VCSU Spring Commencement Set for May 16
VCSU Celebrates Largest Spring Graduating Class in School History
VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University will host its 134th Commencement Exercises at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 16, inside the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.
VCSU will celebrate the largest spring semester graduating class in school history, recognizing more than 230 students who completed their degrees during the 2026 spring semester and more than 350 students who completed degrees over the past year.
About 180 graduates are expected to attend the ceremony.
Interim President Allen Burgad will preside over the commencement exercises. Michelle Kommer will represent the State Board of Higher Education (SBHE). The undergraduate reflection is being delivered by graduating senior Tara Dahl and the faculty reflection will be presented by Lindsey Kiecker.
The in-person ceremony will also be live-streamed on VCSU’s YouTube Channel.
Watch the 2026 Spring Commencement Ceremony
Visit the VCSU Commencement Website
Select graduating seniors will also be recognized at the annual Senior Awards Ceremony, which happens Friday, May 15. Honor cords will be presented to qualifying seniors and various departments on campus will announce their senior awards.
Watch the 2026 Senior Awards Ceremony
Undergraduate Speaker
Tara Dahl is graduating today with Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. Dahl completed her degree requirements in December 2025 and immediately began working as a full-time music teacher for Glendive Public Schools in Montana. Dahl grew up on a ranch near Hazelton, N.D., and has always had a deep love of playing music, singing and performing. She has been involved in band, choir, jazz band, pep band and various student leadership roles on campus. She was a section leader in both band and choir and served as the drum major for pep band during her final season. Tara credits VCSU for helping to shape her as a teacher and musician by giving her the opportunity for real experiences such as practicum hours, outreach to area schools, running sectionals and student teaching.
Faculty Speaker
Lindsey Kiecker is an associate professor of science, joining the VCSU faculty ranks in 2023. She teaches chemistry courses, including Introductory, General, Inorganic, Physical, and Quantitative Chemical Analysis. She also supervises science education students and teaches the Secondary Science Methods and Techniques course. A native of Jamestown, N.D., Kiecker earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry Education from VCSU in 2023, and a Master of Science in Chemistry from South Dakota State University in 2025. Kiecker recently received the VCSU Junior Faculty Excellence Award, voted on by faculty, and the Student Senate Teacher of the Year award, selected by students. Students describe her as an amazing and dedicated professor who goes above and beyond. Kiecker enjoys learning about, and showing students colorful chemistry. Outside of class you can find her practicing chemical demonstrations, working with student researchers designing science lab activities, or providing a listening ear to students.
Lindsey Kiecker (left) and Tara Dahl will deliver the Faculty and Undergraduate reflections at commencement.