Hotline 11.17.21
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- President’s Column: Activated Carbon Update
- VCSU Music presents Fall Instrumental concert
- VCSU Art Gallery presents Fruit Delight
- Operation; End Hunger 2021
- Boost before the holidays!
- Viking Sports Update
- What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
The VCSU Hotline online newsletter is published weekly during the school year. The deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. Friday. Please submit articles to jerilyn.beckman@vcsu.edu.
President's Column: Activated Carbon Update
Wesley Wintch, Vice President for Business Affairs at VCSU provided an update on the activated carbon plant at the last State Board of Higher Education meeting on October 28, 2021. The following column is a condensed version of the presentation.
VCSU has been exploring the possibility of developing a revenue stream from activated carbons for the past number of years. Activated carbons are carbon char, usually created from coal or another carbon-based source, that has been activated with steam. The process opens the pores of the carbon char allowing the pores to capture impurities. These are most often used to remove impurities from water or air. Activated carbons are salable on the open market for items like air filters, masks, and water filtration systems.
The 2015 North Dakota Legislative Council authorized funding of a new heat plant at VCSU to ensure a long-term, stable, and economic heating source. The heat plant is constructed and operational. A part of this project included a coal-fired steam boiler to provide the necessary infrastructure for the development of a new activated carbons plant which would connect directly to the new heat plant. A byproduct of reducing coal into char is syn-gas. This is a volatile gas that can be combusted and requires the same emission capture equipment needed for coal combustion. The new plant has a boiler designed to burn syn-gas as well as coal with the pollution capture equipment in place. The forward-thinking scientist partners designed this plant to use the combustion of the syn-gas to make steam. This steam is then used to activate the char, and any additional steam created can be diverted and utilized to heat our campus.

Prior to the 2017 legislative session a business plan and feasibility study helped determine enough proof of concept for the project to be economically viable. VCSU was granted authorization to sell self-liquidating revenue bonds of $22.5 million for the construction of the plant. The initial business plan projected a profit of $400K in the first year increasing to over $1M in future years. Additionally, it is projected the project will offset over $350K in annual heating bills for campus.
This will provide outstanding learning and research opportunities for our students. Additionally, the revenue-generating plant will utilize ND lignite coal as feedstock and provide an environmentally friendly solution to power needs. We will keep you posted as the plans solidify and develop further. The next steps are to complete the business plan for potential investors, develop an executive summary of the engineering feasibility study, formalize the legal structure, and continue efforts to identify buyers for the activated carbon product. Transaction timing is important to ensure limited time between the sale of the bonds and the start of the project. If progress continues, we anticipate selling bonds in spring 2022.
Go Vikings!!
VCSU Music presents Fall Instrumental concert
VCSU Department of Music presents the Fall Instrumental Concert on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Vangstad Auditorium.
The concert will feature performances by the Jazz Band, a percussion soloist, percussion ensemble and Concert Band.
VCSU Art Gallery presents Fruit Delight
Fruit Delight, Kayla Triebold’s senior art exhibition, will take place from Nov. 15 to Dec. 3 on the VCSU campus in the McCarthy Gallery. The artist talk will take place on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. via livestream on VCSU’s YouTube channel. A link to the replay will be available after the event.
This exhibit focuses on the beauty of fruit inside and out with concentration on the particular color and patterns each fruit contains. Through this body of work, Triebold has created a plethora of pieces that entices the viewer to see past the obvious but truly examine the characteristics of each fruit. She portrays fruit in an entirely new and exciting way through various mediums including photography and painting.
Triebold, majoring in Elementary Education and Art with a minor in Digital Media, plans to student teach for Elementary Education in spring 2022. After attending and graduating from VCSU, Triebold dreams of becoming a first-grade teacher while being a freelance artist/designer on the side.
Operation; End Hunger 2021
Valley City High School’s student council invites community members, businesses and groups within Barnes County to participate in this year’s Operation; End Hunger 2021.
VCHS classes (7-12) will compete against each other for the most food/monetary items collected from Nov. 15 to Nov. 19.
Donations from the community can be dropped off during the Community Collection on Nov. 19 from noon-3 p.m. in the Hi-Liner Activity Center. All donations will be packed in a Bernatello’s truck for the Barnes County Food Pantry.
To arrange another donation time, contact abby.ingstad@k12.nd.us.
Specific needs for the pantry include:
- Canned goods
- Cereal
- Boxed foods
- Paper towels
- Toiletries
- Kleenex
Boost before the holidays!
VCSU will be hosting a booster shot clinic (Moderna) for students, employees/family this Thursday, Nov. 18. The event will be held in the Student Center Skoal Room from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Vaccinations are by appointment only. You can reserve your spot at https://www.ndvax.org//appointment/en/reg/0008621539.
Haven’t received your first or second dose yet?
Or need a Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson booster instead? Call CCHD at 701-845-8518.
Questions about the clinic? Call VCSU Health Services at 701-845-7305.
Need to get tested? Community testing events are held at the Rec Center on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.
Viking Sports Update
Football
The VCSU football team finished the season receiving votes in the final Top 25 poll released on Sunday. The Vikings checked in at No. 27 in the poll after posting an 8-2 overall record this season. VCSU set or tied nine school records this season. Read more: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4223
Volleyball
Nov. 12: VCSU 3, Mayville State 1
Nov. 12: Viterbo 3, VCSU 0
Viking Volleyball advanced to the semifinals of the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament this past weekend. The Vikings bowed up with a loss to Viterbo University – the No. 2-ranked team in the nation. The Vikings finish the season with a 14-18 overall record.
Men’s Basketball
Nov. 12: University of Jamestown 81, VCSU 64
Nov. 13: VCSU 111, Yellowstone Christian College 68
VCSU men’s basketball is now 4-3 overall this season. The Vikings travel to Forest City, Iowa, this weekend for a pair of games at the Waldorf Classic.
Women’s Basketball
Nov. 12: Northwestern College 81, VCSU 38
Nov. 13: Dordt University 95, VCSU 67
Nov. 16: Bemidji State 79, VCSU 46 (Exhibition game)
The VCSU women’s basketball team is now 2-3 overall this season. The Vikings play games Friday and Saturday in Mayville, N.D., at the Dakota Clash Classic.
Upcoming Events
Nov. 19-20: Men’s Basketball at Waldorf Classic (Forest City, Iowa)
– Nov. 19 vs. Clarke University, 6 p.m.
– Nov. 20 vs. Iowa Wesleyan, 1 p.m.
Nov. 19-20: Women’s Basketball at Dakota Clash Classic (Mayville, N.D.)
– Nov. 19 vs. Dakota State, 5:30 p.m.
– Nov. 20 vs. Presentation College, 1 p.m.
Nov. 23: WBB/MBB vs. Trinity Bible College, 5/7 p.m. (Valley City)
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
Ongoing
Nov. 15 – Dec. 3
VCSU Art Gallery presents Fruit Delight, senior artist exhibit by Kayla Triebold
Dacotah Bank Community Gift Tree
Gift wrap your donation, label with boy/girl and age then drop off at Dacotah Bank!
Wednesday, Nov. 17
- Noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
- 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center
Thursday, Nov. 18
- 7 a.m. Optimist Club, Vicky’s Viking Room
- 2:30-4 p.m. Moderna booster shot clinic, Student Center Skoal Room
- 7 p.m. Current and pressing issues for our state discussion with representative Ruth Buffalo, District 27 and Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, VCSU Rhoades Science Center
Friday, Nov. 19
- 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center
Saturday, Nov. 20
- 2 p.m. Christmas at Homewood, home of Tim & Becky Hager – more details at https://www.facebook.com/events/237474865107790
Monday, Nov. 22
- 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center
Wednesday, Nov. 24
- 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center
Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.