Hotline // October 14, 2026

VCSU Hosting 2026 Tomorrow’s Teachers Visit Days

High School Students Interested in Teaching Invited to Oct. 28 and Nov. 18 Events

REGISTER FOR TOMORROW’S TEACHERS DAYS

Valley City State University’s nationally recognized School of Education is hosting a pair of Tomorrow’s Teachers Days during the 2026 fall semester, giving high school students an inside look at VCSU’s teacher education programs.

High school juniors and seniors who are considering a career in education are invited to attend the day-long events on either Wednesday, Oct. 28, or Wednesday, Nov. 18. The events run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day.

Students who are interested in elementary education and secondary education careers can  meet professors and attend education classes with current VCSU students, tour campus and the recently renovated School of Education, and visit with current students enrolled in VCSU’s education programs. Lunch at the Student Center will also be provided.

“We want students to gain an authentic, hands-on perspective of the teaching profession and our program,” said Joan Klein, interim dean for the VCSU School of Education. “They’ll have an opportunity to hear from our current teacher education majors and experience both the joys and rewards of the classroom as they consider education as a future career pathway.”

Students interested in attending one of the Tomorrow’s Teachers events are asked to pre-register on VCSU’s website. Those who attend the event will have a chance to receive a $500 scholarship to VCSU.

For questions about Tomorrow’s Teachers Visit Days, please contact Rachel Bopp in the School of Education at rachel.n.bopp@vcsu.edu.

VCSU was recently ranked the Best College for Teacher Education in North Dakota by Niche.com and is also ranked among the Top 50 in the entire country. U.S. News and World Report also named VCSU the #1 Public Regional College in the 12-state Midwest region in its 2027 rankings.

VCSU’s teacher education degrees are available both on campus, online, and through various cooperative agreements with other North Dakota colleges and universities. Valley City State is a regional leader in teacher education and awards more bachelor’s degrees in education than any other university in the state. At latest count, there are more than 1500 VCSU alumni working as teachers or administrators in 340+ North Dakota schools.

McCarthy Hall reopened on campus in the Fall of 2025 after a $13.5 million renovation. It is the new home for VCSU’s School of Education with modern classrooms, labs, and the latest technology needed to train future teachers.

VCSU Invites Prospective Students to Viking Visit Days

High school students considering their college options are invited to experience Valley City State University firsthand through an upcoming Viking Visit Day.

Viking Visit Days provide prospective students and their families an easy opportunity to explore campus, learn about academic programs, connect with faculty and current students, and gain valuable information about admissions, scholarships, financial aid, housing, and student life.

“Visiting campus is one of the best ways for students to determine if a university is the right fit,” said Erin Heide, director for enrollment services. “We want students to leave campus feeling like they belong here. Viking Visit Days offer a firsthand look at the people, programs, and experiences that make VCSU unique.”

In addition to general visit days, VCSU will host two Tomorrow’s Teachers Visit Days, designed for students interested in pursuing careers in education. These special events offer additional information about VCSU’s nationally recognized teacher education programs and the opportunities available to future educators.

Students and families are encouraged to register online for Viking Visit Days.

• Viking Visit Day – Online Registration

Additionally, prospective students and their families are always welcome to arrange individual campus visits by contacting the Enrollment Services Office at enrollment.services@vcsu.edu or scheduling online.

• Schedule an individual campus visit

2026 -27 Visit Days

• Friday, October 16: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Saturday, October 17: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 28: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Tomorrow’s Teachers Visit Day
• Saturday, November 7: 9-11 a.m.
• Saturday, November 14: 9-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, November 18: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Tomorrow’s Teachers Visit Day
• Friday, February 5: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Friday, March 19: 9-11 a.m.
• Friday, April 23: 9-11 a.m.

VCSU to Celebrate National Day on Writing on Oct. 20

The VCSU campus will celebrate the National Day on Writing on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Student Center. Join the VCSU English Club, Spanish Club, Allen Memorial Library, and the Department of Language and Literature in a variety of reading, writing, creative and translation activities.

The National Council of Teachers of English describes the purpose of this day, “To draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing Americans engage in and to help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft, the National Council of Teachers of English has established Oct. 20 as the National Day on Writing®. It’s important for everyone to share their knowledge about writing, organize participating groups in our schools and/or communities, and transform the public’s understanding of writing and the role it plays in society today.”

Contact Emily D. Wicktor, event coordinator and associate professor for English, if you have questions: emily.wicktor@vcsu.edu.

Follow along on social media @ncte, @vcsulanglitdept, #WhyIWrite and #VCSUWriting.

Bopp Receives Staff Member of the Quarter Award

Rachel Bopp, education programs coordinator, recently received the Staff Member of the Quarter award.

She was nominated for being an essential member of the School of Education whose work supports hundreds of teacher candidates, faculty, advisors, and staff each year. As Education Programs Coordinator, she monitors candidate progress, manages assessment data, maintains key resources and communications, and plays a vital role in supporting VCSU’s dual-degree partnership with Bismarck State College. Known for her positive attitude, strong work ethic, and collaborative approach, Rachel consistently delivers high-quality work and has been instrumental in helping the School of Education navigate significant changes, including new admission requirements, growing teacher-candidate populations, and the transition to McCarthy Hall. Through her professionalism, ongoing professional development, and commitment to student success, Rachel makes a lasting impact on the School of Education and the broader VCSU community.

Montgomery Helps to Reinstate ND Chapter of the Society for Range Management

Trista Montgomery, assistant professor for science, played a pivotal role in bringing the ND Chapter of the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting back to life after a 10-year hiatus. She assisted in securing speakers and sponsors for the event; and had a blast creating and leading the facilitated discussion titled “The Partnership Roundtable: Turning Knowledge Into Action” in an effort to bring government agencies, non-government organizations, universities, and private landowners together to conserve North Dakota rangelands. Her Range Management students tagged along to hear talks on issues and research related to woody encroachment, prescribed burning, and grazing system technologies. They also participated in the facilitated discussion, which allowed them to have constructive conversations with professionals in their field.

ND Envirothon Takes Place on VCSU campus

The VCSU Science Department hosted the ND Envirothon Sheyenne Valley Regional competition on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Science faculty Trista Montgomery, Staci Dreyer-Larson, Ellen Fehr, Hunter Green, and science students all took part in planning and executing a successful day for area high school students to compete in environmental and natural resource topics and issues. Medicine Wheel Park is a favorite location for the region’s trail test.

Viking Sports Update

Volleyball
Valley City State battled through two four-set road matches Oct. 9-10, falling to Montana Tech
and Montana Western. The Vikings won the third set in both contests but finished the trip at 6-14
overall and 4-9 in Frontier Conference play.

At Montana Tech, VCSU hit .519 with 17 kills in its third-set victory. Madden Bogenreif
finished with 12 kills and 21 assists, while Eden Carrier added eight kills on a .429 hitting
percentage. Gracie Schumacher contributed 20 assists and 10 digs.

The Vikings followed with a defensive battle at Montana Western, collecting 119 digs and saving
match point before winning the third set 28-26. Hudson Zerface led six Vikings in double figures
with 25 digs, while Schumacher recorded 22 digs and 18 assists. Madysen Geist paced the
offense with 11 kills, followed by Carrier and Kadie Kocka with 10 apiece.

Football
VCSU erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit at Mayville State on Oct. 10, but a 26-yard field
goal as time expired gave the Comets a 36-33 victory. Jonathan Hunter caught a 32-yard
touchdown pass from Brayden Medeiros, and Laggarius Marshell added a two-yard scoring run
to tie the game with 4:08 remaining.

Marshell rushed for 133 yards, while Medeiros passed for 171 yards. James Dahn provided an
early special teams highlight, returning a blocked extra point 97 yards for two points. Gavin
Gerhardt and Anthony Madsen led the defense with eight tackles each. After three straight road
games, the Vikings return to Lokken Stadium to host Dakota State on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 4 p.m.

Supporting Matt Donovan and His Family
VCSU Athletics is collecting donations to support Mayville State quarterback Matt Donovan and
his family with medical expenses throughout his recovery. Donation buckets will be available at
all VCSU home games this week and in the Bubble athletics office Monday through Friday from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VCSU Booster Club
Fans can also join the VCSU Booster Club for a tailgate Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 5 p.m. on the
lawn north of the Bubble before the Vikings face Mayville State in a volleyball match-up.

Upcoming Events
Oct. 14: Volleyball vs. Mayville State, 7 p.m. (W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, Valley City, N.D.)
Oct. 16: Volleyball vs. Providence, 6 p.m. – Faculty and Staff Night (W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse,
Valley City, N.D.)
Oct. 17: Volleyball vs. Montana State-Northern, 11 a.m. (W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, Valley City,
N.D.)
Oct. 17: Football vs. Dakota State, 4 p.m. – Parents Day (Lokken Stadium, Valley City, N.D.)
Live video and statistics links are available at vcsuvikings.com

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...

October 16
Viking Visit Day
7 p.m. Classical Guitarist Curtis Thompson performs “Snapshots of Latin America”

October 17
Viking Visit Day

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/