This week's Hotline! includes the following articles:

• Interim President Dahlberg to give all-campus address Tuesday
• Alumnus Tharaldson ’67 to do book-signing at fieldhouse on Tuesday
• Tickets still available for Employee Recognition Dinner Thursday
• Last call for Senior Awards Luncheon tickets
• Student Scholar Symposium winners announced
• Fairfield receives Difference Maker award
• 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.

Interim President Dahlberg to give all-campus address Tuesday

Margaret Dahlberg, VCSU interim president, will address the campus community on Tuesday, May 8, at 12:15 p.m. in Vangstad Auditorium.

She will share information on the 2018–19 and 2019–21 biennium budgets, provide an update on the presidential search, and deliver summer updates from Facilities Services and Technology Services. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.

Alumnus Tharaldson ’67 to do book-signing at fieldhouse on Tuesday

Gary Tharaldson, entrepreneur, hotel magnate and a 1967 VCSU graduate, will sign copies of his biography, “Open Secrets of Success: The Gary Tharaldson Story,” in the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 8.

Tharaldson will sign and give away 100 books to the first arrivals at the signing; more books will be available for $12.99 after that.

Described by Forbes magazine as North Dakota’s richest man, Tharaldson majored in business education at VCSU, did high school teaching and sold insurance before getting into the hotel and motel business. He purchased his first hotel, the Super 8 in Valley City, in 1982. By 2005 he had built and bought more than 400. In January 2018, he said he was still building 20 hotels every 15 months.

An avid softball player and sponsor, Tharaldson is a member of the National Softball Hall of Fame.

Tickets still available for Employee Recognition Dinner Thursday

Employees who have not secured their free or purchased ticket for the Employee Recognition Dinner on Thursday night should contact Rhonda Fairfield today (Monday), as there are a limited number of tickets still available.

The recognition dinner is scheduled for Thursday, May 10, with a social at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m.

Employees will be honored for years of service, Difference Maker awards, Staff Member of the Quarter awards, Anchor awards, faculty promotions and tenure, Faculty Excellence awards, Student Advocate awards, Teacher of the Year, and retirements.

Last call for Senior Awards Luncheon tickets

The Senior Awards Luncheon will be held in the Student Center cafeteria on Friday, May 11, at noon. Cost to attend is $10, which includes a lasagna meal served buffet style.

Ticket reservations close today, Monday, May 7, so contact Kim Hesch at 845-7303 or kim.hesch@vcsu.edu to reserve your spot.

Student Scholar Symposium winners announced

Winners of the annual Student Scholar Symposium held May 1 have been announced. The award-winners included:

• Best in Show: Chelsey Olauson, “A Rancher’s Quandary: Improving Pasture Utilization”
  
• Runners Up (tie): April Berntson, “Ozobot Story Map,” and Smith Tuya, Albert Schultz and Jarin Blumhagen, “Valley City Soccer Club Website”
  
• Viewer’s Choice Award: Kathleen Gallais, “The Effects of Kinesiology Tape on Ankle Proprioception in Collegiate Softball Players”

Fairfield receives Difference Maker award

Rhonda Fairfield, executive assistant to the president, received the Difference Maker Award on May 7. She was nominated by the Business Office and Employee Services.

The nomination read, “Rhonda always goes the extra mile and is willing to help any area on campus when needed. She serves on many committees, is a huge part of the employee recognition banquet, a volunteer for the VCSU Scholarship Auction, and so much more. She is a joy to work with and truly a VCSU Difference Maker.”

Viking sports update

Softball
NSAA Championships
Friday: Presentation College 3, VCSU 2; VCSU 9, Waldorf University 6
Saturday: VCSU 8, Presentation College 0; Dickinson State 10, VCSU 9
The Valley City State softball team went 2-2 at the NSAA Softball Conference Tournament in Aberdeen, S.D. VCSU is now 39-12 overall this season. The Vikings must wait and see if they’ll be selected for an at-large bid to the 40-team NAIA National Tournament. The national tournament qualifiers will be announced Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Baseball
NSAA Championships
Friday: Bellevue University 8, VCSU 6 (11 innings)
Saturday: VCSU 17, Viterbo University 13 (10 innings); University of Jamestown 9, VCSU 2
The Viking baseball team finished its season by going 1-2 at the NSAA Conference Tournament. Valley City State finishes the year with a 15-30 overall record.

Track & Field
VCSU junior Sayge McKrill qualified for nationals and set a new school record in women’s discus on Friday as the Viking track and field team competed at the NDSU Tune-Up Meet. The Vikings will wrap up the 2018 schedule with the NSAA Championships on Thursday and Friday in Madison, S.D. McKrill is one of seven Vikings athletes who have qualified thus far to compete at the national championships from May 24–26 in Gulf Shores, Ala. Results from the NDSU Tune-Up Meet can be found at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3036.

Golf
The VCSU golf teams finished the season earlier this week with the NSAA Spring Qualifier Tournament in Waverly, Iowa. VCSU’s men placed third of six teams, while the Viking women took sixth. Four VCSU men—Jared Lentz, Jeremie Pasitney, Cameron Rall and Kyle Wiebe—earned all-conference honorable mention. Results from the tournament can be found at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3025.

Upcoming Events
May 10–11: Track & Field @ NSAA Championships (Madison, S.D.)

What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

Monday, May 7

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

Wednesday, May 9
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, May 10
Viking track & field @ NSAA Championships (Madison, S.D.)
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
5:30 p.m. VCSU Employee Recognition Dinner, VCSU Cafeteria
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, May 11
Viking track & field @ NSAA Championships (Madison, S.D.)
noon VCSU Senior Honors Luncheon

Saturday, May 12
10 p.m. VCSU Commencement, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Sunday, May 13
Mother’s Day

Monday, May 14

Tuesday, May 15
Ramadan begins at sundown
Payday
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, May 16
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, May 17
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room

Friday, May 18

Saturday, May 19

Sunday, May 20

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