This week's Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President’s Column: Working with and receiving support from Valley City community leaders
• VCSU to host Regional Science Olympiad Thursday
• “What in the World” group to address medical marijuana Thursday evening
• Celebrate 25 years of successful auctions with a Viking Gala!
• Blunck receives ‘Difference Maker’ award
• Tech Wars held on campus last Thursday
• 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: Working with and receiving support from Valley City community leaders

Greetings from Valley City State University!

As I write this column, the warmer temps are lifting the spirits of many. In fact, as soon as the temperature reached the mid-30s, it became common to see students walking across campus without coats and, in some cases, attire that most would think is more suited for summer! Spring activities continue to populate the calendar and daily life of campus, and from now until the end of the school year, students will be focused on completing the semester successfully while enjoying the warmer temps and longer days.

On Monday, March 18, I was honored and proud to represent VCSU in our budget presentation to the Senate Appropriations Committee in Bismarck. Just as it was with our House Appropriations testimony in mid-January, we received outstanding support from the Valley City community and region. This tremendous community backing sets VCSU apart and truly exemplifies the high level of mutual support and collaboration.

In Bismarck, I was joined by Dave Carlsrud, mayor of Valley City; Jennifer Feist, director of the Valley City–Barnes County Economic Development Corporation; Phil Mueller, alumnus, VCSU Foundation Board member and former District 24 state representative; Mary Lee Nielsen, alumna, former mayor, and director of the Valley City Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Ken Reid, Valley City businessperson and member of the City of Valley City visitors committee.

Also accompanying us were seven student representatives from VCSU Student Senate and four members of the President’s Cabinet and faculty. The senators serving on the Appropriations Committee were kind and welcoming to the VCSU contingent, and we shared with them our sincere thanks for their service and support of North Dakota higher education and VCSU.

In addition to the collaboration with our legislative efforts, I enjoy community support in the form of a monthly leadership team meeting that includes Mayor Carlsrud; Josh Johnson, superintendent of Valley City Public Schools; and Bill Carlblom, Barnes County commissioner. We discuss common issues and strategize on how we can work together synergistically. I value these meetings highly and appreciate the opportunity for gathering input and advice as we collectively problem-solve for the benefit of the university, the city, the school district, and county.

I have sincerely enjoyed meeting and getting to know our community leaders here in Valley City and much appreciate their assistance here and in Bismarck. The important work these folks do to help make VCSU and our city, region and state moving forward becomes clearer to me each day.

Go Vikings!

VCSU to host Regional Science Olympiad Thursday

Valley City State University will host a Regional Science Olympiad for teams of high school and middle school students on campus Thursday, March 28. About 450 students on 17 high school teams and 14 middle school teams will compete at VCSU.

The students will compete in 34 events—including Battery Buggy, Heredity, Roller Coaster, Water Quality, Herpetology, Mousetrap Vehicle, Disease Detectives, Circuit Lab, Crime Busters, Chemistry Lab, and Thermodynamics, among others.

The events are supervised by 25 VCSU faculty, staff, high school teachers, and volunteers from KLJ Engineering. In addition, 60 VCSU science students have volunteered to help at the competition. Teather Sundstrom, Ph.D., VCSU associate professor of chemistry, serves as coordinator for the Valley City Regional Science Olympiad.

Read more at www.vcsu.edu/news/10727/vcsu-to-host-regional-science-olympiad-on-march-28.

“What in the World” group to address medical marijuana Thursday evening

The “What in the World Is Going On?” organization will host a presentation, “The Ins and Outs of Cannabis and Medical Marijuana,” by holistic nurse Gail Pederson on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m. in Rhoades Science Center 102 on campus.

Pedersen, SPRN, HN-BC, will provide a brief history of cannabis and hemp, and define the differences between hemp CBD and medical cannabis CBD, THC and Terpenes. Side effects and medication interactions with the use of CBD and medical marijuana will also be addressed. The North Dakota Medical Marijuana Program will be outlined, including what qualifying conditions are approved for certification in North Dakota and how to apply to receive a medical card.

The presentation is open to the public free of charge.

Celebrate 25 years of successful auctions with a Viking Gala!

VCSU will celebrate the 25th annual scholarship auction, Friday, April 12, at the Valley City Eagles Club.

Our theme for this year’s auction is “Viking Gala.” Cost to attend is $45 per person, which includes both live and silent auctions, buffet dinner, two drink tickets and five chances to win $100.

The social hour and the silent auction begin at 5 p.m. A buffet dinner will be served from 6-8 p.m. The live auction will kick off at 7 p.m. This is your chance to bid on some great deals while contributing to a great cause.

Scholarships are vital to VCSU’s success and all proceeds from the auction go directly to V-500 and Century Club scholarships. The goal is to raise $85,000 this year for scholarships.

How can you help in the success of the auction?

• Donate a purchased item or handmade item for the live or silent auction
  
• Donate a bottle of wine valued at $20 or more for the Mystery Wine Table
  
• Purchase a ticket
  
• Attend the auction
  

To purchase tickets, stop by or call the VCSU Foundation Office at 701-845-7203.

Blunck receives ‘Difference Maker’ award

William Blunck, network administrator for technology services, received the “Difference Maker” award on March 25. He was nominated by Allen Memorial Library staff.

His nomination read, “Will has gone above and beyond to make sure our library technology is functioning the way we need it to; he’s always quick and pleasant, and he supports our library programs and activities too! We really appreciate the work he does, and we all agree that he is truly a Difference Maker.”

Congratulations, Will!

Tech Wars held on campus last Thursday

VCSU’s Computer Systems and Software Engineering Department (CSSE) and Jamestown Regional Entrepreneurial Center hosted Tech Wars on campus Thursday, March 21.

About 150 students on 45 teams competed by coding an arcade maze game using Scratch software by MIT (scratch.mit.edu). In addition to the competition, students heard from current and former VCSU students from the CSSE Department as well as Kurtis Foote from John Deere Seeding Group.

Participating schools this year included Montpelier, Jamestown, Northern Cass, Midkota, Kindred, Pingree-Buchanan, Edgeley, Fessenden-Bowdon, Medina, Gackle-Streeter, Griggs, Minnewaukan, West Fargo, West Fargo Sheyenne, and Fargo High.

A Northern Cass team took first place, with each member winning a $500 CSSE scholarship as well as a gaming headset. Second place went to Fargo North, and third place was awarded to a West Fargo Sheyenne team.

Sponsors for the event included Doosan DSIA, John Deere, Impact Dakota, and Friends of CSSE and VCSU.

Viking sports update

Softball
Sunday: VCSU 5, Dakota State 1; VCSU 6, Dakota State 0
The No. 11-ranked VCSU softball team improved its record to 22-1 overall with two wins over Dakota State on Sunday. The Vikings and Trojans will play a rematch Monday starting at 10 a.m. inside the Presentation College Dome.

Baseball
Sunday: VCSU 14, Dakota State 10; VCSU 10, Dakota State 1
The Viking baseball team swept its conference openers Sunday, defeating Dakota State twice during their games in Bellevue, Neb. VCSU and Dakota State play again at noon on Monday.

Golf
The VCSU golf team opens its spring season Monday and Tuesday at the 36-hole Midland Invite in Fremont, Neb.

Upcoming Events
March 25-26: Golf @ Midland Invite (Fremont, Neb.)
March 25: Softball vs. Dakota State, 10 a.m. (Presentation College Dome - Aberdeen, S.D.)
March 25: Baseball vs. Dakota State, 12 p.m. (Bellevue, Neb.)
March 30-31: Baseball @ Graceland University (Lamoni, Iowa)
March 30-31: Softball vs. Dickinson State (Time and location to be determined)

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

Monday, March 25
Viking golf @ Midland Invitational, Fremont, Neb.
10 a.m. and noon Viking softball vs. Dakota State, Presentation College Dome, Aberdeen, S.D.
noon Viking baseball vs. Dakota State, Bellevue, Neb.

Tuesday, March 26
Viking golf @ Midland Invitational, Fremont, Neb.
11 a.m. General Student Recital, Froemke Auditorium
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center Student Senate Room

Wednesday, March 27
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, March 28
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, March 29
Pay Day

Saturday, March 30
Viking baseball @ Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa (double header)
Viking softball vs. Dickinson State University, time and location TBD (double header)
5–7 p.m. Spaghetti and silent auction benefit for Seth Hanson, VCSU Student, Valley City Eagles Club

Sunday, March 31
11 a.m. Viking baseball @ Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa (double header)
1 p.m. Viking softball vs. Dickinson State University, (VCSU softball complex (double header)

Monday, April 1
April Fools’ Day

Tuesday, April 2
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center Student Senate Room

Wednesday, April 3
Fall registration begins for currently enrolled students
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, April 4
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 5

Saturday, April 6
Viking track and field @ University of LaCrosse Ashton May Invitational

Sunday, April 7
National Library Week
10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Sodexo Sunday brunch, Student Center Cafeteria

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