This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles …

• President’s column: Arizona visits with alumni and friends
• Science Seminar on Wednesday to highlight student research
• Make a Giving Hearts Day gift on Thursday
• Science Seminar on Wednesday to highlight student research
• Cannon contributes to Praxis reading specialist test review
• 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: Arizona visits with alumni and friends

Greetings from Valley City State University!

As I compose this message, the sun is shining bright, the skies are blue, and the temperature is a brisk 5 below zero. It’s hard to imagine, just a week ago, several of us were meeting with alumni and friends in Arizona, where the temps were in the low 70s.

Each year the VCSU Foundation and Alumni Office spends a few days meeting and greeting alumni and friends of the university who choose to spend a part, or all, of their winter in the Southwest. I recall, from my graduate school days at Arizona State, the vast increase in population during the winter months. Even though I’m not much of a golfer, the courses would get significantly busier, along with restaurants, streets, and freeways — the increase in license plates from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota was noticeable. Affectionately referred to as “snowbirds,” these folks find many activities in which to participate and maintain very busy schedules while escaping some of the weather back home for a few months.

Our schedule included meetings and gatherings over four days, ending with a Sunday brunch in Sun Lakes. We began with an informal gathering at the home of Bob and Deanne Horne. (Both Bob and Deanne formerly taught here, and Bob previously served as foundation executive and now serves as a foundation board member.) Also joining us that evening were Nancy King, Judy Mathias and Dr. Larry “Buck” Grooters.

On Friday we met with a group of 15 in Peoria, and Saturday took us back to Mesa to meet with a larger gathering at Viewpoint. Bringing folks together like this provides an annual reunion of sorts, but it also gives us an opportunity to share some of the exciting things happening on campus and in the community of Valley City. We talked about our enrollment trends, budget, student and athlete success, construction progress, and plans for moving forward and addressing emerging facility and campus infrastructure needs.

This was a wonderful time to reconnect with our alumni and friends and to get to know them better, to hear their stories and understand what an important role VCSU played, and continues to play, in many of their lives. It made us all proud to be associated with this wonderful school and excited for our future. I sincerely appreciate the efforts of Larry Robinson and Kim Svennigsen-Hesch for their outstanding work in organizing and hosting these events.

Reflecting back on the license plate comment: I was a little amazed on the trip back to the airport. As we were waiting at a stoplight, we were literally surrounded by North Dakota license plates, one in front, one in the next lane, and one in the opposite lane. One couldn’t help but feel pride for our home state.

Go Vikings!

Science Seminar on Wednesday to highlight student research

The VCSU Science Department will host “Highlights in Student Research” as part of its Science Seminar Series on Wednesday Feb. 12, from noon-12:50 p.m. in Rhoades Science Center 102.

Three VCSU students — Baylee Berg, Spencer Dorsey and Jayme Menard — will present their research.

• Berg, a health science/chemistry student, will present “The Effect of Multigenerational Exposure of 2,4-D or Ethanol on Fertility in Drosophila melanogaster.”
  
• Dorsey, a fisheries and wildlife/biology student, will present “Mapping of Bluegill Beds on Seven Lakes in Central North Dakota.”
  
• Menard, an environmental science/biology student, will present “Spring Creek and Clausen Springs Reservoir Watershed Assessment.”

The event is open to the public free of charge.

Make a Giving Hearts Day gift on Thursday

The VCSU Foundation is one of over 480 charities that will be participating in Giving Hearts Day on Feb. 13.

Gifts made on Giving Hearts Day 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. On Thursday, Feb. 13, donate $10 or more at givingheartsday.org by choosing the VCSU Foundation and your donation will be matched up to $5,000!

Donations can be dropped off anytime between now and 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the VCSU Foundation Office. If you drop off your check before Feb. 13, please make sure the check is dated and you have referenced Giving Hearts Day in the memo section in order for the donation to be counted for the match. Matching gift provided by Ludvigson, Braun & Co. — Matt Pedersen.

Saturday planetarium presentation to focus on zodiac constellations

“The Zodiac,” a fun look at the 12 zodiacal constellations, will be presented in the VCSU Planetarium on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1 p.m.

The ancient signs of the zodiac have been associated with astrology and are directly related to the early vestiges of astronomy. This 30-minute program, suitable for all ages, examines these constellations and the stories of ancient gods and heroes associated with them.

The planetarium is located in Rhoades Science Center 309. An elevator is accessible via the west Rhoades entrance.

Cannon contributes to Praxis reading specialist test review

Yvonne Cannon, assistant professor in the School for Education and Graduate Studies, participated as an invited content area specialist with North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (NDESPB) in reviewing items in the Praxis Reading Specialist test. This study, held Jan. 27-28, was conducted by the Educational Testing Service at the Chauncy Conference Center on the ETS Princeton Campus in Princeton, N.J.

Representatives from several states were in attendance to jointly participate in recommending a passing score for the Praxis Reading Specialist test, which will then be reviewed by each state. Cannon is continuing her work as a content area specialist by cooperating with NDESPB in reviewing reading specialist programs.

Viking sports update

Women’s Basketball
Friday: VCSU 66, Viterbo University 59
Saturday: VCSU 76, Waldorf University 54

The VCSU women’s basketball team earned a pair of conference victories this weekend and is now back to a .500 overall record (11-11) and is 8-3 in conference play. The Vikings are tied for second place in the NSAA standings.

Men’s Basketball
Friday: Viterbo University 96, VCSU 84
Saturday: Waldorf University 82, VCSU 75
The Viking men’s basketball team dropped both its conference games this weekend. The Vikings are now 8-17 overall and 4-7 in the NSAA.

Track & Field
The VCSU track and field team had two new national qualifiers and set four school records this weekend at the Bison Open. Brandon Sanders (400 meters) and Travis Joseph (high jump) both qualified for nationals in their respective events. Sanders, Payton Granger (heptathlon), Tyler Smith (pentathlon) and the women’s distance medley relay all set school records.

View complete results at www.vcsuvikings.com/stats/2019-20/Track_&_Field/2020_Bison_Open_T_F_Results.pdf.

Softball
The Valley City State University softball team opens the 2020 season this weekend with doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday at the Presentation College Dome Tournament. The Vikings are ranked No. 10 in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll.

Upcoming Events
Feb. 14: Softball @ PC Dome Classic, 10 a.m. (Aberdeen, S.D.)
Feb. 14: WBB/MBB @ Bellevue University, 5:30/7:30 p.m. (Bellevue, Neb.)
Feb. 14-15: Track & Field @ SDSU Indoor Classic (Brookings, S.D.)
Feb. 15: Softball @ PC Dome Classic, 10 a.m. (Aberdeen, S.D.)
Feb. 15: WBB/MBB @ Dakota State University, 3/5 p.m. (Madison, S.D.)

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

Monday, February 10

Tuesday, February 11
noon Rotary Club, VCSU
5:30 p.m. Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals, Our Saviors Lutheran Church
9:10 p.m. VCAB weekly meeting

Wednesday, February 12
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
6 p.m. Barnes County Wildlife Federation, Valley City Eagles Club

Thursday, February 13
7:30 a.m. Optimist Club, Vicky’s Viking Room
11:30 a.m. Resume & Cover Letter Workshop, Student Center Skoal Room
6:30 p.m. In Knots Crochet, VCBC Public Library
8:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ meeting, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, February 14
Payday
Valentine’s Day
5:30 p.m. Viking women’s basketball @ Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.
7:30 p.m. Viking men’s basketball @ Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.

Saturday, February 15
3 p.m. Viking women’s basketball @ Bellevue University, Bellevue, Neb.
5 p.m. Viking men’s basketball @ Bellevue University, Bellevue, Neb.

Sunday, February 16

Monday, February 17
President’s Day
No VCSU classes
VCSU office closed

Tuesday, February 18
noon Rotary Club, VCSU
9:10 p.m. VCAB weekly meeting

Wednesday, February 19
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, February 20
7:30 a.m. Optimist Club, Vicky’s Viking Room
8:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ meeting, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, February 21
5:30 p.m. Viking women’s basketball vs. Dickinson State University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
7:30 p.m. Viking men’s basketball vs. Dickinson State University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
7:30 p.m. Mid-Winter Instrumental Concert, Vangstad Auditorium

Saturday, February 22

Sunday, February 23

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