Hotline // April 9, 2025
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- VCSU named a 2024-25 College of Distinction
- Tickets Available for 30th Annual VCSU Scholarship Auction
- VCSU Wellness Fair to take place on April 16
- Hornung competes at national speech tournament
- 2025 Scholar Symposium: call for submissions
- Viking sports update
- What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
VCSU named a 2024-25 College of Distinction
Valley City State University is proud to announce its recognition as a 2024-2025 College of Distinction, an honor that highlights its commitment to providing an exceptional undergraduate education.
Since its founding in 2000, Colleges of Distinction has awarded schools for their successful implementation of high-impact educational practices and hands-on learning. The award reflects VCSU’s dedication to hands-on learning, strong student-faculty relationships, an active campus community, and successful student outcomes.
“A college degree opens the door to many opportunities,” said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer at Colleges of Distinction. “But a truly worthwhile education prepares students to thrive once they walk through that door. VCSU’s curriculum encourages meaningful student-faculty collaboration through experiential learning that is relevant and applicable to the real world.”
In addition to being recognized as a “Best College” by Colleges of Distinction, VCSU was also recognized for its excellence in four specific areas: education degrees, business degrees, career development and affordability.
“Valley City State University strives to offer high-quality experiences for all students who attend VCSU,” said VCSU President Alan LaFave. “Being named a College of Distinction confirms what we see every day: students who choose to call VCSU home have a great experience and leave with a trusted degree at a reasonable price.”
Valley City State is one of just three institutions in North Dakota to be named a College of Distinction.
About Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to honoring schools with a dedicated focus on the undergraduate experience. Its website provides dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information, visit the Colleges of Distinction website.
Tickets Available for 30th Annual VCSU Scholarship Auction
Tickets are still available for the 30th annual VCSU Scholarship Auction happening Friday, April 11.
“Adventure Awaits! A Night Full of Treasure” begins at 5 p.m. Friday at the Valley City Eagles Club. This year’s pirate-themed event will be full of treasure, swashbuckling adventurers, and a feast fit for a captain.
Auction tickets are on sale now for $70 each, which includes admission, two drink tickets and a buffet dinner. Purchase tickets online or by contacting the VCSU Foundation office at 701-845-7203.
The night begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. The buffet dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with live auction to follow at 7 p.m. This is an opportunity to bid on great items while contributing to scholarships, offering some financial relief for future and current VCSU students.
As in past auctions, the evening will also feature the popular Mystery Wine Table along with a variety of raffle giveaways. Games and contests throughout the night include raffle boards, a prize wheel and a Norwegian raffle.
Live Auction
Items on the live auction will be listed on the VCSU Alumni Website prior to Friday’s event. The live auction includes numerous VCSU items along with trips, unique experiences and event packages.
Silent Auction
Online bidding is now open for Silent Auction items. The silent auction will be set up in-person this year at the Eagles club, but bids will still be made exclusively in the Handbid app. Silent auction bidding concludes at 7:30 p.m. on the night of the auction. The Handbid app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store. After downloading, participants follow the prompts to create an account, then choose “VCSU Scholarship Auction 2025” from the list. Silent auction participants do not need to be present to win.
VCSU Wellness Fair to take place on April 16
Valley City State University Student Health Services will host the annual Wellness Fair on Wednesday, April 16, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the VCSU Student Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Attendees can expect amazing door prizes, hands on activities, and wellness information from 27 different campus, local, and state entities. Sponsored by Essentia Health, Sanford Health, and CHI Mercy Health, the VCSU Wellness Fair offers you the opportunity to discover resources to develop healthy habits that can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.
The ND Department of Health and Human Services will be returning this year to provide free, confidential HIV testing for students, employees and members of the community. Participants who get tested will receive a coupon for a free small beverage at Viking Grounds.
Attendees can also try a variety of health screenings and fitness testing, earning them the chance at winning door prizes such as workout gear, cooking appliances and gift cards.
VCSU employees who attend the Wellness Fair and participate in the Dakota Wellness Program will receive a voucher for a one-day event.
The service providers, vendors and exhibitors participating in the Wellness Fair include:
- Abused Persons Outreach Center
- b-Fit 24/7
- Bank of ND
- Bismarck Cancer Center
- Central Valley Health District
- CHI Mercy Health/ Cardiac Ready Community
- City County Health District
- Dakota Nursing Program
- Essentia Health
- Foundation for Healthy ND
- Gaukler Wellness Center/VCPR
- Mobility Plus Rehab
- North Country Trail Association
- ND Department of Health and Human Services
- NDUS/Barnes County Extension Agency
- ND Navigators
- Prairie St. John’s
- Sanford Health
- Sodexo Nutrition Services
- Valley City Green Dot
- VCSU Counseling Services
- VCSU Green Dot
- VCSU Fitness Assessment and Prescription Class
- VCSU Activities for the Physical Educator Class
- VCSU Pre-Professional Club
- VCSU Multicultural Affairs
- VCSU Technology Services
- VCSU Student Health Services
For more information about this event, contact Betty Tykwinski at betty.j.tykwinski@vcsu.edu or call 701-845-7305.
Hornung competes at national speech tournament
Valley City State University junior Grady Hornung competed this weekend at the American Forensics Association (AFA) National Speech Tournament in North Carolina. Hornung earned his spot at nationals through placing in competition at multiple events this year.
Hornung qualified in Dramatic Interpretation and competed in three rounds at the 47th AFA National Speech Tournament hosted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
A native of Walhalla, N.D., Hornung has been an active member of the recently revived VCSU Speech Team. The team included students from multiple academic disciplines on campus. Members competed in nine tournaments across the upper Midwest region, online and nationally.
“Competing in AFA Nationals was an amazing opportunity that I will treasure with me for the rest of my life,” Hornung said. “I have made so many new friends and learned new skills that will help me in my career through forensics. This activity truly gives students a voice and promotes advocacy in ways that I have never gotten to experience prior to competing.”
“Speech and competitive forensics allow students to find, develop and raise their voices in a unique and time-honored way,” said Tammy Jo A. Taft, assistant professor of Communication Arts and VCSU speech team coach. “It was exciting that Grady qualified for this national tournament. Qualifying requires extensive preparation and competitive focus. This was Grady’s first year in college speech, and he excelled.”
Other students competing and participating in VCSU Speech this year include Tara Dahl, Alliana Freund, Kelby Gjovik, Madi Klabo, Eric Leik, Lallie Red Horn, TJ Tegtmeier and Trista Weigelt.
Tournament competition includes 11 different events for individuals or partners. A variety of interpretive events like prose, poetry and drama are included. Other categories include original content created by the competitor. These include impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, after dinner speaking, informative and persuasive speaking.
For more information about VCSU Speech contact coach Tammy Jo Taft at tammyjo.taft@vcsu.edu.
2025 Scholar Symposium: call for submissions
The 2025 Valley City State University Scholar Symposium will be held in the main lobby of the Larry J. Robinson Center For the Arts on Tuesday, May 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The annual event allows undergraduate students to showcase their research, writing, and other creative projects developed over the past academic year. Last year’s event featured 65+ student-designed projects representing seven departments across campus, revealing the wide-range of scholarship VCSU students produced individually and collaboratively in more than 20 unique courses.
Student recipients of the SOAR (Student Opportunities for Academic Research) Award and of the EPSCOR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) Award presented their advanced research projects, and faculty members from three different departments shared their discipline-specific research and creative scholarship from the past academic year.
Students are encouraged to participate in the Scholar Symposium, as presenters and/or attendees, as this event is designed to showcase and celebrate the individual and collaborative vibrant academic work of VCSU students and faculty across campus.
Contact event coordinator Emily D. Wicktor, associate professor for language and literature, at emily.wicktor@vcsu.edu for more information on the submission process.
Submission forms are due by April 24.
Viking sports update
TRACK & FIELD
Karly Just and Jordan Mount each set school records at the Al Bortke Open hosted by the University of Mary on Sunday. Just set a new school record in the 10,000-meter while Mount broke the 400-meter school record. The Vikings compete at the NDSU Spring Classic on Friday and Saturday.
BASEBALL
VCSU dropped its 4-game series to Dakota State April 5-6 on the road. The Vikings are now 15-22 overall and 0-8 in the North Star. VCSU hosts the University of Jamestown for its home opener on Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 12 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Valley City State went 1-3 against Bellevue University April 6-7. The games were originally scheduled to be played in Valley City but were moved to Bellevue due to field conditions. VCSU is now slated to host Jamestown for its home opener this Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m.
GOLF
Sydney Carlson carded a 169 (81-88) to pace the Viking women in its spring opener at the Dakota Wesleyan Spring Invite. VCSU’s women placed fifth with a 710 (347-363). On the men’s side, Owen Haase fired a 156 (77-79) to lead VCSU. The Vikings tied for eighth place with a two-day 654 (316-338). The Vikings compete at the Dickinson State Invite April 13-14.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 11-12: Track & Field at NDSU Spring Invitational, 11 a.m. (Fargo)
April 11: Baseball vs. Jamestown (DH), 1/3:30 p.m. (Charlie Brown Memorial Baseball Field)
April 12: Baseball vs. Jamestown (DH), 12/2:30 p.m. (Charlie Brown Memorial Baseball Field)
April 12: Softball vs. Jamestown (DH), 2/4 p.m. (VCSU Softball Complex)
April 13: Softball vs. Jamestown (DH), 12/2 p.m. (VCSU Softball Complex)
April 13-14: Golf at Dickinson State Invite (Heart River Golf Course, Dickinson)
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
April 11
30th Annual VCSU Scholarship Auction, Valley City Eagles Club
Purchase tickets at https://www.vcsu.edu/30th-annual-vcsu-scholarship-auction-set-for-april-11-2/
April 16
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wellness Fair, Student Center
Find out what’s happening at VCSU: https://www.vcsu.edu/news-events/
Find out what’s happening in the community: https://www.valleycitycalendar.com/