7 VCSU Students Receive 2026 Viking Pilot Award

Photo: VCSU’s Viking Pilot recipients, clockwise from top left – Olivia Backus, Alliana Freund, Cherokee Warnecke, Madilyn Klabo, Zachary St. Aubin, Nyssa Haslerud and Sarah Monilaws.

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – The Valley City State University Student Senate has awarded its 2026 Viking Pilot award to seven students in recognition of their diverse contributions to campus.

Olivia Backus (Sandy, Utah), Alliana Freund (Cando, N.D.), Cherokee Warnecke (New England, N.D.), Madilyn Klabo (Valley City), Sarah Monilaws (Absaraka, N.D.), Nyssa Haslerud (Mapleton, N.D.) and Zachary St. Aubin (Ashley, N.D.) received the award, which is presented by VCSU Student Senate and selected by a joint committee of VCSU students, faculty and staff.

The Viking Pilot Award was founded in 1931 and remains a prestigious honor. The award is annually presented to upper class campus leaders who have made substantial contributions to the campus during their time at VCSU.

Olivia Backus is a junior and will graduate in 2027 with degrees in health science and chemistry. She has been involved with numerous campus organizations including Student Senate, Pre-Professional Club, NSLS and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is a dual sport athlete, competing for both VCSU women’s basketball and the track and field team. Olivia has also been a Viking Voyage Mentor and a Res Life RA.

Sarah Monilaws will graduate this spring with a degree in corporate communications and minors in marketing and digital design. She is president of VCSU DECA and has also been involved at the state level as the vice president for ND Collegiate DECA. During Sarah’s time as VCSU she has served as a New Student Orientation leader, a Viking Voyage mentor and was a member of the women’s golf team. She has worked for both athletics and the VCSU marketing department as a student employee, contributing to the promotion of VCSU and its students.

Alliana Freund will graduate this fall with a degree in English education. She has been involved in numerous clubs and organizations at VCSU, including English Club, Drama Club and Speech Team – to name a few. She was also selected to serve as a student representative on official campus committees, offering the important student perspective and voice. Alliana works for both Communications Arts and the Language and Literature Department, and has also served as a tutor, Viking Voyage Mentor and Res Life RA.

Cherokee Warnecke graduates this fall with a degree in English education and a minor in music. She is the current president of VCSU Student Senate and a member of English Club and Social Justice Club. Cherokee has also been involved at the state level as a member of the North Dakota Student Association, helping to represent the voice of VCSU and all NDUS students. On campus, Cherokee has served as both a Res Life RA and a tutor in the Learning Commons.

Madilyn Klabo graduates this fall with a degree in K-12 music education. She has worked as both a Res Life RA and a tutor in the Learning Commons while being heavily involved in campus clubs and organizations. She has been president of the NAfME VCSU Chapter along with involvement in English Club, Early Music Club, Choir and Band. She was a founding member of the VCSU Speech Team and has served in Student Senate.

Nyssa Haslerud is a junior who will graduate in the Fall of 2027 with degree in K-12 music education and a minor in sociology. Nyssa has made an impact through her involvement in campus groups such as NAfME VCSU, English Club, Concert Choir, Early Music Club and Student Senate – where she currently serves as vice president. She works as an assistant hall director for McCoy Hall and Snoeyenbos Hall and is also a student worker at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts.

Zachary St. Aubin graduates this spring with a degree in environmental science and a minor in Spanish. He is president of the Spanish Club and has been involved in faculty hiring committees and several campus organizations such as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Vikes for Christ and Campus Crusaders for Christ. He is a member of the men’s golf team and has held various student jobs on campus including a tutor at the Learning Commons, night manager at the Student Center Info Desk and student assistant with the VCSU Prairie Waters Education and Research Center.

The Viking Pilot award is sponsored by VCSU Student Senate. Nominations can be made by all students and employees. Honorees are selected each spring by a joint committee of VCSU students, faculty and staff.