This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles …

• President’s Column: Celebrating all for which we are thankful
• VCSU at NDSU elementary education seniors host science fair
• KDP initiation held Nov. 3
• Aalgaard Kelly presents at sociology conference
• Reule presents at NCA conference in Baltimore
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City …

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

President’s Column: Celebrating all for which we are thankful

Greetings from Valley City State University!

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and express appreciation. With this important holiday upon us, I’d like to take a few moments to share our appreciation for the gifts we enjoy at Valley City State University. These gifts help us fulfill our mission for the benefit of our students, faculty, staff, community, and state, and we are so grateful for the partnerships that make it all possible.

I’d like to begin with a personal thank you to both the local and campus communities for your continued support and welcoming spirit. We truly enjoy a wonderful mutually supportive relationship. We’re especially thankful for this relationship and our collaboration, working together to strengthen our university and the region.

The support of so many individuals is making a difference for VCSU and our students. With over $1.72 million in scholarship allocations this past year, we recognize a clear correlation with our enrollment growth and the stability and retention of our students. The support we receive helps our students succeed and attain their goal of a university education. I’ve also heard from faculty, staff, and community members alike of the noticeable increase in student involvement on campus and in the community.

Site preparation for the new arts center has begun, and we again express our thanks to the North Dakota Legislature and Governor Burgum for making this possible. The first completely new academic building on our campus in more than 45 years, the center will serve the campus and community as a tremendous instructional facility and an outstanding venue for guest speakers, performances, competitions, and arts events at all levels. We are all very excited to see the project get underway, with construction scheduled to begin in spring 2020.

On behalf of the students, staff, and faculty of Valley City State University, we wish you all a wonderful and enjoyable Thanksgiving! Enjoy this time of gathering and giving thanks for family, friends, and community, and may we all look forward to continued collaboration for years to come!

Go Vikings!

VCSU at NDSU elementary education seniors host science fair

VCSU at NDSU elementary education seniors put on a science fair at Bennett Elementary School in Fargo on the morning of Oct. 29. Teacher candidates currently enrolled in EDUC 355 Science Methods for Elementary Teachers, under the instruction of Yvonne Cannon, designed projects within an inquiry-based instructional approach. This strategy emphasizes critical thinking and effective questioning techniques. University students based their project implementation upon the scientific method and embedded the 5-E instructional model within their planning and presentations.

At the fair, Bennett Elementary students interacted with VCSU teacher candidates through scientific questions, explorations, and simulations in a fun and creative environment. The goal was to develop a curiosity for science, as well as an overall inspiration for learning. Cannon worked with Sara Schafer, Bennett Elementary principal, to facilitate the fair. Both Cannon and Schafer are both VCSU alumnae from the class of 1989.

KDP initiation held Nov. 3

Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, held its annual initiation on Sunday, Nov. 3, in the Student Center Skoal Room at VCSU.

The initiation was highlighted by Samantha Isane, an alumna who teaches at Cheney Middle School in West Fargo, and Courtney Bubach a VCSU student currently student teaching in Valley City Public Schools.

To be a member of Kapp Delta Pi, candidates must be juniors with a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA and be admitted to teacher education. Sixteen new members were initiated into Kappa Delta Pi: Taylor Aberle, Brianna Baer, Megan Billadeau, Brenna Dieterle, Breanna Dockter, Elizabeth Holzer, Joslyn Hoyt, Abigail Jarrett, Jordyn Kelly, Madesta Keyes, Maya Kjelland, Madi Lura, Makayla Ptacek, Emily Skrypek, Victoria Vollmer and Courtney Werstein.

This year’s KDP Council included: April Berntson, president; Sasha Hyatt, vice president, Ana Wermager, secretary; Dominic Spooner, treasurer; and Abby Rogish, fundraiser. Current Kappa Delta Pi advisors are Kathleen Bennett Zaun, Yvonne Cannon, Harmony Richman and Abigail Bremer.

The mission of Kappa Delta Pi is to sustain an honored community of diverse educators by promoting excellence and advancing scholarship, leadership, and service. The vision of Kappa Delta Pi is to help committed educators be leaders in improving education for global citizenship. Kappa Delta Pi at VCSU was reinstated in 2015.

Aalgaard Kelly presents at sociology conference

Gina Aalgaard Kelly, Ph.D., professor of social science and director of grants, presented “Cultural Competency of Underage and Adult-Binge Drinking in Rural North Dakota” on Nov. 6 at the Great Plains Sociological Association Conference at the Sanford Research Center, Sioux Falls, S.D. The conference theme was “Exploring Human Populations.”

Reule presents at NCA conference in Baltimore

Jonna Reule, Ph.D., associate professor of communication, recently presented at the National Communication Association annual conference, themed “Communication for Survival,” held in Baltimore, Md., Nov. 13-17.

Reule presented “Surviving Plagiarism: Student Motivations and Instructor Strategies” and “Surviving the Online Course: Best Practices in Course Design and Instruction.” While at the conference, she also attended sessions and met with state and national colleagues.

Viking sports update

Robinson hired as interim head track & field coach
VCSU athletic director Jill DeVries announced Friday that Laquone Robinson has been named interim head coach of the Viking track and field and cross country programs. Robinson is currently a full-time assistant track and field coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He will start at Valley City State on Dec. 1. Read more at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3605.

Women’s Basketball
Tuesday: Bemidji State 62, VCSU 46 (Exhibition game)
Saturday: Dakota Wesleyan 93, VCSU 66
The Viking women’s basketball team is now 2-4 overall this season. The Vikings are back in action Tuesday night with an exhibition game at Minot State University.

Upcoming Events
Nov. 26: WBB/MBB @ Minot State University, 5:30/7:30 p.m.
Nov. 29-Dec. 1: Men’s Basketball @ Panama City, Fla.

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

Monday, November 25
Small Business Week kicks off in Valley City (Nov. 25 – Dec. 2)
6 p.m. Big Buck Contest, Valley City Eagles Club

Tuesday, November 26
11 a.m. Freshmen Recital, Froemke Auditorium
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center
5:30 p.m. Viking women’s basketball @ Minot State University, Minot, N.D.
7:30 p.m. Viking men’s basketball @ Minot State University, Minot, N.D.
6:30 p.m. In Knots Crochet club, VCBC public library

Wednesday, November 27
No VCSU classes
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, November 28
Thanksgiving Day
No VCSU classes
Offices closed

Friday, November 29
No VCSU classes
Payday
Viking men’s basketball @ Panama City, Fla. Gulf Coast State College tournament

Saturday, November 30
Viking men’s basketball @ Panama City, Fla. Gulf Coast State College tournament
Valley City Tour of Snowmen at businesses around Valley City (Nov. 30 through Dec. 23
4 p.m. Valley Troubadours Annual Christmas Concert, Epworth United Methodist Church, Valley City, N.D.

Sunday, December 1
Viking men’s basketball @ Panama City, Fla. Gulf Coast State College tournament

Monday, December 2

Tuesday, December 3
11 a.m. General Student Recital, Froemke Auditorium
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center
6:30 p.m. In Knots Crochet club, VCBC public library

Wednesday, December 4
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
3 to 5 p.m. VCSU campus holiday open house, Student Center Skoal Room

Thursday, December 5
6 p.m. Parade of Lights, Central Avenue, Valley City, N.D.
7:30 p.m. Christmas at St. Catherine’s Church concert

Friday, December 6

Saturday, December 7
5:30 p.m. V-500 Recognition Dinner
7:30 p.m. EBC Fraternity Alumni Committee presents the 24th Annual “We’re in the Christmas Mood,” Vangstad Auditorium

Sunday, December 8

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