This week's Hotline! includes the following articles:

• Clark named ‘Staff Member of the Quarter’
• King to be recognized for helping preserve Northern Plains history
• Da Vinha presents paper at international studies conference
• 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.

Clark named ‘Staff Member of the Quarter’

Rick Clark, building services, was recently named “Staff Member of the Quarter.”

His nomination read, in part, “Rick is always pleasant and patient when we have issues or problems around the building. He is quiet but dedicated in some difficult circumstances and we just don't think he gets enough verbal recognition for his great attitude and willingness to help…. He is a real asset to the Facilities Services Maintenance Team.”

Congratulations, Rick!

King to be recognized for helping preserve Northern Plains history

Steven King, D.A., professor of social science, has been named 2019 recipient of the Distinguished Contribution to the Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Northern Plains Award. He will be recognized during the banquet at the Dakota Conference on the Northern Plains in Sioux Falls, S.D., on April 26.

King has been recognized for his commitment to encourage students to research and write papers for presentation at the Dakota Conference. A student from VCSU has received special recognition each of the last four years at the conference:

• 2015, Cassandra Reidburn, “The Politics of Flooding in North Dakota,” Western Studies Award
  
• 2016, Cassandra Reidburn, “Germans from Russia,” Best Paper
  
• 2017, Stephanie McCann, “The Heroes of Barnes County,” Western Studies Endowed Student Award
  
• 2018, Madeline Bennett, “North Dakota Agriculture During World War II: The Struggle to Feed an Army and a Nation,” Center for Western Studies Student Award

Da Vinha presents paper at international studies conference

Luis da Vinha, Ph.D., associate professor of geography and political science, presented a paper at the International Studies Association (ISA) 2019 Annual Convention held in Toronto, Canada, March 27-30.

Da Vinha’s presentation, titled “Beyond the Cybernetic Model: Continuity and Change in the Obama Administration’s Middle East Policy,” disputed traditional rational choice approaches to foreign policy-making and argued in favor of employing the theoretical insight of the emergent change approach in order to reevaluate the Obama administration’s Middle East policy.

Da Vinha (center) is pictured with fellow presenters Jan Claudius Voelkel (left), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and Doreen Horschig, University of Central Florida.

Viking sports update

Softball
March 25: VCSU 7, Dakota State 3; VCSU 8, Dakota State 1
March 31: VCSU 8, Dickinson State 0; VCSU 6, Dickinson State 2
The VCSU softball team remained perfect to start conference play, moving to 6-0 in the North Star after a doubleheader sweep of Dickinson State on Sunday. The Vikings are currently 26-1 overall and ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. The Vikings host Dickinson State for two more games Monday starting at 1 p.m. on the VCSU football turf.

Baseball
March 25: VCSU 2, Dakota State 1; Dakota State 4, VCSU 3
The Valley City State baseball team is now 7-11 overall and 3-1 in the North Star after its conference-opening series against Dakota State. VCSU’s games this past weekend were canceled due to rain. The Vikings are scheduled to play Bellevue University on April 5-6.

Golf
The VCSU men’s golf team opened the spring season by placing 6th of 14 teams at the Midland University Invite March 25-26 in Fremont, Neb. Collin Hoss was the top individual Viking with a 15th-place finish. View complete results at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3347.

Upcoming Events
April 1: Softball vs. Dickinson State, 1/3 p.m. (VCSU football turf)
April 3: Baseball @ University of Minnesota-Morris, 2 p.m. (Morris, Minn.)
April 5: Baseball vs. Bellevue University, 2/5 p.m. (TBD)
April 6: Baseball vs. Bellevue University, 12/3 p.m. (TBD)
April 6: Track & Field @ University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (La Crosse, Wis.)
April 6: Softball vs. Bellevue University, 1/3 p.m.
April 7: Softball vs. Bellevue University, 1/3 p.m.

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

Monday, April 1
April Fools’ Day
1 and 3 p.m. Viking softball vs. Dickinson State, Shelley Ellig Field

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
2 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Minnesota-Morris, Morris, Minn.
7:30 p.m. Brass and media concert featuring Dr. Ronnie Ingle and Dr. Mike Hall, Froemke Auditorium

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
2 and 5 p.m. Viking Baseball vs. Bellevue University, location TBD

Saturday, April 6
Viking track and field @ University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Ashton May Invitational, La Crosse, Wis.
Just For Kix Together We Dance competition, Hi-Liner Activity Center
9–11 a.m. District 24 Legislative Forum, Valley City Eagles Club
noon and 3 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Bellevue University, location TBD
1 and 3 p.m. Viking softball vs. Bellevue University, location TBD

Sunday, April 7
National Library Week
10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Sodexo Sunday brunch, Student Center Cafeteria
1 and 3 p.m. Viking softball vs. Bellevue University, location TBD

Monday, April 8
Spring Blast Week

Tuesday, April 9
noon Interviewing Workshop, Student Center Norway Room
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center Student Senate Room

Wednesday, April 10
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, April 11
Region V and Region II Music Contests on VCSU campus
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 12
Viking Visit Day
VCSU Scholarship Auction, 5 p.m. social and silent auction, 6 p.m. buffet dinner, 7 p.m. live auction, Valley City Eagles Club
7:30 p.m. Broadway Bound, Foss Hall Froemke Auditorium

Saturday, April 13

Sunday, April 14
Palm Sunday

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