Hotline // April 24, 2024
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- VCSU hosts first annual math competition
- VCSU Juried Art Exhibition starts today, April 24
- Opera Ensemble set for April 25
- VCSU Scholarship Auction this Friday
- AI Presentation Scheduled at VCSU with NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott on April 30
- Scholar symposium set for April 30
- Cheng attends choral directors conference
- Gregoryk earns certification in Academic Program and Evaluation Management (APEM)
- Viking sports update
- What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
VCSU hosts first annual math competition
Valley City State University Department of Mathematics recently hosted the 1st Annual VCSU Math Competition for students in grades 7-12 on Wednesday, April 17.
Teams came from 41 school districts around the state including Mandan, Larimore, Kindred, Lisbon, Enderlin, Mandaree, Dunseith, Flasher, Oak Grove, Dickinson, Kidder County, Northern Cass, Shanley, and many more. With 330 students in the 7-9 grade division and 214 in the 10-12 division, a total of 544 students were on campus competing in Vangstad Auditorium and Graichen Gym. The winner of the 10-12 division was awarded a $1,000 VCSU Math scholarship.
“The turnout from the school districts across the state was impressive. Some of them traveled great distances to get here and we’re glad we were able to host them on our campus. We received many compliments from participating students and their teachers. Overall, it was a great day, and we can’t wait to do it again next year,” said Jamie Wirth, Ph.D., professor for mathematics and STEM and event organizer.
See the results and photo gallery at https://www.vcsu.edu/vcsu-hosts-first-annual-math-competition/.
VCSU Juried Art Exhibition starts today, April 24
The Student Juried Art Exhibition will be displayed in the Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery from April 24 through May 10. This exhibition will display the talent of student works featuring a variety of mediums including paintings, drawings, photography, digital work and sculptures. The juror will be Anna Jacobson, Director of Education and Exhibition at the Jamestown Art Center.
The reception will take place on May 1 from 3 p.m – 4 p.m with an award ceremony at 3:30 pm. The ceremony will be recorded and posted on the VCSU Art Department’s YouTube channel and Facebook page for those who cannot attend.
Opera Ensemble set for April 25
VCSU Music Department presents Opera Ensemble Concert on April 25 in the Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m.
The ensemble, led by Stephen Cunningham, assistant professor for music, includes Madi Klabo, Myah Bolluyt, Grady Hornung, Tanner Douville, Courtney Porter, Seth Hoglund, Eli Leik, Sam Vonbank-Hoye, Izzy Haugen, Elizabeth Gazeley, Ela Day Child, Danielle McCoy, Eve Scott, Hayley Winkler, Alliana Freund, and Abigail Brown.
Performances will feature music by Johann Strauss Jr., Irvin Berlin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and many more.
The concert is open to the public and admission is free. The livestream can be viewed on the VCSU Music Department’s YouTube channel.
VCSU Scholarship Auction this Friday
Tickets for the 29th annual Valley City State University Scholarship Auction: Get Groovy, Vikings are still on sale!
Tickets are $70, fitting for this year’s 70’s-themed event on April 26, 2024 at the Valley City Eagles Club. Included with admission are a buffet dinner serving roast beef, bacon-wrapped chicken, potatoes, vegetables, salad and dessert as well as two drink tickets to use that evening. Tickets can be purchased here or by contacting the VCSU Foundation office at 701-845-7203.
Donations are still being collected for this year’s auction! If you have a donation for the silent or live auction, please notify the VCSU Foundation Office. Want to make a donation but don’t have an idea in mind? Help fill the Mystery Wine Table! Individuals or groups are asked to provide a minimum of $20 to go towards the purchase of a bottle of wine.
Schedule of events for the 29th Annual VCSU Scholarship Auction
Monday, April 22
Silent auction opens in the Handbid app – noon
Friday, April 26
Social and games of chance – 5 p.m.
Buffet Dinner – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Live Auction begins – 7 p.m.
Silent Auction closes – 7:30 p.m.
For more information regarding the VCSU Scholarship Auction, to purchase tickets or to donate an item, call the VCSU Foundation Office at 701-845-7203.
AI Presentation Scheduled at VCSU with NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott on April 30
Chancellor to present “Living and Working with Intelligent Machines: Suggesting a Way Ahead” in conjunction with the VCSU Scholar Symposium
Valley City State University (VCSU) will host a presentation about Artificial Intelligence given by North Dakota University System (NDUS) Chancellor Mark Hagerott.
The presentation is at noon Tuesday, April 30, in the Robinson Center for the Arts at VCSU, and will focus on, “Living and Working with Intelligent Machines: Suggesting a Way Ahead.”
“Artificial Intelligence will shape educational journeys and employment for the foreseeable future,” President Alan LaFave said. “We are pleased Chancellor Hagerott can visit our campus to share his insights and bring this discussion to Valley City. This is an important topic that opens doors to many new and exciting opportunities for VCSU.”
“Students and faculty from our 11 institutions, as well as representatives from the State Board of Higher Education, state and local government and private industry have been grappling with the future of higher education through a 10-year strategic planning process we call Envision 2035 over the past year. Through those discussions, we have validated that AI and digitization will influence the pursuit of all our goals regarding student success and vitality,” Hagerott said. “Our future workforce will have to contend with these technological advancements because they will have transformative effects on all sectors of society.”
The presentation is open to the public and coincides with the VCSU Scholar Symposium. The Symposium will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, in the Robinson Center for the Arts. The event provides students the opportunity to present research, writing or other creative projects developed during the academic year.
For more information about the presentation, Scholar Symposium or to schedule an interview please contact Tammy Jo Taft by emailing tammyjo.taft@vcsu.edu or calling (701) 845-7227.
Scholar symposium set for April 30
The 2024 Valley City State University Scholar Symposium will be held in the main lobby of the Robinson Center for the Arts on Tuesday, April 30 from 11 a.m – 3 p.m.
The event provides 55+ undergraduate students with the opportunity to showcase their research, writing, and other creative projects developed over the past academic year. This year’s student-designed projects represent five departments across campus, revealing the wide-range of scholarship VCSU’s students produced individually and collaboratively in 16 unique courses or special university programs.
Undergraduate student recipients of the 2023-24 SOAR (Student Opportunities for Academic Research) Award and EPSCoR ND-ACES Award will also formally present their advanced research projects, and faculty members from three different departments will share their discipline-specific research and creative scholarship from the past academic year.
Join us in the Center for the Arts next Tuesday as we showcase and celebrate student and faculty scholarship across campus. All faculty, staff, students, and Valley City community members are welcome to attend!
CFA Lobby
11 a.m. Welcome from VCSU President Alan LaFave
11 a.m. – noon
· Department of Art
· Department of Business
· Department of Computer Systems and Software Engineering
· Department of Language and Literature
1 – 2 p.m.
· Department of Business
· Department of Computer Systems and Software Engineering
· Department of Kinesiology and Human Performance
CFA 177
2 – 3 p.m.
· SOAR Recipient Project Presentations
· EPSCoR ND-ACES Recipient Project Presentation
· Faculty Presentations on Recent Research or Creative Projects
Cheng attends choral directors conference
Kewen Cheng, assistant professor for music, recently attended the biennial American Choral Directors Association Midwestern Conference held in Omaha, Neb. This four-day event featured a diverse array of choral performances, new music reading sessions and academic lectures on various aspects of choral world. Cheng attended “Sounds Before Sight: Sight-reading with Voice” by Brian Winnie, and “Refreshing Ways to Engage Audiences” by Lindsey Bruner Woodcock.
There was also an opportunity to observe choral concerts performed by dozens of different choral groups, averaging 2 to 3 concerts per day. Cheng commented, “I was inspired by the diverse types of choral repertoire and performance styles showcased during these concerts. In particular, the Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble from Boston left a profound impression on me. This ensemble, consisting of only nine members, performed highly challenging polyphonic choral music with clean and delicate voices, demonstrating exceptional blend among the vocal parts. Additionally, their countertenor soloist was particularly outstanding. Furthermore, a high school ensemble’s adaptation of Indian music for choir also greatly impressed me. The students not only sang the piece but also performed it, with the conductor creatively incorporating Indian-style dance movements, making the choral work incredibly engaging.”
Gregoryk earns certification in Academic Program and Evaluation Management (APEM)
In April, Kerry Gregoryk, Ph.D., completed the program to earn a Certificate in Academic Program and Evaluation Management (APEM) co-sponsored by the Center for Higher Education Leadership and Innovative Practice (CHELIP) at Bay Path University and Gray Decision Intelligence.
This program provides higher-education leaders, decision-makers, and analysts an understanding of the data, systems, processes, and participants needed to make well-informed and broadly-supported program decisions consistent with an institution’s mission, academic standards, markets and program economics. Gregoryk learned of the certificate program through her work with the Association for Institutional Research and started the program almost a year ago recognizing the need for these critically important skills in her role at VCSU as Director for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning.
Viking sports update
Track & Field
The Valley City State track and field team won 18 events and set a new school record Tuesday as the Vikings hosted their annual Viking Twilight Meet. The women’s 4×100 relay team set a new school record by almost a full second as they rounded the track in a time of 50.54 seconds. VCSU’s team of Olivia Backus, Lily Baldwin, Karina Olson and Shanti Adams broke the old school record of 51.45 set back in 1997.
Full story: https://vcsuvikings.com/news/2024/4/23/mens-track-and-field-vcsu-wins-18-events-at-viking-twilight-meet.aspx
Golf
Sydney Carlson took medalist honors by five strokes at the VCSU Spring Invite played Monday and Tuesday at CrossRoads Golf Club in Carrington. Carlson held a one-stroke lead over Dickinson’s Elly LeBlanc after carding an 81 in the opening round Monday. She fired another 81 in the final round to hold on for her second career individual win.
Baseball
VCSU Baseball swept a 4-game series at Mayville State University last weekend, getting strong pitching and some clutch hits as they won all four games by scores of 4-1, 8-6, 2-1 and 7-6. The Vikings are now 18-27 overall and 10-10 in conference play. VCSU is currently third in the conference standings with one series remaining. The Vikings will host Dickinson State on Thursday at 1 p.m. for VCSU Senior Day.
Softball
Viking Softball split a four-game series with Dickinson State last weekend, splitting doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday. The Vikings are currently 22-19 overall and 14-5 in conference play. They sit second in the NSAA standings with four conference games remaining.
Upcoming Events
April 25: Track & Field at U-Mary Classic (Bismarck, N.D.)
April 25: Baseball vs. Dickinson State, 1:00/3:30 p.m. (Valley City)
April 25: Softball at Mayville State, 2:00/4:00 p.m. (Mayville)
April 26: Baseball vs. Dickinson State (Time/Location TBD)
April 28: Softball at Mayville State (Time/Location TBD)
April 29: Baseball at University of St. Thomas, 3:00 p.m.
April 29-30: Golf at NSAA Championships (La Crosse, Wis.)
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
