This week's Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President’s Column: A well-timed Arizona visit
• Give to VCSU on Giving Hearts Day!
• Career and internship fair to be held tomorrow, Feb. 12
• Black history exhibit, presentation to be held on campus Wednesday
• Owen to speak on gifted and talented education at museum on Feb. 21
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every Monday. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. the Friday before publication.

President’s Column: A well-timed Arizona visit

Greetings from the President’s Office!

What a tough stretch of weather we’ve been dealing with these past few weeks! I’d like to express my deepest appreciation to all of the folks who keep the sidewalks, roads and highways clear during this time of year. They help us all maintain our schedules and allow us to get to work and keep moving forward.

I also wish to thank the students, faculty and staff for your flexibility and understanding during the storm closures we’ve endured lately. I’m sure it’s difficult to accomplish everything when the schedule is so adversely affected by weather.

Recently we had a very successful visit to Arizona (good timing, right?) to meet with several alumni and friends of VCSU in groups and personal visits. Larry Robinson and Kim Hesch from the VCSU Foundation Office, along with Larry Grooters, former coach and dean of the School of Education, and I had a wonderful opportunity to visit and reconnect with alumni of all ages from January 31 to February 3.

We had gatherings in Peoria, Mesa, Viewpoint, and Sun Lakes. I sincerely enjoyed meeting and visiting with so many wonderful alumni and former faculty and coaches. The stories and memories shared were so very special to hear and echoed a common theme of appreciation for time spent at VCSU.

Providing academic and social preparation for a career and life are at the core of what we do in academia. Seeing the lasting results and lifelong friendships that develop during the university years is gratifying indeed. For me, it was simply a tremendous opportunity to meet and get to know so many folks, and to share our success stories and plans for the future. I look forward to getting to know everyone better in the days, months and years to come.

As we move forward this semester, we continue to engage in activities that will help take the institution forward: work with the legislature to share our vision and garner important financial support for the institution, meeting with all academic units on campus, exploration of revised and new curricular programs for our students, efforts to increase our scholarship awards to attract and retain high-quality students and address the financial needs of our entire student population, opportunities for student leadership and campus involvement, and athletic success.

I look forward to sharing details on these activities as we move ahead. In the meantime, stay warm. Go Vikings!

Give to VCSU on Giving Hearts Day!

On Thursday, Feb. 14, the VCSU Foundation will be one of more than 400 charities participating in Giving Hearts Day.

On Thursday, Feb. 14, donate $10 or more to the VCSU Foundation at https://impactgiveback.org/app/#/charity/383, and your donation will be matched up to $5,000!

If you would prefer to write a check, you may also drop your donation off before 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the VCSU Foundation to be included as part of our Giving Hearts Day goal.

Giving Hearts Day gifts made to the VCSU Foundation’s Annual Fund help support scholarships and other Alumni Association initiatives, including The Bulletin, alumni socials, reunion events and alumni award programs.

The matching gift has been provided by Ludvigson, Braun & Co.—Matt Pedersen.

Career and internship fair to be held tomorrow, Feb. 12

Valley City State University and University of Jamestown are joining forces once again for a career and internship fair this Tuesday, Feb. 12. The event will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the VCSU Student Center.

There will be 28 employers and graduate schools in attendance, recruiting from many academic areas. Professional headshots will be available for those attending the fair.

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are encouraged to attend.

Black history exhibit, presentation to be held on campus Wednesday

“A Tribute to the African-American Journey”—a traveling exhibit from the True Black History Museum in Troy, Michigan—will be hosted in the Student Center lounge on campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. That afternoon, museum founder Fred Saffold III will speak on the African-American experience at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center Skoal Room.

The exhibit features more than 150 artifacts and original documents dating from the late 1600s through the 21st century from historic figures such as Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Angela Davis, Martin Luther King Jr., President Barack Obama, and many other African-Americans.

Read more at www.vcsu.edu/news/10710/black-history-exhibit-and-presentation-to-be-held-on-campus-feb-13.

Owen to speak on gifted and talented education at museum on Feb. 21

Jackie Owen, M.Ed., M.S., VCSU Learning Center coordinator, will present “Gifted and Talented Education: Why We Need It” on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Barnes County Museum.

Owen will discuss the characteristics and needs of gifted and talented students, and why gifted education should be a part of school systems. The presentation will be geared towards parents, educators, administrators, and pre-service teachers.

Part of season 20 of the Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series, the event is open to the public free of charge.

Viking sports update

Women’s Basketball
Friday: VCSU 66, Viterbo University 45
Saturday: VCSU 70, Waldorf University 60
The Viking women won both their conference games this week, improving to 13-11 overall and 10-3 in conference play. VCSU will conclude the conference season by hosting Mayville State on Saturday, with the winner earning at least a share of the conference championship.

Men’s Basketball
Tuesday: VCSU 102, Trinity Bible College 64
Friday: VCSU 89, Viterbo University 78
Saturday: VCSU 75, Waldorf University 71
The VCSU men’s basketball team posted a 3-0 record this week, including a pair of conference wins. The Vikings are now 8-17 overall and 4-9 in conference play.

Track & Field
VCSU’s track and field team competed at the large SDSU Indoor Classic this past weekend in Brookings, S.D. It was the final tune-up for the Vikings before the NSAA Indoor Track & Field Conference Championships, which will be held this Saturday in Brookings.

Softball
Saturday: VCSU 4, Dakota Wesleyan 0; VCSU 7, Presentation College 4
Sunday: VCSU 5, University of Jamestown 1; VCSU 13, Dakota State 4
The Valley City State softball team opened the 2019 season by going 4-0 at the PC Dome Classic. The No. 25-ranked Vikings defeated No. 24-ranked University of Jamestown to highlight the weekend.

Upcoming Events
Feb. 13: WBB/MBB vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 6/8 p.m.
Feb. 15: Softball @ PC Dome Classic, 10 a.m./3 p.m.
Feb. 16: Track & Field @ NSAA Indoor Conference Championships (Brookings, S.D.)
Feb. 16: WBB/MBB vs. Mayville State, 3/5 p.m.
Feb. 16: Softball @ PC Dome Classic, 5/7 p.m.

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

Monday, February 11
ON THE MOVE activities:
11:30 a.m. Walk Away the Pounds, Hi-Liner Activity Center
1-4 p.m. Free admission, B-Fit 24/7

Tuesday, February 12
11 a.m.-2 p.m. VCSU/UJ Career & Internship Fair, VCSU Student Center
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center Student Senate Room
ON THE MOVE activities:
11:30 a.m. Walk Away the Pounds, Hi-Liner Activity Center
1-4 p.m. Free admission, B-Fit 24/7

Wednesday, February 13
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Knitting Day, Allen Memorial Library
6 p.m. Viking women’s basketball vs. Dakota Wesleyan University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
8 p.m. Viking men’s basketball vs. Dakota Wesleyan University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
ON THE MOVE Activities:
All day Walk It Wednesday, Gaukler Family Wellness Center
10:15 a.m. Aqua Fit, Gaukler Family Wellness Center
4:30 p.m. Cycling, Gaukler Family Wellness Center
1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Free admission, B-Fit 24/7
11:30 a.m. Concept cooking class: Comforting Casseroles, Gaukler Family Wellness Center (call 701-845-3294 to register)

Thursday, February 14
Valentine’s Day
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
ON THE MOVE activities:
11:30 a.m. Walk Away the Pounds, Hi-Liner Activity Center
1-4 p.m. Free admission, B-Fit 24/7

Friday, February 15
Pay Day
Viking softball @ Presentation College Dome Tournament, Aberdeen, S.D.
Viking women’s and men’s track and field @ NSAA Indoor Conference Championships, Brookings, S.D.
7:30 p.m. Rochelle Van Bruggen senior recital, Vangstad Auditorium
ON THE MOVE activities:
Freebie Friday, Gaukler Family Wellness Center
1-4 p.m. Free admission, B-Fit 24/7

Saturday, February 16
30th Annual North Dakota State Pinochle Tournament, Valley City Eagles Club, Valley City, N.D.
Viking softball @ Presentation College Dome Tournament, Aberdeen, S.D.
3 p.m. Viking women’s basketball vs. Mayville State University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
5 p.m. Viking men’s basketball vs. Mayville State University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Sunday, February 17
30th Annual North Dakota State Pinochle Tournament, Valley City Eagles Club, Valley City, N.D.
Random Acts of Kindness Week

Monday, February 18
President’s Day Observed
No VCSU classes – offices closed

Tuesday, February 19
11 a.m. General student recital, Froemke Auditorium
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center Student Senate Room

Wednesday, February 20
10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Engineering, Design, Science, and Technology Expo, Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Knitting Day, Allen Memorial Library
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, February 21
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, February 22
7:30 p.m. Choral concert, Vangstad Auditorium

Saturday, February 23
Viking softball @ Minot State Dome Tournament, Minot, N.D.
NDFMC Festival, Froemke Auditorium

Sunday, February 24
Viking softball @ Minot State Dome Tournament, Minot, N.D.

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