Hotline // March 25, 2026

Jora Leeseberg Senior Capstone Exhibit Opens March 30

Valley City State University senior Jora Leeseberg’s capstone art exhibit, Bloom, will be on display in the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery from March 30 through April 10.

Bloom showcases Leeseberg’s use of art mediums such as textiles, ceramics, photography, and painting. Within her artwork, Leeseberg uses flower imagery to symbolize the growth she has made throughout her years in college, her experimentation of different art techniques, and the connection she has to her family. She has developed a curiosity for learning new art mediums and has found a love of using repetitive motions throughout her artwork. Each skill she learned has added to her bouquet of knowledge, building together a collection of creative, unique floral art.

Leeseberg will present an artist talk on Wednesday, April 8, at 3 p.m., with a reception to follow. For those unable to attend, Leeseberg’s artist talk will be live-streamed on the VCSU Art Department YouTube channel. Her artwork can also be found on her website: https://joraleeseberg.wixsite.com/artist-website

Leeseberg grew up in Hillsboro, North Dakota, and has loved art for as long as she can remember. This love of art has manifested in many ways, from making Polly Pocket clothes out of paper towels as a kid to expanding her artistic skills through art classes in high school. While in high school, Leeseberg decided she wanted to help mentor others in their creative journey by becoming an art teacher.

After graduating with a degree in art education and a minor in digital design, Leeseberg plans to spend a semester substitute teaching while looking for a job as an art teacher somewhere in the Midwest. She is excited to continue making art and exploring new art mediums.

VCSU Hosting Recital by Norwegian Concert Pianist Oda Voltersvik

Valley City State University Music is thrilled to be featuring Norwegian concert pianist Oda Voltersvik in a piano recital at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts on Sunday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m.

This program – “Grieg in Dialogue” – will present music by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) corresponding with works by composers active within and after his lifetime, including Agathe Backer Grøndahl (1847-1907), Wilhelm Peterson Berger (1867-1942), Claude Debussy (1862-1918), and Béla Bartók (1881-1945), highlighting musical correspondences or similarities in the use of poetic moods and characters. This is Oda’s second time at VCSU in collaboration with the Grieg Society of the Dakotas.

Oda Voltersvik “(… ) an artist with the talent to make a serious name for herself” (Calum Petrie on Grieg Piano Concerto, writing for Scottish Press and Journal), has performed at international festivals and venues such as Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Victor Borge Hall, Wigmore Hall, St Martin in the Fields, Harpa, Norwegian Opera House, Bergen International Festival and Palermo Classica International Festival. She has appeared as soloist with orchestras internationally and as solo and chamber musician for important concert societies in Europe and in the United States.

For 10 years, Voltersvik has been invited as artist-in-residence for a week at the Edvard Grieg Museum in Bergen, among other recital engagements at KODE composers homes. Her four CD recordings have received critical acclaim for their well-thought-out programme choices, technical skill and artistic expression. She won first prize of the Bradshaw & Buono International Competition in 2017 and the honourable work grant from the Norwegian Arts Council in 2021-2022.

Voltersvik received her Master in Performance Degree from the Royal College of Music London, and afterwards an Artist Diploma from Trinity Laban London with distinction from the Intercollegiate Jury. Since then, she has been managing solo projects and chamber music tours and series. Currently, Oda is continuously touring and appearing with orchestras in the United States with a visa for “Individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts”.

Buchholz receives ‘Difference Maker’ award

Erica Buchholz, vice president for business affairs, recently received the “Difference Maker” award for March. She was nominated by staff in the following offices: Foundation & Alumni, Academic Affairs, and Institutional Effectiveness & Planning.

Her nomination read, “Over the past several months, Erica has taken on a significant amount of responsibility while serving as Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. In this role, she has carried much of the organizational and strategic work required to guide the university through this important transition. She also has been putting a lot of time and effort into discussions for the funding formula. Erica brings a wealth of knowledge about Valley City State University, gained through years of dedicated service. Her understanding of the institution’s operations, history and strategic priorities allows her to approach challenges with clarity and perspective. Over the last few semesters, she has also navigated several unexpected building and facility issues. Beyond the many responsibilities of her role, Erica consistently demonstrates the qualities of an outstanding leader. She approaches her work with professionalism, integrity and a genuine commitment to the success of students, faculty and staff. Despite these obstacles, she has remained calm, solutions-oriented and proactive in addressing problems. For her tireless efforts, thoughtful leadership and unwavering commitment to Valley City State University, we are proud to nominate Erica Buchholz for this recognition.”

Congratulations, Erica!

31st Annual VCSU Scholarship Auction set for April 17

Stars, Stripes and Scholarships

Tickets are on sale now for the annual VCSU Scholarship Auction happening Friday, April 17, at the Valley City Eagles Club.

This year’s theme of “Stars, Stripes & Scholarships” brings a patriotic celebration to the Eagles Club. Expect an evening filled with red‑white‑and‑blue spirit, standout auction items, and support for the students who represent the bright future of VCSU.

“The scholarship auction is a popular event for the Viking community. We are grateful for the continued generosity of our donors and bidders,” said Kim Hesch, assistant director for advancement. “Your support helps us ensure strong enrollment and meaningful scholarship opportunities for our students.”

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. New this year, guests can purchase reserved seating to guarantee their table location for the auction.

The night begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. The buffet dinner will be served at 6 p.m., with the live auction to follow at 7 p.m. This is an opportunity to bid on great items while contributing to scholarships, offering financial relief for future and current VCSU students.

New this year – reserved seating

Skip the rush. Sit together. Enjoy the night! This year, guests can reserve a table to guarantee their seating arrangement for the evening. The options include:

• Reserved Half-Table (4 Guests) – $300
  • Guaranteed group seating. Includes dinner and drink tickets for each guest.
• Reserved Full Table (8 Guests) – $600
  • Your own table for the evening. Includes dinner and drink tickets for each guest.

Tables can be reserved by online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/auctionticketstables/event/2026auction/ or by calling the VCSU Foundation at 701-845-7203.

Silent Auction

The silent auction will be set up in person again this year at the Eagles Club, but bids will be made exclusively in the Handbid app. Silent auction bidding begins Monday, April 13, at 1 p.m. and concludes at 8 p.m. on the night of the auction.

The Handbid app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. After downloading, participants follow the prompts to create an account, then choose “VCSU Scholarship Auction 2026” from the list. Users can monitor their winning and losing bids from the dashboard, receive notifications when they have been outbid, and check out within the app at the end of the night. Silent auction participants do not need to be present to win.

Social

Starting at 5 p.m. will be the social hour—browse the silent auction, check out the raffle boards, and try your luck at the popular prize wheel.

Donate Auction Items

Auction items are currently being solicited for the event. Anyone wishing to donate an item can contact the VCSU Foundation office. As the event approaches, a list of silent and live auction items will be made available on the VCSU Foundation website at vcsualumni.org; click on the “Auction” banner.

For more information regarding the VCSU Scholarship Auction, to purchase tickets or to donate an item, call the VCSU Foundation Office at 701-845-7203 or visit the auction website. 

Viking Sports Update

BASEBALL
The Viking Baseball team returned north with a six-game winning streak and a 14-8 record in tow. VCSU opened conference season at the Frontier Conference Round Robin at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Vikings were 1-3 on the weekend. It started with a win over Bismarck State, which extended the winning streak to seven games, the longest since 2016. The Vikings then lost to Dakota State to wrap up day one. Day two had the Vikings up against Dickinson State and #4 Bellevue. The Vikings are 14-11 on the season and will be heading to Bellevue for a four-game series with the Bruins Saturday and Sunday. On Tuesday, the ARC Rankings came out for the first time this season. These rankings are used by the NAIA to determine what teams are worthy of playing in the National Tournament. In this first poll, Bellevue is #1 in the tough west region. Three Frontier Conference teams are in the west region rankings. Mayville State is #10 and Valley City State is in at #12.

SOFTBALL
The Viking softball team was in Nebraska to open conference play with Bellevue and came away with a 2-2 record. The Vikings split on Friday losing game one 4-1, then bouncing back for a 6-5 win in game two. On Saturday, the Vikings took game one 4-1 then lost in game two 12-6. VCSU is 12-13 overall and 2-2 in the conference. They host Dakota State this weekend at the Viking Softball Complex. Earlier this week, Viking Junior Kennadi Stone was named the Frontier Conference Player of the Week. Stone was 8 for 11 this past weekend with a run scored, four RBI, an on-base percentage of .813 and had just one error in 19 total chances at first base.

TRACK AND FIELD
The Viking Track and Field teams were in Bismarck for the Outdoor Season opener at the University of Mary. It was a good start to the season for the Vikings with several first place and top three finishes. Many personal bests were set as well by the Vikings. This week, VCSU will be in Collegeville, Minnesota for the St. John’s Optimistic Invitational on Saturday.

ATHLETICS
The Viking Fish Fry is this Friday, March 27 from 5-7 p.m. at the Valley City Eagles Club. This is a great and tasty fundraiser for athletic scholarships. Tickets can be purchased at the Bubble or at the door. Tickets are $15 each or $45 for a family of 5. Kids 10 and under eat free.

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

March 16 – 27
Becoming, Hanna Wieland senior art show, Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery

March 30 – April 10
Bloom, Jora Leeseberg senior art show, Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery

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/