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Hotline

Hotline // December 4, 2024

Dec 4, 2024

A newspaper backdrop with a white chevron and the words Hotline, The weekly newsletter of Valley City State University

This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:


VCSU Music presents holiday concerts Dec. 12-13

VCSU's Center for the Arts shines bright during the early evening with white snow on the ground.

The Valley City State University music department presents a pair of concerts in Valley City on Dec. 12-13, featuring various groups and holiday classics.

Christmas at St. Cate’s is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12, and the VCSU Holiday Showcase is Friday, Dec. 13.

After a one-year hiatus, VCSU Music returns to St. Catherine’s Church in Valley City with its Christmas at St. Cate’s performance on Thursday, Dec. 12. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and includes VCSU’s Concert Choir and University Singers, and will also feature various instrumentalists, the String Quintet, Brass Ensemble, and vocal solos.

Among the scheduled songs are Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Peace, Peace” (a piece that the audience sings “Silent Night”). There is no admission fee for Christmas at St. Cate’s, but a free-will donation is encouraged.

VCSU musicians return to campus on Friday, Dec. 13, for the VCSU Holiday Showcase at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. This concert in presented in conjunction with the annual V-500 banquet which will be held at the Student Center prior to the concert. The public is invited to attend the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge.

The Holiday Showcase will feature performances by the University Singers, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Opera Ensemble and Commercial Music Ensemble. The concert will feature numerous holiday selections among other pieces.

The Christmas at St. Cate’s performance will be recorded and posted on VCSU’s YouTube channel. The Holiday Showcase will stream live on YouTube.

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Mark Potts by emailing mark.m.potts@vcsu.edu or calling 701-845-7228

VCSU Winter Commencement set for Dec. 19

VCSU graduates smile in black caps and gowns while waiting for the 2023 commencement exercises to start.

Valley City State University’s Tenth Winter Commencement Exercises will take place Thursday, Dec. 19, inside historic Vangstad Auditorium.

VCSU president Alan LaFave will preside over the ceremony which starts at 3:30 p.m. Jasmine (Hill) Truax has been selected to deliver the undergraduate reflection. Dr. Heather (Metcalf) Kvilvang will deliver the faculty reflection, and Dr. Casey Ryan will offer remarks on behalf of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.

For those unable to attend the in-person ceremony, a live video stream will be available on the VCSU YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAhEGAQ9EIc

A native of Wahpeton, N.D., Jasmine Truax is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education, a Spanish minor and a reading certificate. Truax completed her student teaching at Eastwood Elementary in West Fargo, and then was hired full-time by Eastwood to teach her own kindergarten classroom starting November 4, 2024. While at VCSU, Truax has been a Viking Ambassador and Learning Commons Tutor. She served on the Student Advisory Committee and the Teacher Education Committee at VCSU and was also involved in band and choir.

Dr. Heather (Metcalf) Kvilvang ’98 is an associate professor in the School of Education and Graduate Studies. She serves as chair of the Teaching and Technology concentration for the graduate school and served as Interim Director of Multicultural Affairs this fall. During her 22 years at VCSU, Kvilvang’s focus has been to help her students become master teachers through working hard and having fun.

VCSU set to host Girls Barnes County Tournament Dec. 10, 12, and 13

decorativeValley City State University is set to host the 79th annual Girls Barnes County Tournament for high school basketball programs in the region.

The Barnes County Tournament will eight teams competing at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse on the VCSU campus Dec. 10, 12 and 13. Teams competing in the 2024 tournament include Northern Cass, Enderlin, Wyndmere-Lidgerwood, Valley City, Maple River, South Border, LaMoure/Litchville-Marion and White Shield.

All games will be broadcast by Your Live Event. Select games will have a radio broadcast available on Q101.1 KQDJ FM.

Major tournament sponsors include Valley City State University, VCSU Athletics, the Valley City Chamber of Commerce, Valley City Tourism and Farmers Union Insurance. 

More information can be found at the 2024 Girls Barnes County Tournament page. 

Meet Ali Keller ‘24

Ali Keller and familyName: Ali Keller ’24
Current residence: Valley City, N.D.
Major/Minor: Master of Arts in Teaching

Did you work a full time job while earning your degree?
As I was pursuing my MAT, I was adjunct instructing here at VCSU in the Kinesiology and Human Performance (KHP) Department and also the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Valley City Public Schools.

What led you to earn your master’s degree from VCSU?
As a current Valley City resident, strength & conditioning coach for the local high school, adjunct professor at VCSU and busy mom of three, VCSU’s MAT program gave me the flexibility as well as the support I needed to complete my master’s degree in just under 2 years. The courses were all online but the instructors were all accessible as if they were in person courses.

Any favorite memories from your time at VCSU or people who helped you along the way that you would like to recognize?
I had the patience and support of my husband and kids along the way, and also all the amazing faculty in the KHP department here at VCSU, as well as my administrators at VCPS.

Holiday Open House scheduled for Dec. 18

decorativeVCSU employees and retirees are cordially invited to attend the VCSU Holiday Open House on Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 3-5 p.m. in the Student Center Skoal Room.

A Magical Medora Christmas in Valley City

decorativeA Magical Medora Christmas will be coming to Valley City once again on Tuesday, December 17. The event will take place in Vangstad Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for this event are $36 and can be purchased at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/86177290/a-magical-medora-christmas-valley-citynd–a-magical-medora-christmas-presented-by-bill-sorensen-productions

This award-winning show has proven to be a popular Christmas tradition for thousands of people across the region. The cast is filled with talented musicians and vocalists from across the United States and special acts adding family-friendly humor, tricks, and magic to complete the show. The tour visits 20+ communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota beginning on November 29 and ending on December 22.

Grand Entry exhibit runs Nov. 25-Jan. 10 at CFA Gallery

Grand Entry by L Whitney The VCSU Art Department announces Grand Entry, a solo exhibition from L Whitney, noted North Dakota printmaker and VCSU Professor Emeritus of Art, open to the public Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, through Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts (CFA) Gallery.

Companion pop-up shows of Whitney’s small-scale prints will also be held in the CFA lobby from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 and 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. A portion of pop-up show proceeds will go to benefit Community School for the Arts visual art programming and scholarships.


Grand Entry explores visual narratives that blend the traditions of the Indigenous people of Turtle Island, imagery from popular American culture, and celebrate the Powwow as a “public declaration of the strength and tenacity of the indigenous cultures of this content.” Whitney’s award winning hand-painted mezzotints have been exhibited globally and featured in galleries in the United States, throughout Europe and Eastern Europe, Nicaragua, Serbia, Russia, India, China, Australia, and New Zealand.

For more information about Whitney’s artwork and process, visit https://www.lwhitneystudio.com/.

Viking sports update

Track and Field team photoCROSS COUNTRY

VCSU’s Karly Just has qualified for the NAIA Marathon for the second straight year. The marathon is set for 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 8 in Sacramento, Calif. Just is ranked 6th in the NAIA going into the race.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

VCSU’s men went 1-1 at the Dickinson State Thanksgiving Classic with a 68-60 win over Montana State University Northern. The Vikings returned home on Tuesday to defeat Trinity Bible College 113-76 at The Bubble. VCSU improves to 8-3 on the season heading into conference play.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Viking women went 1-1 at the Dickinson State Thanksgiving Classic including a 74-53 win over Montana State University Northern. VCSU then defeated Trinity Bible College 101-39 Tuesday night at the Bubble. Its 101 points Tuesday ranks third in program history. VCSU improves to 8-4 overall.

TRACK & FIELD

VCSU track and field is set to open its indoor season Saturday at the University of Mary’s Mike Thorson Open. Events begin at 11 a.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Dec. 7: Track and Field at Mike Thorson Open, 11 a.m. (Bismarck, N.D.)
Dec. 8: NAIA Marathon Classic, 9 a.m. CT (Sacramento, Calif.)
Dec. 10: Girls Barnes County Tournament, 3 p.m. (The Bubble)

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

A backdrop featuring the HiLine bridge and a white chevron with the text Valley City Community

Nov. 25 – Jan. 10
Visiting Artist: Grand Entry by L. Whitney, CFA Gallery

Dec. 8
2 – 6 p.m. L. Whitney Pop-Up Lobby Show, CFA Lobby
3:00 – 5:30 p.m.Valley Troubadors Christmas Concert, CFA Performance Hall

Dec. 9
7 p.m. VC Community Band Winter Concert, CFA Performance Hall

Dec. 10 & 12-13
Barnes County Basketball Tournament (Girls), WE Osmon Fieldhouse

Dec. 12
7:30 p.m. Christmas at St. Cate’s, St. Catherine’s Church

Dec. 13
5 p.m. VCSU Holiday Showcase, CFA Performance Hall
5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. L. Whitney Artist Pop-Up Lobby Show, CFA Lobby

Dec. 17
7:30 p.m. A Magical Medora Christmas, Vangstad Auditorium

Dec. 19
3:30 p.m. VCSU Winter Commencement, Vangstad Auditorium

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/