Twenty-five students, faculty and staff from Valley City State University completed their spring Adopt-A-Highway clean-up project on Interstate 94 east of Valley City on Thursday, May 2. Lee Kruger, VCSU assistant professor of English and member of the Faculty Senate, organized this edition of the thrice-yearly event. Among the 25 VCSU volunteers participating were (l to r, front) Pat Egeberg, Kruger, Doug Dawes, (back) Emily Waswick, Ann Kelly, and Steven Shirley.

Valley City State University celebrated its faculty and staff members’ many years of service and dedication to VCSU at the Employee Recognition and Retirement Dinner held May 3, 2013, in the Student Center cafeteria.Andre DeLorme, professor of biology, served as emcee of the event, which featured a performance by VCSU’s Quantum Brass, comprised of David Burgess, Lyle Hager, Kirci Wagner, Thomas Zinke, and James Adams, assistant professor of music.Years of Service RecognitionFaculty and staff members honored for Years of Service anniversaries at the recognition dinner were:

• • 40 years of service—Alice Beauchman, Kathryn Holleque
• • 35 years of service—Marcia Foss, Sharon McCarriar
• • 30 years of service—Irene Groth
• • 25 years of service—Bonita Pickar, Connie Stavens
• • 20 years of service—Doug Hamilton
• • 15 years of service—Kerry Gregoryk, Diane Olson
• • 10 years of service—Keith Biggers, Michelle Hoyt, Joseph Munowenyu, Tim Schilling, Chad Slyter
• • 5 years of service—James Adams, Jerzy Bilski, Lynn Isaacson, Alison Kasowski, Paula Larson, Leslie Kalmbach, Misty Lindgren, Kevin McDonough, Loree Morehouse, Tammy Peterson, Dina Petherbridge, Tara Praska, Steven Shirley, Rob Walsh, Jamie Wirth, Jonna Ziniel

The Valley City State University Sigma Lambda chapter of Alpha Delta Lambda, the national honor society for first-year students, honored 33 VCSU freshmen with initiation into the society at a ceremony held Sunday, March 24, in the VCSU Student Center.Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society for students who have maintained a 3.5 or higher GPA and who rank in the top 20 percent of their class during their first year or term of higher education. The society’s purpose is to encourage superior academic achievement among students during their first year of study. Alpha Lambda Delta was founded as an honor society for freshman women in 1924 at the University of Illinois; men were first admitted in 1975. There are more than 260 chapters nationwide.In addition to the initiation of the new freshman members, Hilde van Gijssel, VCSU associate professor of biology, was named an honorary initiate in recognition of her 2012 VCSU Teacher of the Year award. Van Gijssel holds the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Leiden University in the Netherlands.Chapter officers were also installed at the initiation ceremony, and the senior members of Alpha Lambda Delta who maintained the 3.5 GPA and top 20 percent rank throughout their academic careers at VCSU were recognized with Senior Honor Cords.Caitlin Geisbrecht—a VCSU junior from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and an Alpha Lambda Delta member—was recognized as the recipient of an Alpha Lambda Delta Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship for the 2012–13 academic year. Geisbrecht was one of 35 students across the nation to receive the Trow Scholarship; she was selected on the basis of her academic record, application statements, and participation in Alpha Lambda Delta, campus and community activities.Margaret Dahlberg, VCSU vice president for academic affairs, serves as faculty advisor; Janet Drake, VCSU director of of student academic services, serves as administrative advisor.Alpha Lambda Delta Initiates (in geographic order)ArizonaPhoenix – Vincent MarinSurprise – Jawuan PughMinnesotaEsko – Stephanie MillerHamburg – Alyssa Swanson NevadaLas Vegas – Malik Jackson North DakotaAmidon – Maren Stegner Ashley – Wendy Eszlinger Bismarck – Taylor Crosby Cando – Michelle Holien Cooperstown – Jennifer Croy Edinburg – Andrew Evenson Fingal – Jessica Puhr Harvey – Jessica Meland Kindred – James Dougherty, Zachary Nelson Larimore – Jessica Georgeson Lisbon – Haley Christofferson, Alexandra Kielb Mandan – Alex Conlon, Shelby Hartman Marion – Christopher ClydeMilnor – Michaela Halvorson New Rockford – Caitlyn BrodenSanborn – Ashley LimesandTappen – Natasha Hintz Valley City – Jessica Carlblom, Jenna Coghlan Wahpeton – Brianna Johnson West Fargo – Tarra Miller, Holli SchmitzAlberta, CanadaCalgary – Kelsey Labodi Saskatchewan, CanadaElbow – Dylan Boyle, Barbara Ector 2013–14 ALD Chapter OfficersPresident: Brianna Johnson – freshman, Wahpeton, N.D.Vice President: Michaela Halvorson – freshman, Milnor, N.D.Secretary: Jessica Meland – freshman, Harvey, N.D.Treasurer: Alex Conlon – freshman, Mandan, N.D.Historian: Zach Nelson – freshman, Walcott, N.D.Senior Advisor: Lindsay Lagodinski – senior, Ellendale, N.D.Senior Advisor: Anthony Trautman – junior, Audubon, Minn.Junior Advisor: Kaitlyn Heuring – junior, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaSenior Honor Cord RecipientsAmanda Aune* – Gary, Minn.Adriana Dalman* – Portland, N.D.Amy Field – Pelican Rapids, Minn.Kyle Hess* – Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.Preston Jensen – Valley City, N.D.Alyssa Johnson – Watford City, N.D.Angie Johnson – Roseglen, N.D.John Joki – Zim, Minn.Cy Kirsch* – New Leipzig, N.D.Ryan LeNoue – Barnesville, Minn.Caitlin Miller* – Venturia, N.D.Dillan Ostrom – Finley, N.D.Eric Parkman – Hope, N.D.Katie Paulson – Valley City, N.D.Steven Petherbridge – West Fargo, N.D.Sarah Rhyan – Oakes, N.D.Patrick Rogers – Eagan, Minn. Amber Vanbruggen – Valley City, N.D.*completed graduation requirements in fall 2012

Kirsten Baesler, M.Ed. ’10, North Dakota superintendent of public instruction, will deliver the keynote address at Valley City State University’s 121st commencement exercises, to be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 11, 2013, in W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse on the VCSU campus.Baesler worked in the Bismarck Public School District for more than two decades in a variety of roles—as an instructional assistant to students with intellectual disabilities, a classroom teacher, library media specialist, technology integration specialist and vice principal. She served on the board of the Mandan Public School District from 2004–12. Baesler was southwest regional director for the North Dakota School Boards Association from 2008–12; since 2011 she has served on the North Dakota Educational Technology Council.A native of Flasher and a resident of Mandan, Baesler holds two associate degrees from Bismarck State College, a bachelor’s degree in education from Minot State University and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in library and information technologies from VCSU.Representing the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education at VCSU’s commencement is board member Don Morton. Morton, a senior director at Microsoft, is a key player on the Microsoft campus in Fargo. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was the assistant to the president and director of university relations at North Dakota State University. Morton has a football coaching background, having served as head coach at the University of Wisconsin, the University of Tulsa, and North Dakota State University, where he won four conference championships and one national championship. Morton was named national coach of the year in 1983. A native of Flint, Mich., Morton graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill.Rosemary Tompkins will present the graduate student address. A librarian in the West Fargo School District, Tompkins completed the requirements for a master’s degree in education with a concentration in library and information technologies at VCSU in December 2012. She holds bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and library science from the University of North Dakota.Courtney Titus will present the undergraduate student address. An English and history major (with a psychology minor) from Hankinson, Titus has served VCSU as a “Learning to Live, Living to Learn” mentor, a new-student orientation leader and an English tutor in the Learning Center. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society. Titus played basketball for the VCSU Vikings and was named to the A.I.I. all-tournament team each of the last two years. She was also named a 2012–13 Daktronics-NAIA Women’s Basketball Scholar Athlete. This fall Titus will begin studies at Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Neb.Approximately 286 graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to participate in the VCSU commencement exercises. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and a reception that immediately follows.

For the first time since its creation in 2004, the Viking Club Tennis team qualified and traveled to the United States Tennis Association National Tournament in Surprise, Arizona, April 11th-13th. The USTA National Tournament hosted 64 of the top university club team from around the nation including team such as: Duke, UCLA, Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley and 4 teams for our USTA Northern Section: U of M, NDSU, SDSU and VCSU. The tournament is formatted to be played across three days and play every team out to the last place, which is 64th. This meant VCSU played seven matches across three day and finished 63rd overall. The seven VCSU club team members that traveled to nationals were: Katie Paulson, Erika Lutjens, Kayla Geske, Kurt Brown, Alex Conlon, Josh Gilbertson, and Tanner Beauchman. The Vikings faced a tough first day including last year's runner-up, University of Virginia, and two other top schools from California and Texas. The big highlight from the pool play on Thursday was our first ever set win at Nationals by team captain and senior Katie Paulson. VCSU finished 4th out of 4 teams in their pool and was then drawn into the Copper Bracket for Friday and Saturday. Saturday was a much better day for the Vikings, facing off against Washington University, SDSU and St. Mary's. The Vikings lost all three matches but took two of them into overtime play and saw set wins by men's captain Kurt Brown and a mixed doubles wins by Alex Conlon and Katie Paulson. Saturday the Vikings faced off against Oakland University of Michigan in the 63rd / 64th place match. VCSU played their best tennis of the week and pulled out our first ever match win at a national tournament with a score of 24-20. The match saw big wins at both women's and men's doubles by Katie Paulson/Erika Lutjens and Josh Gilbertson/Tanner Beauchman as well as a big win at women's singles by Katie Paulson. The match ultimately came down to the mixed doubles match with Vikings Alex Conlon and Erika Lutjens winning in a tie-breaker 6-5 to secure the victory. Overall this was an incredible experience for the Viking Club Tennis team and hopefully will not be our last trip to the National Tournament!Day-by-Day Results:Pool Play (Thursday, April 11th):Match 1: VCSU vs. University of VirginiaVikings - 2Cavaliers - 30 Match 2: VCSU vs. University of Santa BarbaraVikings - 2Gauchos - 30 Match 3: VCSU vs. Lone Star College - TexasVikings - 9LSCS - 27 Copper Bracket (Friday, April 12th):Round 1: VCSU vs. Washington University of St. LouisVikings - 15Bears - 30 Round 2: VCSU vs. South Dakota State UniversityVikings - 14Jackrabbits - 27Went into overtime play Round 3: VCSU vs. St. Mary's College - OaklandVikings - 18Gaels - 27Went into overtime play Copper Bracket (Saturday, April 13th):To determine 63rd and 64th place: VCSU vs Oakland University of MichiganVikings - 24Grizzlies - 20

Four Valley City State University students--Bryce Brady, Aaron Burgad, Josue Hernandez and Eric Smith--attended the 27th National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) April 11-13 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.Accompanying the students to the conference in La Crosse, Wis., were VCSU's Andre DeLorme, professor of biology, and Casey Williams, assistant professor of fisheries and wildlife.Established in 1987, NCUR is dedicated to promoting undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity by sponsoring an annual conference for students. This gathering of young scholars welcomes presenters from all institutions of higher learning and from all academic disciplines.NCUR aims to promote and celebrate undergraduate student achievement, to provide models of exemplary research and scholarship, and to improve the state of undergraduate education.The VCSU students made poster presentations on their research Friday, April 12. Selected based on a review of their applications and research abstracts, the four VCSU students were among 2,000 undergraduates presenting at NCUR 2013. "Selection for participation at NCUR is competitive," said DeLorme. "It's a real credit to the work these students have done, and it also reflects favorably on what we're doing at Valley City State." Bryce Brady, a VCSU junior from Mandan, N.D., presented "Using Mussels to Assess the Impact of Changing Water Quality Conditions in the Sheyenne River, North Dakota." His poster was based on the research he did under DeLorme's supervision.Also a VCSU junior, Aaron Burgad of Argusville, N.D., presented "Effects of Increased Discharge on Nonnative Brook Trout in a Small Mountain Stream." Burgad's research was done with Williams. Josue Hernandez, a VCSU junior from Bakersfield, Calif., presented "Assessing the Impact on Fish of High Salinity Water Drained into the Sheyenne River, North Dakota." Hernandez conducted his research with Williams and DeLorme.A VCSU senior from Valley City, Eric Smith presented "Fish Assemblages of Intermittent Streams in the Cedar River National Grasslands, North Dakota" on research he completed with Williams."It was great to be there," said Hernandez of his NCUR participation. "I met a lot of students who had worked on some really interesting projects.""VCSU's participation in NCUR is an indication of the university's emphasis on collaborative research among students and faculty," said David DeMuth, Jr., VCSU professor and director of the university's Great Plains STEM Education Center, which sponsored the university's NCUR participation. Increasing opportunities for undergraduate research such as that provided through NCUR participation, according to VCSU President Steven W. Shirley, is "one of the high-impact strategies that will transform Valley City State University and help our students achieve their fullest potential of academic excellence."

Twenty-one Valley City State University (VCSU) students in Jonna Ziniel's public relations course have applied their PR skills to a real-world application--creating promotional videos for the Sheyenne Valley National Scenic Byway and Valley City Convention and Visitors Bureau. The 21 students in the VCSU class have created 18 videos, each 2-5 minutes long, highlighting locations in and around Valley City. Using university video and still cameras and working in groups of five and six, the VCSU students crafted the videos from footage and still photos they shot, along with interviews of relevant individuals. The videos were produced using video-editing software on the students' university-furnished laptops.(VCSU issues laptop computers to all full-time students, with a high-speed wireless network available throughout campus. The university began the laptop program in the 1996-97 academic year, becoming the first university in North Dakota--and the second university in the United States--to do so.)The public relations course, Communication 314 in the VCSU catalog, comprises many professional communication, business administration, and fisheries and wildlife majors. Those students, along with others who take the course as an elective, provide a good mix in the classroom, according to Ziniel, who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from North Dakota State University and a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University."It's good to see different backgrounds," says Ziniel, in her fifth year of teaching at VCSU. "That variety produces different perspectives, and that's valuable in the classroom and in these video projects."Mary Lee Nielson, marketing coordinator for both the Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway and the Valley City Convention and Visitors Bureau, is appreciative of the work the VCSU students have done. "We're fortunate to have Valley City State University to use as a resource," said Nielson. "We now have 18 videos that can be used to help market Valley City and the Sheyenne River Valley. It's great to see how VCSU students view the community around them."Nielsen approached Ziniel about the possibility of creating some short tourism videos, and Ziniel was quick to realize the opportunity it presented for her students. Nielsen will also offer the videos for use by the Valley Ciy Chamber of Commerce and the Valley City Development Group.The video assignment was well received by Ziniel's students. "It was a way for us to give back to Valley City," said Preston Jensen, a VCSU senior and one of the PR students.The student-created videos can be found online at www.youtube.com/user/ValleyCityChamber1. Students in the class include Dillan Anderson, Kristine Dammel, Derek Elliott, Justin Erby, Carlton Fearon, Christopher Embden, Caitlin Giesbrecht, Preston Jensen, Matthew Kietzman, Jacob Krause, Augustus Kueber, Brandon Meyer, Melinda Olauson, Asuncion Pathen, John Raquel, Philip Reuer, John Sayler, Brandon Sevik, Margaret Silvernail, Anthony Trautman, and Anna Weisenburger.

Bob Werkhoven, mayor of Valley City, and Steven W. Shirley, president of Valley City State University, signed a joint Earth Day proclamation at the Valley City Commission Meeting held April 15 at City Hall in Valley City.In signing the proclamation, Mayor Werkhoven and President Shirley pledged to use this Earth Dayas a reminder of our duty to serve the best interests of our constituents by supporting environmental initiatives in our city and university, and to encourage others to undertake similar actions.The proclamation was signed a week ahead of Earth DayApril 22, 2013which will be celebrated in Valley City with a VCSU-hosted Earth Day Festival at Medicine Wheel Park from 5:009:00 p.m., Monday, April 22. (In case of inclement weather, the Earth Day Festival will be held in Osmon Fieldhouse on the VCSU campus.)The festival will include musical performances, childrens activities and games, and informational tables emphasizing earth-friendly practices and products. Visit www.vcsu.edu/earthday for more information.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 3, 2013 The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced Valley City State University as one of the top 64 co-ed intramural and sport club tennis teams that have qualified to represent colleges and universities across the country in the 2013 USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship, which will be played in Surprise, Ariz., April 11-13. Katie Paulson and Kurt Brown are the co-captains for the 13-member team, which has been in existence since 2004, but is competing in the Nationals for the first time. The expense to travel to Nationals is a big one, but the club was able to raise the money by selling ButterBraid pastries, cookies at basketball games and selling tennis club apparel. The USTA Tennis On Campus program features more than 35,000 college students competing nationwide in intramural and intercollegiate coed club play. Since its inception in 2000, Tennis On Campus has grown significantly and today is played on more than 600 college campuses across the country. The Tennis On Campus National Championship is the most exciting and successful recreational college tennis event in the country, said Glenn Arrington, National Manager, USTA Tennis On Campus. The Championship offers students a well-rounded experience of competition and fun in a social atmospheresetting it apart from varsity programs. Having the opportunity to compete at Nationals is a memorable milestone in our players college experience. This year, seven schools will make their debut at Nationals in a field that also includes defending champion University of California-Berkeley and five-time national champion Texas A&M (which won titles in 2002 and 2004-2007). All teams participating in the Tennis On Campus National Championship have advanced through USTA section championship play. Participating teams who have received bids for this years USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship include the following schools (* denotes first-time qualifiers):Arizona State UniversityPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity of FloridaAuburn UniversityPurdue UniversityUniversity of GeorgiaBaylor UniversitySaint Louis UniversityUniversity of MarylandBoston College* Saint Marys College of CaliforniaUniversity of MichiganBrigham Young University* South Dakota State UniversityUniversity of MinnesotaCollege of CharlestonSouthern Methodist UniversityUniversity of North Carolina Chapel HillColumbia UniversityStanford UniversityUniversity of Northern ColoradoCornell UniversityStony Brook UniversityUniversity of OklahomaDartmouth CollegeTexas A & M UniversityUniversity of Oregon* DePaul UniversityTexas State University San MarcosUniversity of PennsylvaniaDuke UniversityTexas TechUniversity of Texas San Antonio* Emory UniversityThe University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Virginia* George Washington UniversityTufts UniversityUniversity of WashingtonGeorgetown UniversityUniversity of California BerkeleyUniversity of WisconsinHarvard UniversityUniversity of California Los AngelesUtah Valley University* Kennesaw StateUniversity of Arizona* Valley City State UniversityLone Star College CyFairUniversity of California DavisVillanova UniversityLouisiana State UniversityUniversity of California San DiegoVirginia TechNew Mexico State UniversityUniversity of California Santa BarbaraWashington UniversityNorth Dakota State UniversityUniversity of Central FloridaWestern Washington UniversityNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of CincinnatiOakland University University of DelawareDeveloped by the USTA in partnership with NIRSA, World TeamTennis and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the Tennis On Campus program gives college students the opportunity to build leadership skills, network in a coed sports environment and compete on a college team without the rigors of playing in a varsity program. With year-round match play, and regional and national championship competition, students maintain active and healthy lifestyles through their college years. Visit the Tennis On Campus website at www.tennisoncampus.com for complete results, stories and photos. The Tennis On Campus website also offers all college clubs fundraising resources, coaching tips, and marketing materials. The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level, from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 770,000 members, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking nine summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTAs national charitable foundation, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and helps underserved youth and people with disabilities. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, like the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.

Four VCSU students – Sarah Silvernail (Lisbon, N.D.), Dustin Slaamod (Park River, N.D.), Allison Veselka (Tower City, N.D.), and Scott Westby (Sheyenne, N.D.) – were inducted into the Psi Beta chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, Wednesday, March 20.To be eligible for membership in Phi Alpha Theta, students must have completed a minimum of 12 credits of history with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and a GPA in history courses of at least 3.1.The induction ceremony and a celebratory dinner with Anthony Dutton, social science instructor, and Steven King, social science department chair and associate professor, were held at the President's House Guest Inn.

With a couple feet of snow still covering our lawns, it is certainly hard to think about spring. The winter always starts to feel pretty lengthy about this time of year, but we know that seasons will eventually change with our long winter giving way to the beautiful spring and summer months. As we prepare for the summer months, multiple departments and groups across the VCSU campus are busily preparing for the various camps that are traditionally hosted at VCSU. There are a variety of camps covering a wide array of subject areas for students of all ages. These camps are a wonderful way to provide some extra learning and exploration opportunities for students while also exposing them to the resources, facilities, and personnel at Valley City State University.Certainly, one of the initial camps many think about when they think of summer camps at VCSU are the various Viking athletic camps. VCSU's coaches have hosted successful athletic camps for many years on campus, and Summer 2013 is no exception. Camps will be held for the sports of football and volleyball, as well as boys and girls basketball during June and July. These camps will appeal to a wide range of ages. There are both individual and team camps, and include both day camps and overnight camps whereby students spend time on campus living in the residence halls, eating in the campus cafeteria, etc. It is a great opportunity to learn from VCSU's talented coaches and experience campus life. More information about these athletic camps can be found at http://vikings.vcsu.edu/.Beyond athletics, VCSU will be hosting several additional camps this summer for youngsters focused on academic activities. These include the fourth annual BAIT (Business and Information Technology) Camp along with camps at VCSU's Prairie Waters Education & Research Center in Kathryn, N.D., and a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Arts & Engineering Camp on campus. All of these camps are designed to encourage youth to explore new areas about subjects of which they may not have otherwise been exposed to or had the opportunity to learn. You can find more information about these activities at www.vcsu.edu/baitcamp AND www.gpstem.vcsu.edu AND www.vcsu.edu/prairiewaters.We truly see these camps as "win-win" scenarios both for the camp participants and for Valley City State University. It is a terrific opportunity for youngsters to learn new skills and explore new topics while meeting other youth from throughout the region. Likewise, it is so nice to open the campus to these students who may not have otherwise ever set foot on the VCSU campus. It opens new "doors" of possibilities to them and takes advantage of the wonderful campus facilities during the otherwise slower summer months when the majority of our traditional-age college students are on summer break. We look forward to welcoming all of these students (along with their parents and families) to the VCSU campus in the months ahead. The start of these camps will also signal the end of winter and the arrival of our beautiful North Dakota summer!

Our own version of "March Madness" has hit the Athletic Department at Valley City State University. For the first time ever, both the VCSU men's and women's basketball teams have qualified for the NAIA national tournament in the same season. Among the approximately 130 colleges and universities competing at the NAIA Division II level, VCSU is one of only 11 institutions this year to have both the men's and women's teams qualify for the National Tournament. This puts Viking Basketball in some elite company among the top 10% nationally. The Women's team currently has an overall 24-7 record for the 2012-13 season. The 24 victories are an all-time record for the most wins in a single season for VCSU women's basketball. This year's playoffs also represent the third-consecutive appearance at the National Tournament for the team. The VCSU women will be one of only 11 teams in the 32-team field this year with three straight appearances in the tournament. VCSU women's basketball is now clearly recognized as a national contender competing at the very highest level within our division. The men's basketball team is currently 21-8 for the season, and this year marks the fourth time in the past six years the team has reached the 20-win milestone; the past two seasons also represent the first time with back-to-back 20-win campaigns. VCSU's berth in the national tournament is the first time the men's team has advanced to the national playoffs in the 22 years of the current post-season format. The 2012-13 season is undoubtedly a historic benchmark for men's basketball at VCSU. The credit for the success of these programs is due to the hard work, commitment, and dedication of the players and coaches. VCSU is fortunate in that both programs are led by veteran coaches with strong track records both on- and off-the-court. Coach Jill DeVries has led the women's program at VCSU for 14 seasons, and is currently in second-place on the all-time coaching victories list for women's basketball at VCSU. Jill is a native of Glyndon, Minn., and is a graduate of NDSU and member of its Athletic Hall of Fame. Coach DeVries is assisted by Lavesa Glover. The team is also fortunate to be led by three outstanding seniors this year: Katelyn Ralston, Courtney Titus, and Alyssa Hummel. Coach Jeff Kaminsky has led the men's program at VCSU for the past eight seasons and currently stands in second-place in all-time wins behind the legendary Bill Osmon. Coach Kaminsky also recorded his 400th career victory as a coach earlier this year (133 of those coming at VCSU). Jeff is a native of Illinois and graduated from Grand Valley State (Mich.). He is assisted by Nathan Stover, Matt Karlgaard, and student-assistant Karl Sorby. The team is led by a talented group of seniors: Dillan Ostrom, Gus Kueber, Sekani Milligen, Patrick Rogers, and John Raquel. A big word of thanks to all the fans, community members, and sponsors who have supported these two programs throughout the year and attended games at Osmon Fieldhouse (or on the road). We wish both programs all the best this week in Point Lookout, Mo. (men) and Sioux City, Iowa (women) as they represent Valley City State University in the national tournaments. Go Vikings!

For the first time since its creation in 2004, the Viking Club Tennis team has qualified for the United States Tennis Association's (USTA) Tennis-On-Campus National Tournament in Surprise, Arizona. The team will travel to Arizona in April to compete against some of the top club teams in the nation including past national champions: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Duke, and Texas A&M. The Club Team will be fund raising over the next month to help cover the cost of travel and lodging in Arizona. VCSU is a part of the USTA's Northern section which has 12 unique schools competing for 3 national bids each year, the other 2 bids went to the University of Minnesota Gophers and the SDSU Jackrabbits. NDSU also received a national bid this year for winning the National Club of the Year award. The team has worked hard all year finishing 2nd in the fall tournament standing and traveling to tournaments in Wisconsin, Minnesota and hosting their own home USTA tournament as well. This year also saw the club team grow from 12 team members at the end of the 2012 spring semester to 15 this year. Team members that qualified for the National Tournament are: Katie Paulson (Sr), Erika Lutjens (So), Kayla Geske (Sr), Kurt Brown (So), Josh Gilbertson (So), Alex Conlon (Fr) and Tanner Beauchman (Grad).The Viking Club Tennis team also just returned from the USTA Sectional Championship where they lost to the U of M Gophers in the Silver Bracket finals 27-11. This weekend also saw VCSU receive its 3rd sportsmanship award out of the last 4 years for the hard work of team captain Katie Paulson.

Two new employees are joining Valley City State University this month. One is a replacement for a former employee who accepted a new position, and the other is filling a newly created position. Greg Vanney has been hired as VCSU's new Director of Marketing and Communications, and Dr. Nadja Johnson has been hired to serve as VCSU's Diversity, Retention, and Inclusion Coordinator. Both are new to North Dakota and the Valley City community, and both begin their employment in late February.As VCSU's Director of Marketing and Communications, Greg Vanney will be responsible for managing the overall University marketing strategy. Greg will chair the campus marketing committee, enforce graphic and brand standards, write various campus publications, and manage the marketing budget. In this capacity, he will also work closely with Enrollment Services developing plans for student recruitment. The Director of Marketing and Communications also manages public relations, creates press releases, develops advertising campaigns, maintains community relationships, and serves as a University spokesperson. Greg has an extensive background in higher education, and has spent most of the past 30 years in various communications positions at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Greg also worked for a brief time in creative services at the University of Iowa Foundation. Greg has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College.This position fills the vacancy created when Doug Anderson left VCSU in November after serving the campus for over eight years. Doug accepted a position in St. Paul, MN at the System Office of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU). Dr. Nadja Johnson has been hired to serve as VCSU's Diversity, Retention, and Inclusion Coordinator. This is a new position recently created as part of VCSU's ongoing efforts to strengthen student retention, and enhance the overall academic and student environment across the campus. In this capacity, Nadja will implement strategies to improve student completion and success, including meeting with at-risk students to monitor their progress and assess their needs, track student use of support services, and collaborate with university personnel to ensure that services meet needs. She will work with academic and administrative departments to promote student success through general advocacy and diversity education and programming that provides opportunities for student interaction and engagement on issues of diversity, inclusion, social justice, and international perspectives. The Coordinator also assists in the planning and implementation of study abroad, and cultural, gender, and sexual identity programs.Dr. Johnson recently completed her PhD in Comparative Studies from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL. She has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and a Bachelor's degree from Fisk University in Nashville, TN. Dr. Johnson has experience in multicultural programming, working with international students, and teaching at the university level.We are pleased to add Greg and Nadja's talents to VCSU, and are excited to welcome them to the Valley City Community. Please offer these two individuals a hearty North Dakota welcome when you meet them!

As outlined in one of these columns a few months ago, VCSU began a new tradition this academic year of recognizing the valuable contributions of staff members with the implementation of an "Employee of the Quarter" program. Each quarter, a member of VCSU's staff will be selected as the outstanding employee. Staff members are nominated by their peers and selected by a panel comprised of a student, staff member, and professor. In addition to recognizing those selected with this award on-campus and presenting them with a plaque and gift, I am using this column to introduce you to the awardees.This quarter's recipient of the VCSU Employee of the Quarter award is Brad Mills. Brad is a native of rural Velva, ND, and currently serves as VCSU's Director of Enterprise Applications. Prior to VCSU, Brad worked at the North Dakota State Hospital and Goodrich, Inc., both in Jamestown. Brad initially began his career at VCSU in 1999 as a computer systems analyst, and was promoted to his current position in 2006. As the Director of Enterprise Applications, Brad has responsibility for most enterprise level software systems at VCSU. This includes the VCSU website, the Blackboard online learning system, and related systems for student retention, course evaluation, lecture recording, and live online collaboration. Brad also manages user network accounts, which involves providing access to Blackboard, email, and related systems. Brad shares these duties with two other staff he supervises, along with student workers that frequently work in the Enterprise Applications office.When asked what gets Brad excited to come to work, he replied, "Everyday I know I will be doing something that is helping students get an education, earn a degree, and ultimately find a career. Education is the key to success especially in today's world, and knowing that I play a part in that is very rewarding." When asked what makes VCSU a great place to work, he answered, "Hands down, it's the people. The faculty, staff, and students I work with on a daily basis are really great. Having great people to work for and work with allows me to enjoy what I do." Brad went on to comment about the many changes he has enjoyed seeing at VCSU throughout the years including upgrades to the Information Technology facilities and services, the new Rhoades Science Center expansion, and the growth of online education including the addition of the online Master's program.Brad and his wife, Dede – a VCSU alum, reside in Jamestown with their daughter. The Mills enjoy the outdoors and engage in various outdoor activities throughout the year such as winter skiing along with boating and camping in the summer. Lake Ashtabula is one of their favorite spots. Additionally, Brad is a big music fan, plays in a band, enjoys tinkering on his old classic truck, and does carpentry and remodeling projects in his spare time. Brad is an important and valuable employee at VCSU, and he does so much in supporting the academic learning environment at VCSU for our entire community of students, faculty, and staff. Congratulations Brad and thanks for all you do in making VCSU such a terrific campus!

Larry Woiwode will be presenting a reading on our campus on Friday, February 8, at Froemke Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.Larry has published fifteen books. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Esquire, Harpers, GQ, The New York Times, Paris Review, Partisan Review, and others, along with two dozen stories in The New Yorker. His work has been translated into a dozen languages and is included in four volumes of Best American Short Stories. He is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Lannan Fellow, a U. S. State Department Traveling Artist (the Canadian provinces, Norway, Sweden, Lithuania) and in 1995 he was awarded the Medal of Merit from the American Academy of Arts & Letters for 'distinction in the art of the short story.' He is recipient of the William Faulkner Foundation Award, the John Dos Passos Prize, The Aka Khan Prize, The Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, and in 1995, by a joint resolution of the North Dakota senate and house and confirmation by the governor, he was named Poet Laureate of North Dakota. He published two books out in 2011, Words Made Fresh, and his first juvenile, The Invention of Lefse, and a book of essays, Words for Readers and Writers, will appear in 2013.

As the calendar shifts to a new year, it marks the beginning of a new legislative session in North Dakota. As you know, our Legislature meets every odd-numbered year in Bismarck from approximately early-January through late April. Last week, I appeared in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee (and later in the Session I will testify in front of a similar committee in the House) to discuss VCSU's 2013-15 biennial budget. Additionally, I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Education committee last week as well. Among other initiatives discussed, a good portion of both presentations focused on VCSU capital priorities that are included in Governor Jack Dalrymple's budget. Two items in particular that were highlighted during both presentations were funding requests to support a complete renovation of the building housing Vangstad Auditorium along with funding to mitigate a hillslide problem on the southeast edge of campus. As stated, funding support for both of these important campus projects were included in Governor Dalrymple's Executive Budget recommendation. VCSU is requesting .6 million for a complete renovation to Vangstad Auditorium along with the two floors of classroom and office space below the Auditorium. This beautiful building was constructed in 1907 and has been a vital part of campus for over a century. Vangstad Auditorium is a nerve center for the campus and has hosted many important musical and theatrical performances throughout the years, as well as guest performances, community events, campus gatherings, commencement exercises, lectures and speeches, and other key presentations. The two floors below the Auditorium are important spaces for both classroom and office usage. However, the entire building is showing its age and is in critical need of major repairs and renovation to update the space and ensure long-term maintenance of its useful life. As VCSU enrollment has increased and new academic programs and initiatives have been added in recent years, effective use of this space becomes even more important to our mission of serving and educating students.In addition to the renovation dollars, VCSU is also requesting an appropriation of ,000 to be used in mitigating the sliding hill slope behind McCarthy Hall. This sloping hill problem has intensified the past several years, and it is particularly troublesome during the spring thaw each year. These dollars were also included in Governor Dalrymple's Executive Budget recommendation, and would be used to install a pre-cast tie back wall system to create a more permanent fix to this annual sloping hill problem. As the soil continues shifting, this sloping issue causes major headaches around the campus, and could also potentially represent a safety and liability problem if it is not permanently resolved. It was a good week in Bismarck last week, and we appreciated the opportunity to present our campus updates along with pressing needs to both the Senate Appropriations and Education committees. VCSU looks forward to the remainder of the legislative process in the months ahead, and working to secure the necessary support so these major capital issues can be resolved and further enhance the long-term viability and success of the VCSU campus.

As the calendar shifts to a new year, it marks the beginning of a new legislative session in North Dakota. As you know, our Legislature meets every odd-numbered year in Bismarck from approximately early-January through late April. Last week, I appeared in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee (and later in the Session I will testify in front of a similar committee in the House) to discuss VCSU's 2013-15 biennial budget. Additionally, I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Education committee last week as well. Among other initiatives discussed, a good portion of both presentations focused on VCSU capital priorities that are included in Governor Jack Dalrymple's budget. Two items in particular that were highlighted during both presentations were funding requests to support a complete renovation of the building housing Vangstad Auditorium along with funding to mitigate a hillslide problem on the southeast edge of campus. As stated, funding support for both of these important campus projects were included in Governor Dalrymple's Executive Budget recommendation. VCSU is requesting .6 million for a complete renovation to Vangstad Auditorium along with the two floors of classroom and office space below the Auditorium. This beautiful building was constructed in 1907 and has been a vital part of campus for over a century. Vangstad Auditorium is a nerve center for the campus and has hosted many important musical and theatrical performances throughout the years, as well as guest performances, community events, campus gatherings, commencement exercises, lectures and speeches, and other key presentations. The two floors below the Auditorium are important spaces for both classroom and office usage. However, the entire building is showing its age and is in critical need of major repairs and renovation to update the space and ensure long-term maintenance of its useful life. As VCSU enrollment has increased and new academic programs and initiatives have been added in recent years, effective use of this space becomes even more important to our mission of serving and educating students.In addition to the renovation dollars, VCSU is also requesting an appropriation of ,000 to be used in mitigating the sliding hill slope behind McCarthy Hall. This sloping hill problem has intensified the past several years, and it is particularly troublesome during the spring thaw each year. These dollars were also included in Governor Dalrymple's Executive Budget recommendation, and would be used to install a pre-cast tie back wall system to create a more permanent fix to this annual sloping hill problem. As the soil continues shifting, this sloping issue causes major headaches around the campus, and could also potentially represent a safety and liability problem if it is not permanently resolved. It was a good week in Bismarck last week, and we appreciated the opportunity to present our campus updates along with pressing needs to both the Senate Appropriations and Education committees. VCSU looks forward to the remainder of the legislative process in the months ahead, and working to secure the necessary support so these major capital issues can be resolved and further enhance the long-term viability and success of the VCSU campus.

As VCSU students return to campus this week for the beginning of the Spring 2013 semester, they will be taking classes and labs in the newly built Rhoades Science Center expansion. Construction on this nearly 28,000 square foot facility began in November 2011 following a .3 million appropriation supported by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, Governor Dalrymple, and the 2011 ND Legislature. It is an especially exciting addition to the campus given the fact this is the first new construction of academic space at VCSU in nearly four decades. The last academic building constructed at VCSU was the original Rhoades Science Center that opened in 1973. This new expansion features state-of-the-art classroom, laboratory, office, and meeting space on three floors. The first floor features aquatic laboratory space that will be used heavily by students in specialized programs such as VCSU's Fisheries & Wildlife major. The first floor will also be home to VCSU's Great Plains STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Education Center and an Engineering lab. The second floor will house students primarily studying biology with several new spacious, cutting-edge laboratories and classrooms. The third floor will feature chemistry labs and classrooms. Faculty offices within various academic disciplines will be spread throughout the three floors. The new expansion also features advancements in air quality, laboratory design, chemical storage, and general safety improvements representing major upgrades from their previous spaces. These improvements will certainly benefit students and faculty alike. There are also significant energy and efficiency improvements with the building's construction and final design. As such, we are pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the US Green Building Council thereby demonstrating the sustainability and environmental-friendly nature of this building's design, construction, and ongoing operation. Hallways and common areas feature gathering spaces for students to study and collaborate as well as exhibition areas to feature projects, awards, exhibits, and news regarding students and faculty.During the next six months, the second and third floors of the existing Rhoades Science Center will be completely renovated and will eventually be home to such academic areas as Physics, Math, Geology, the Planetarium, and VCSU's Nursing collaborative students. The first floor of the original Rhoades building was renovated last summer and houses VCSU's Information Technology Center, a large lecture-style classroom, and an IVN (interactive video network) classroom. The entire project, consisting of the new expansion and the renovated existing space, will be completed by July 2013 and ready when students arrive for the start of the 2013-14 academic year. When complete, this new and renovated space will represent some of the most prestigious science learning spaces throughout North Dakota and beyond. Much of VCSU's enrollment growth the past several years has been in academic areas such as Fisheries and Wildlife, Health Science, and Nursing, and this new and improved space will further allow VCSU to continue growing in these areas and serving the needs of today's and tomorrow's students. The opening of the Rhoades expansion this week is yet another exciting development further enhancing our community and serving the students of Valley City State University!

Valley City State University launched the Great Plains STEM Education Center in 2010. The Center was established by funding through a federal grant with the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. The mission of VCSU's STEM Center is to, "provide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and training for K-12 students and teachers as an essential step in increasing the technology and engineering capacity of the U.S. workforce."One of VCSU's key partners with the development of the STEM Center has been an organization known as TIES (Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM). TIES is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and is widely regarded as a national leader in STEM Education. Last week, representatives from our STEM Center along with other North Dakota K-12 leaders and I traveled to Cleveland to learn more about innovative STEM efforts in Ohio. While there, we met with officials from TIES, Cleveland State University, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and Lorain County Community College. A highlight of the trip was visiting the MC2 STEM High School in Cleveland. MC2 STEM HS is a project-based school where students actively learn in various settings. The high school's 9th grade campus is at the Great Lakes Science Center museum and its 10th grade campus is located at General Electric Lighting Division's world headquarters (both the GE campus and the Science Center are in Cleveland). During the 11th and 12th grades, the MC2 STEM students complete internships and apprenticeships throughout Cleveland, and are not in a traditional physical school setting. Additionally, these high school students attend classes year-round (10 weeks of class followed by a three week break for four terms) and have the option to receive college credits. Students are rewarded for mastery of subject, not seat time. The MC2 STEM school was named one of America's three best urban high schools for 2012 by the National Center for Urban School Transformation. In addition, 100% of the students enrolled at MC2 STEM are on free and reduced lunch programs. Over 80% of the students are proficient in science, mathematics, reading, and writing. These are students who, despite some potentially challenging odds, are succeeding in an innovative school setting and are clearly exceeding expectations.At Lorain County Community College, we toured the first Fab Lab ever installed in the U.S. at a location outside the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Fab Lab (fabrication laboratory) is a concept developed by MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms. The idea of a fab lab is to provide a widespread means for innovation and invention through project-based learning. Fab labs are equipped with lasercutters, milling machines, programming tools, software, prototyping equipment, and computers to enhance the student's real-world learning. There are now approximately 110 fab labs throughout the world, and they are typically 'open-source,' meaning individuals from across the globe can share knowledge and ideas. VCSU has long been a leader in teacher-education, and the work through our Great Plains STEM Education Center is yet another example of this leadership and innovation. Without a doubt, new methods and ideas embodied through STEM teaching practices will be vital to our nation's success in the years ahead. VCSU is committed to educating the next generation of world-class teachers who will teach and educate tomorrow's leaders, and we know STEM Education will be a critical element in these efforts.

One of my favorite aspects of the Holiday Season is the occasions we have to hear so much wonderful music. There are numerous opportunities throughout the region to hear music concerts and recitals from church groups, school groups, and other area performers. During the past couple weeks I have been privileged to hear some fantastic concerts associated with various VCSU groups.In late November, the annual Christmas at St. Catherine's concert was held here in Valley City. The concert featured various choirs from VCSU including the University Singers, the VCSU Concert Choir, and the Quantum Brass Quintet. VCSU professor and director of Choral Activities Dr. Chris Redfearn led the choirs. Quantum Brass was under the direction of VCSU professor and director of Bands, Dr. James Adams. Jaime Namminga did a phenomenal job as accompanist. There was a tremendous turnout of community members at the concert, and it was a pleasure to hear the beautiful music sung and played by our talented students. A few days later, the VCSU Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble held their annual year-end concerts. Unfortunately, I was out-of-town and had to miss the concerts, but repeatedly heard from numerous attendees about how terrific the performances were that day. These kinds of performances serve as a great reminder of the wonderful tradition of music we have at Valley City State, and provide an opportunity for our students and faculty to demonstrate their outstanding musical talents.This past weekend, following the annual V-500 scholarship banquet, I attended the 17th Annual EBC Alumni "We're in the Christmas Mood" concert at Vangstad Auditorium on the VCSU campus. Most of the performers in the production are alumni of the VCSU Music program, and it was so nice to see a packed house enjoying a great evening of Holiday music. It truly was a great way to get in the Christmas Mood!VCSU has an incredibly deep and rich history in music and music education, and the campus has been educating students in music for the past twelve decades. The music programs at VCSU are accredited through the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). NASM accreditation is the hallmark by which collegiate music programs are measured. As the NASM website notes, this accreditation indicates, "a stamp of approval; a sign that an institution ascribes to, believes in, and has met an external set of basic criteria for the programs it offers," and, further, that the VCSU music program, "provides a base of academic strength and operational integrity." Accreditation from this prestigious body makes a powerful statement about the academic quality of the music programs and faculty at VCSU. This important tradition of music is so important to the fabric of Valley City State University, and we look forward to this rich tradition continuing in the years ahead. There will be many more opportunities to hear and see the musical talents of our students, faculty, and alumni at future performances, and I hope you take the opportunity to witness this talent first-hand!

Recently, a study commissioned by the North Dakota University System (NDUS) estimated the overall economic impact of all eleven NDUS campuses. The total economic impact during the most recent year available of fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011) by the eleven System campuses was .4 billion. The direct and indirect economic impact the NDUS generates across the state is overwhelmingly positive. As the authors of the study note, "Institutions of higher education have an economic effect in their respective areas and across the state as those institutions acquire inputs, purchase services, and provide for payroll and employment at both the local and state level." This is true throughout North Dakota, and is certainly true right here in the Valley City region with Valley City State University.During fiscal year 2011, the overall economic impact of Valley City State University was estimated to be .3 million. This impact has increased by nearly 100 percent during the past twelve years, when the impact was approximately .3 million in 1999. This overall .3 million impact by VCSU during 2011 is based on a variety of both direct and secondary economic effects including: the direct spending of students; the impact of the overall payroll; various construction and physical projects; utility and service expenditures; secondary employment; tax revenues; state general fund appropriations; and non-general fund and auxiliary revenues. Direct expenditures by Valley City State University alone amounted to .3 million during 2011. Additionally, the direct impact of VCSU student spending in the Valley City area was estimated at .8 million. VCSU students play a vital role in adding to the local economy through their spending habits and purchasing power. Additionally, the hundreds of jobs at VCSU result in a significant payroll for our region representing a critical force for the local economy. Likewise, the individuals and companies who are vendors to the campus and supply products and services benefit due to the spending and consumption of the University. The additional traffic brought by campus visitors is also significant. Numerous individuals attend VCSU events such as athletic contests, musical performances, plays, Homecoming activities, Graduations, and new student move-in days. These important guests spend time and money in our community while they are here at VCSU activities, thus furthering the success of our local economy.Clearly, this study demonstrates the overall combined direct and indirect impact of students, employees, and overall expenditures by VCSU each year provide a tremendous benefit for Valley City and our region. This .3 million economic impact is yet another strong example of the win-win relationship between Valley City State University and the Valley City & Barnes County areas.The "Economic Impact of the NDUS in 2011" study was completed by NDSU's Agribusiness & Applied Economics department, and more information about the study can be found here: http://www.ndus.edu/news/detail.asp?newsID=164

VALLEY CITY, ND, November 21, 2012 –The professional and life members of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) recently elected three VCSU alumni and/or faculty members into leadership positions with significant responsibilities in the international association.Steve Shirley, president of VCSU, said, "This is a rare and significant achievement for both the North Dakota Technology and Engineering Educators Association (NDTEEA) and VCSU's Department of Technology. We are proud of the leadership role VCSU plays in technology and STEM education and are confident that these individuals will make outstanding contributions."James (Jim) Boe, DTE, was named president-elect. Jim is the chair of the Department of Technology at VCSU as well as a 1991 graduate. Jim will serve successive one-year terms as the president-elect, president, and past president for the association. His responsibilities for the first year will include working with all association committees to develop program plans and ensure their implementation, coordinating committee nominations, preparing the 'Committee Handbook,' assisting with annual meetings and the international conference, and assisting the president in all association activities. In years two and three, his responsibilities will change according to the office.Peder Gjovik was named a NDTEEA affiliate representative. Pete is on the faculty of VCSU's Department of Technology and is a 1977 graduate. In addition to his current role as co-chair for the ITEEA Teacher Excellence Awards committee, Pete will serve as North Dakota's affiliate representative for a minimum of three years. His responsibilities will include reporting state membership to the regional director, attending conferences and training opportunities, and selecting the teacher and program excellence award recipients annually. He will also continue serving as the co-chair of the Teacher Excellence Awards committee.Don Fischer was named the ITEEA Region III director. Don, a 1979 graduate of VCSU, served as the STEM coordinator at VCSU's Great Plains STEM Education Center for 19 months, and is currently the technology and engineering education state supervisor in the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education. Don will serve a two-year term, and his responsibilities will include representing the region's best interests on the Board of Directors, preparing reports on region membership growth, and working with regional affiliate representatives. Region III includes eleven states and two provinces.These individuals will assume their new responsibilities in March, 2013.Valley City State University (VCSU) prepares people for life through visionary leadership and exemplary practices in teaching, learning and service. VCSU is nationally acclaimed for attracting and retaining talented individuals who advance quality learning opportunities and economic growth through technology and innovation.###