This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• NDUS launches search for next VCSU president
• Student Scholar Symposium to be held May 1
• Employee Recognition Dinner to be held May 10
• Ziniel attends communication conference
• 65 third-grade students visit campus
• Exercise Science Club celebrates Earth Day
• 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.

NDUS launches search for next VCSU president

The North Dakota University System has launched a search for the next president of Valley City State University.

The new VCSU president will succeed Tisa Mason, who departed Valley City in December 2017 to assume the presidency of Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas.

Margaret Dahlberg, VCSU vice president for academic affairs, has been serving as interim president since Dec. 16, 2017, by appointment of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.

Co-chairing the VCSU Presidential Search Committee are Greg Stemen, SBHE member and VCSU alumnus, and Wesley Wintch, VCSU vice president for business affairs. Other committee members include:

• Anthony Dutton, associate professor of history, VCSU
  
• Jody Henjum, administrative assistant, academic affairs, VCSU
  
• Paige Meyer, undergraduate student, VCSU
  
• Jerry Migler, dean, Dakota College of Bottineau (NDUS representative)
  
• Phil Mueller, member, VCSU Foundation Board; former North Dakota state representative
  
• Mike Nix, director for technology service desk, VCSU
  
• Steve Rindfleisch, graduate student and assistant volleyball coach, VCSU
  
• Larry Robinson, executive director of advancement, VCSU Foundation; North Dakota state senator
  
• Charlene Stenson, director for enrollment services, VCSU
  
• Jamie Wirth, assistant professor and director of Great Plains STEM Education Center, VCSU

VCSU and NDUS have retained AGB Search, a national higher education leadership search firm, to assist in the process.

More information about the search can be found at www.vcsu.edu/presidentialsearch.

Nominations and applications for the VCSU presidency should be sent electronically (in Word or PDF format) to valleycitypresident@agbsearch.com. To assure best consideration, nominations and applications should be received by July 12, 2018.

Student Scholar Symposium to be held May 1

VCSU undergraduate students will share their best academic work and their talents with the campus community at the annual Student Scholar Symposium on Tuesday, May 1, from 11 a.m–noon in the VCSU Student Center.

Students typically display their academic work using wall posters, tri-fold table boards and computers, and then present to judges consisting of VCSU faculty, staff and administration. This year some distance students will present via Skype.

Judging criteria includes content, appearance and rigor of student academic work. Monetary awards are given to the top three students with the highest judges’ ratings, and the top 20 percent of students are recognized with Honorable Mention.

Please come to the symposium in support of student scholarship at VCSU!

Employee Recognition Dinner to be held May 10

The annual VCSU Employee Recognition Dinner will be held Thursday evening, May 10, in the Student Center cafeteria.

Each VCSU employee is offered one free ticket and may purchase additional tickets in the Business Office or at the Student Center Information Desk. Tickets will be available April 25 through May 3. Those being recognized will be contacted by event coordinator Rhonda Fairfield with their tickets.

The following honors will be recognized:

Retirements

• Alice Beauchman
  
• Lana Fornes
  
• Donna James
  
• Ron Pommerer
  
• Robert Rohla
  
• Betty Schumacher

Years of Service
35 Years of Service

• Irene Groth

30 Years of Service

• Bonita Pickar

20 Years of Service

• Diane Olson

15 Years of Service

• Keith Biggers

10 Years of Service

• Jerzy Bilski
  
• Leslie Kalmbach
  
• Paula Larson
  
• Misty Lindgren
  
• Loree Morehouse
  
• Tammy Peterson
  
• Tara Praska
  
• Jamie Wirth
  
• Jonna Ziniel

5 Years of Service

• Kari Bodine
• Anna Bratsch
• Emily Fenster
• Morgan Keasler
• Samuel Keasler
• Jennifer Larson
• Mark Potts
• Bonita Roswick
• Kevin Tulp
• Brenda Tyre
• Greg Vanney

Student Senate Student Advocate Award

• Pat Egeberg
  
• Erin Klingenberg

Student Senate Teacher of the Year

• Kathryn Woehl

“Difference Maker” Recipients

• Brad Mills
  
• Keith Biggers
  
• Jackie Owen

“Staff Member of the Quarter” Recipients

• Marcia Pritchert
  
• Irene Groth
  
• Bridget Blunck
  
• Mark Potts

Facilities Services Anchor Award Recipients

• Dina Splettstoesser
  
• Jay Komrosky
  
• Loren Lemer
  
• Scott Anderson
  
• Rick Clark
  
• Patsy Winker
  
• Julie Crist
  
• Linda Trzpuc

Degree or Certification Completion

• Jeff Moser

Faculty Receiving Promotion for 2018–19 Academic Year

• James Boe
  
• Luis da Vinha
  
• Jeffrey Moser
  
• Christopher Redfearn
  
• Teather Sundstrom

Faculty Recommended for Tenure Effective in the 2018–19 Academic Year
(Yet to be announced)

Faculty Excellence Awards
(Yet to be announced)

Ziniel attends communication conference

Jonna Ziniel, Ph.D., professor in the Communication Arts Department, attended the Central States Communication Association Conference in Milwaukee, Wis., April 5–7. She presented as part of the panel titled “Teaching Privilege to Midwestern Students.” She also met with several North Dakota colleagues to discuss details for the upcoming CSTAND (Communication, Speech, and Theatre Association of North Dakota) conference and plan for other events.

65 third-grade students visit campus

As part of the Viking Ambassador pen-pal program, 65 third-grade students and their teachers from Jefferson Elementary visited campus on April 17. Each year, the Ambassadors write to third-grade pen pals in Valley City and an additional school on a monthly basis. Edgeley was the second school this year.

This form of communication between third graders and VCSU students offers an opportunity for them to ask questions about VCSU or college in general. When visiting campus each spring, they are able to see some of the things that they wrote back and forth about during the school year. Students enjoyed a tour of campus, photo with Viktor the Viking, reading a story and coloring in the library, and a mini-concert performed by the Jazz Band.

Exercise Science Club celebrates Earth Day

In celebration of Earth Day (April 22), the VCSU Exercise Science Club encouraged VCSU students, faculty and staff to plant their own seeds to grow by hosting a planting table in the Student Center on Friday, April 20.

There were many different seeds available, including herbs, flowers, and vegetables. Participants could plant their own seeds and take the planters home to grow on their windowsills. The club also shared some facts about Earth Day and offered a QR code that could be scanned for additional Earth Day information. Also provided were examples of how some items can easily be recycled and used for other things instead of simply throwing them away!

Funding for the project came from a grant from the President’s Office and the Environmental Task Force.

Viking sports update

Softball
Monday: VCSU 8, Dakota State 0; Dakota State 4, VCSU 3
Friday: VCSU 4, Presentation College 2; VCSU 5, Presentation 1
Saturday: VCSU 7, Waldorf University 5; VCSU 9, Waldorf 6
The Viking softball team went 4-0 this past weekend and 5-1 on the week as the Vikings improved their season record to 33-10 overall and 16-5 in the NSAA. VCSU will host Mayville State on Saturday in Valley City.

Baseball
Friday: Presentation College 2, VCSU 1 (13 innings); VCSU 5, Presentation College 2
The Viking baseball team split a doubleheader Friday at Presentation College. VCSU (13-21, 7-9 NSAA) plays its first home games of the year today at 12 p.m. against Waldorf University.

Track & Field
Three more Vikings qualified for nationals and two more school records fell this weekend as the VCSU track and field team competed at a pair of meets on Friday. Kyle Odegard and Garret Roemmich punched their tickets to the NAIA National Championships with qualifying throws in men's javelin, while Megan Johnson qualified for nationals and set a new school record in the women's long jump. A second school record also fell as Sayge McKrill recorded the top women's discus throw in school history. Read more at: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3009.php

Upcoming Events
April 23: Baseball vs. Waldorf University, 12/2:30 p.m. (Valley City)
April 25: Baseball vs. Minnesota-Morris, 2/4 p.m. (Valley City)
April 25: Track & Field @ Concordia, 3 p.m. (Moorhead, Minn.)
April 27: Baseball vs. Mayville State, 4/6:30 p.m. (Valley City)
April 28: Softball vs. Mayville State, 1/3 p.m. (Valley City)
April 28: Track & Field @ MSU-Moorhead, 10 a.m. (Moorhead, Minn.)
April 28: Baseball @ Mayville State, 2/4:30 p.m. (Mayville)
April 29: Softball @ Mayville State, 1/3 p.m. (Mayville)

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

Monday, April 23
Viking golf at NSAA Spring Qualifier, Wedgewood Cove Golf Course, Albert Lea, Minn.
noon and 3:30 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Waldorf, Charlie Brown Field

Tuesday, April 24
Viking golf at NSAA Spring Qualifier, Wedgewood Cove Golf Course, Albert Lea, Minn.
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, April 25
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
2 and 4 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Minnesota-Morris, Charlie Brown Field
3 p.m. Viking track and field @ Concordia, Moorhead, Minn.

Thursday, April 26
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, April 27
4 and 6:30 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Mayville State University, Charlie Brown Field
7:30 p.m. Instrumental concert, Vangstad auditorium

Saturday, April 28
Superhero Fun Run, Walk, and Stroller Roll, Pioneer Park
10 a.m. Viking track and field @ MSU-Moorhead, Moorhead, Minn.
1 and 3 p.m. Viking softball vs. Mayville State University, VCSU softball complex
2 and 4:30 p.m. Viking baseball @ Mayville State University, Mayville, N.D.

Sunday, April 29
1 and 3 p.m. Viking Softball @ Mayville State University, Mayville, N.D.

Monday, April 30
Payday

Tuesday, May 1
11 a.m. General student recital, Froemke auditorium
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
5–7 p.m. Kiwanis Annual Pancake Supper, VCHS Cafeteria

Wednesday, May 2
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, May 3
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky's Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Norway Room
7:30 p.m. Composition recital, Froemke auditorium
8:30-10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, May 4

7:30 p.m. Choir concert, Vangstad auditorium

Saturday, May 5
Cinco de Mayo

Sunday, May 6

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