford. Jacob attended Montana Tech of the University of Montana in Butte on a full-tuition scholarship, earning a bachelor’s degree in business and information technology with an emphasis in marketing. He played in the USA Football All-American Bowl Game in Savannah, Ga. Following graduation, he played and coached football in Australia. “Tech,” Jacob’s miniature labradoodle, is a big part of his life. Jacob is a student in the Teaching and Technology Concentration of our Master of Education program.

Julie Crist joins VCSU as a member of our building services team. She and her husband moved to Tower City two years ago. Julie enjoys baking and cooking. Although I have not yet had a chance to sample her treats, I am sure her culinary arts degree guarantees a big smile for anyone fortunate enough to get a tasting! She also enjoys sewing, reading, and loves anything to do with fitness and strength building. I also happen to know that she is an excellent dog trainer.

Like Julie, LaVonne Hites has joined our building services team. LaVonne is the fourth oldest of 13 children. She has been married 34 years and has three beautiful daughters and seven grandchildren. She and her husband were dairy farmers for 14 years. Originally from Minnesota, LaVonne proudly declares that she loves North Dakota!

Shannon Hone joins our team as assistant registrar. A VCSU alumna with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Shannon grew up in Valley City. She enjoys traveling, gardening, music, the outdoors, and taking care of her three cats.

Rebekah Rye, our assistant athletic trainer, graduated from NDSU with a master’s degree in advanced athletic training. Originally from the Sioux Falls, S.D. area, Rebekah enjoys running, hiking, and camping. She has two sisters: one is a physical therapist and the other is the owner of a cake shop in Boston, Mass. Rebekah enjoys her six-month old Siberian husky puppy named Kaia.

Chad Smith, from Centerville, Mont., is a new assistant football coach. He attended Rocky Mountain College to study exercise science and coaching and play football. Following his college football career, Chad coached for four more years at Rocky Mountain College until he was hired as the head freshman coach at Williston High School. In 2015 Chad moved to Bismarck, where he coached for the University of Mary for two years. He also coached the Bismarck Bucks professional indoor football team this past spring.

Jordan Skaar relocated from his hometown of Trempealeau, Wis. (population 1,200), to join VCSU as our assistant women’s basketball coach. He was a college baseball pitcher at the University of Dubuque in Iowa. His professional background includes coaching basketball and baseball the past seven years and giving private basketball and baseball lessons the past five years. Jordan enjoys sports and the outdoors, including golf, fishing, hunting, softball, baseball, and other endeavors.

Dina Splettstoesser, also a member of our building services team, moved to Valley City in 2009. She has been married to her husband, Marvin, for 17 wonderful years and has four children and has “four of the greatest grandchildren anybody could ask for.” Dina was born and raised in California. Her family also includes three dogs, five gigantic goldfish, and a 13-lined ground squirrel named Alvin.

A lifelong resident of Valley City, Steven Thomas rounds out our friendly building services team. He graduated as a Hi-Liner in 2007 and became a Viking that same fall. A musician, Steven plays several instruments, including guitar, drums, and trumpet. He performed for several years as Frankie Valli in a touring Four Seasons tribute show, and perhaps you will remember him as a radio personality on Sundays on KOVC.

Vanessa Keeler-Johnson joins VCSU as women’s head basketball coach, replacing Jill DeVries, now our new athletic director. A native of Hartford, S.D., Keeler-Johnson comes to VCSU from Detroit Lakes Public Schools (Minn.) where she worked one year as head girls basketball coach and elementary reading specialist. Previously Keeler-Johnson was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) for three seasons. She played collegiate basketball for four seasons, including two at South Dakota State University and two at the University of Sioux Falls. Vanessa graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and earned a master’s in educational leadership from MSUM. Keeler-Johnson and her wife, Heather, have two sons: DJ (age 11) and Elliott (1).

Thank you for joining me in welcoming our new members to both the VCSU family and the greater Valley City community. They bring a wealth of experience, energy, and value to Valley City; they are another reason why it is a great day to be a Viking!

Schumacher retirement party

Please join us to honor Betty Kuss Schumacher as she retires from VCSU.

A retirement party will be held Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the VCSU Student Center Lounge.

Klingenberg named 'Best of the Best'

Erin Klingenberg, PhD; LPCC; NCC, Director of Counseling Services and Psychology Professor, has been named the Best Mental Health Professional in Valley City.

The Valley City Times Record "Best of Valley City" series is voted on by Times Record readers. The full list of winners will be announced in the Aug. 31 edition of the paper.

Congratulations, Erin!

Gjovik selected as NDACTE Teacher Educator of the Year

Peder Gjovik, Ph.D., co-director of the Don Mugan CTE Leadership Center, was selected as the North Dakota Association of Career and Technical Education Teacher Educator of the Year.

Gjovik, department chair and professor in the Department of Technology at VCSU, was presented with the award Aug. 8 at a professional development conference in Bismarck, N.D.

Da Vinha publishes book

Luis da Vinha, assistant professor of geography and political science, published a book titled Geographic Mental Maps and Foreign Policy Change: Re-Mapping the Carter Doctrine.

The book provides a contribution to the theoretical and empirical development of geographic mental maps as an analytical concept for international politics. It presents a theoretical framework for understanding how mental maps are employed in foreign policy decision-making. Da Vinha focuses on the development of the Carter Doctrine to identify and explain the mechanisms involved in driving foreign policy change.

Da Vinha will present his book in a session held at the VCSU library on Nov. 5.

The book was published by the European publishing house De Gruyter and is available at: www.amazon.com/Geographic-Mental-Foreign-Policy-Change/dp/3110521644/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503602944&sr=1-1&keywords=geographic+mental+maps+and+foreign+policy+change

Van Gijssel presents at PATT Conference

Hilde van Gijssel, Ph.D., professor of science, presented at the 34th Proceedings of the Pupils Attitudes Towards Technology (PATT) Conference in Philadelphia, Pa., in July.

This conference brought together people from at least eight different countries and showcased research done in the field of Technology Education. Van Gijssel presented data on the use of LEGO robotics in science courses. This research was performed as part the requirements of her Master in Education degree.

One item van Gijssel brought back to the VCSU campus is an innovative approach to formative assessment and peer assessment she hopes to implement in the science program at VCSU.

Viking sports update

Volleyball
Friday: Doane University 3, VCSU 2; Northwestern College 3, VCSU 0
Saturday: Dakota Wesleyan 3, VCSU 0; Dordt College 3, VCSU 0
The Viking volleyball team opened its season this past weekend with four matches at the Northwestern College Tournament in Orange City, Iowa. VCSU went 0-4 against a tough schedule, which included three matches against teams ranked in the Top 15 of the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Poll. VCSU is back in action Friday and Saturday with matches at the St. Olaf Tournament in Northfield, Minn.

Football
Vikings open season with Sept. 2 home game
The Valley City State football team is set to open the season this weekend by hosting Dickinson State University on Saturday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Tailgating and the Handy Hardware Fan Zone begin at 1 p.m.

Golf
VCSU begins season Wednesday at Jamestown
VCSU’s golf teams will be in action Wednesday at the Jamestown Fall Kickoff. The tournament will be played at the Jamestown Country Club.

Upcoming Events
Aug. 30: Golf @ Jamestown Fall Kickoff (Jamestown Country Club)
Sept. 1: Volleyball @ St. Olaf Tournament (Northfield, Minn.)
Sept. 2: Volleyball @ St. Olaf Tournament (Northfield, Minn.)
Sept. 2: Football vs. Dickinson State, 3 p.m.
Sept. 5: Volleyball @ University of Mary, 6 p.m.
Sept. 6: Volleyball vs. Concordia-Moorhead, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8: Cross Country @ MSUM Dragon Twilight

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

Monday, August 28
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot

Tuesday, August 29
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, August 30
Viking Golf at Jamestown Fall Kickoff, Jamestown Country Club
noon Kiwanis, VC Town & Country Club
9:30 p.m. to midnight VCAB sponsored Welcome Street Dance

Thursday, August 31
Payday
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Norway Room
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot
8:30-10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, September 1
Eid al-Adha begins at sundown
11 a.m. Viking volleyball vs. Martin Luther College, St. Olaf, Minn.
3 p.m. Viking volleyball vs Caroll College, St. Olaf, Minn.

Saturday, September 2
9 a.m. Viking volleyball vs. North Central University, Carleton, Minn.
1 p.m. Viking volleyball vs. Carleton College, Carleton, Minn.
3 p.m. Viking football vs. Dickinson State University, VCSU Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium

Sunday, September 3
VCAB sponsored Twins/Mall of America/Valley Fair Weekend to Minneapolis

Monday, September 4
Labor Day – no VCSU classes, offices closed
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot

Tuesday, September 5
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
6 p.m. Viking volleyball @ University of Mary, Bismarck, N.D. (TV coverage on BEK Price)

Wednesday, September 6
noon Kiwanis, VC Town & Country Club
7 p.m. Viking volleyball vs. Concordia College – Moorhead, Graichen Gymnasium

Thursday, September 7
Payday
VCAB sponsored live music by Haley Klinkhammer, Student Center Main Floor Lounge
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Norway Room
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot
8:30-10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, September 8
Viking cross country @ MSUM Dragon Twilight meet, Moorhead, Minn.

Saturday, September 9
Viking softball @ Lake Region State College, Devils Lake, N.D.
1 p.m. Viking football @ Hastings College, Hastings, Neb.

Sunday, September 10
Viking Golf, Dickinson State Invitational, Dickinson, N.D.