Not everything is about COVID-19
Greetings from Valley City State University!
As we continue to navigate through April and into the waning weeks of the semester, I’m pleased to report that faculty are delivering instruction, students are attending classes, support services are helping out with tutoring, advising and registration is taking place, and planning for summer and next fall continues. Valley City State University is up and running strong!
Next I’d like to recognize Shane Hitch, one of our top students in the Computer Systems and Software Engineering Department. Recently Shane finished among the top five in a Capture the Flag cybersecurity competition hosted by the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC). He was one of more than 300 national and international competitors participating in the virtual cybersecurity challenge in March.
“Now, more than ever, students need to know how to operate safely online,” said Chuck Gardner, NICERC director of curriculum. “The current COVID-19 environment is presenting threat actors with opportunities to capitalize on our fears. Capture the Flag competitions give students hands-on opportunities to learn how to prevent malicious events at home, in school or at work.” We congratulate Shane for his continued success in these endeavors!
Additionally, we learned this past week that VCSU alumna Kimmy (Mandt) Milligan ’07 was named the Fargo Public Schools 2020 Teacher of the Year. Elementary student performance strategist at Eagles Elementary, Kimmy was cited for her commitment to students and the teaching profession, tirelessly advocating for students and personalizing the learning experience for each student.
In addition to a VCSU bachelor’s degree in elementary education, Kimmy holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from North Dakota State University and a master’s degree in elementary curriculum and instruction from St. Catherine’s University. She also holds reading, math, and kindergarten endorsements.
We congratulate Kimmy on this outstanding recognition!
Finally, I’d like to provide an update on the Center for the Arts construction project. The first half of the construction documents have been completed, and bid packages will be let soon. A walk-through of the site with potential subcontractors will be held April 30, with bids due on May 7. The anticipated start date for construction is June 1.
We may not be able to bring everyone together physically for a formal ground-breaking ceremony in the traditional sense, but we will celebrate as we begin the construction on this long-awaited project.
Go Vikings!