Hotline // April 10, 2024

President's Column: Thankful for continued support

Greetings from VCSU!

I hope you are enjoying the return of spring temperatures, longer days, and blue skies. The weather has certainly been welcome for all. Being able to spend some time outdoors taking care of some important spring cleaning, taking a walk, enjoying outdoor conversations with neighbors, and looking forward to the days ahead makes this a special time of year. The emergence of these warmer temperatures also allows for spring sports such as outdoor track and field, softball, baseball, and golf. Our students enjoy a return to competition. It’s always a pleasure to take in one of these contests in support of our student athletes.

The arrival of spring also includes the return of the annual VCSU Scholarship Auction. Planned for April 26 at the Valley City Eagles Club, this year’s event is entitled, “Get Groovy, Vikings!” Attendees are encouraged to dress in their favorite 70’s attire – bell bottoms, denim, platform shoes, tie-dye, disco – and the list goes on. I deeply appreciate the auction organizational committee and members of the V-500 and Viking Booster Board for their organizational efforts. The auction consistently provides an enjoyable and fun evening with the added benefit of providing important scholarship funds for our students.

The evening will begin with a social and games of chance at 5 p.m. A buffet dinner will be served from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and the live auction begins at 7 p.m. The silent auction begins on April 22 at noon and continues through Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. We are grateful for the continued support of our students through the generous gifts and donations of our alumni and friends of the university. Because of this generosity, we awarded nearly $1.9 million in scholarships to students last year. This is made possible by the outstanding town and gown relationship that exists between our community and university, and we thank everyone for your support! Tickets can be secured by contacting members of the V-500 or Viking Booster board, or you may call (701) 845-7203 for assistance.

As I write this column, I can’t help but reflect on the tremendous growth in our development and foundation office over the past 28 years. Larry Robinson was hired as the first executive director of our foundation in 1996. The subsequent growth of the scholarship program at VCSU has been impressive and highly impactful on our success as an institution. We are excited and honored to announce the renaming of the Center for the Arts to the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. We will be planning a formal and public ceremony in June to mark this special occasion and wish Larry and his family a happy and enjoyable retirement.

We hope to see you at the auction on April 26!

Go Vikings!

VCSU Diversity and Inclusion hosting national best-selling author and North Dakota native, Taylor Brorby

Taylor Brorby, national best-selling author, will speak on campus Thursday, April 11. Brorby is the author of Boys and Oil: Growing Up Gay in a Fractured Land, Crude: Poems, Coming Alive: Action and Civil Disobedience, and co-editor of Fracture: Essays, Poems, and Stories on Fracking in America. Students are encouraged to meet with the author in the Skoal Room from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to discuss his book, the writing and publishing process and his experience growing up gay in Center, N.D. Those interested can come and go during that time and are encouraged to bring their lunch to the Skoal Room.

Later that evening, Brorby will give a public talk at 7:30 p.m. in the Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall where he will speak on his book, his life growing up in Center, N.D., his environmental advocacy, and current events related to literacy access and diversity inclusion.

Brorby’s work has been supported by grants and fellowships from the National Book Critics Circle, the MacDowell Colony, the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, Mesa Refuge, Blue Mountain Center, and the North Dakota Humanities Council. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Orion Magazine, LitHub, Southern Humanities Review, North Dakota Quarterly, and has appeared in numerous anthologies. He is a contributing editor at North American Review and serves on the editorial boards of Terrain.org and Hub City Press.

Taylor regularly speaks around the country on issues related to extractive economies, queerness, disability, and climate change. He teaches nonfiction writing at the University of Alabama.

He will be available for book-signing after his talk. Books are available for pre-order through the VCSU Bookstore and at most online stores where books are sold. Generous support for Taylor’s visit has been provided by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Epworth United Methodist Church, VCSU Social Justice Council, Professor Angela Mircsov, Jamie and Kelly LaFramboise, and Professor Katie Woehl.

Percussion Ensemble this Saturday

VCSU Department of Music presents Percussion Ensemble this Saturday, April 13. The concert will take place in the Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

View the concert on YouTube.

Wellness Fair on VCSU campus April 17 

Valley City State University Student Health Services will host the annual Wellness Fair on Wednesday, April 17 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the VCSU Student Center. The event is free and open to the public and participants can expect amazing door prizes, hands on activities, and wellness information from 30 different campus local and state entities.

New this year, the ND Department of Health and Human Services will provide free HIV testing for students, employees and members of the community. Participants who get tested will receive a coupon for a free small beverage at Viking Grounds. 

Participants can also try a variety of health screenings and fitness testing, earning them the chance at winning door prizes such as workout gear, cooking appliances and gift cards. 

This event, sponsored by Essentia Health, Sanford Health, CHI Mercy Health and Family HealthCare, offers you the opportunity to discover resources to develop healthy habits that can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health. 

The service providers, vendors and exhibitors participating in the Wellness Fair include: 

• Abused Persons Outreach Center 
• Aesthetica 
• b-Fit 24/7 
• Bismarck Cancer Center 
• Central Valley Health District 
• CHI Mercy Health/ Cardiac Ready Community 
• City County Health District/ Barnes on the Move 
• Dakota Nursing Program 
• Essentia Health 
• Family Healthcare 
• Gaukler Wellness Center/VCPR 
• Mobility Plus Rehab
• North Country Trail Association
• ND Department of Health and Human Services 
• ND Navigators 
• Prairie St. John’s 
• Sacred Beings 
• Sanford Health 
• Valley City Green Dot 
• VCSU Counseling Services 
• Valley City Green Dot 
• VCSU Counseling Services 
• VCSU Green Dot 
• VCSU Fitness Assessment and Prescription Class 
• VCSU Psychology & Human Services Club 
• VCSU Activities for the Physical Educator Class 
• VCSU Pre-Professional Club 
• VCSU Diversity and Inclusion 

For more information about this event, contact Betty Tykwinski at betty.j.tykwinski@vcsu.edu or call 701-845-7305.

Get your tickets and Get Groovy for the 29th Annual VCSU Scholarship Auction! 

Tickets for the 29th annual Valley City State University Scholarship Auction: Get Groovy, Vikings are now on sale! 

Tickets are $70, fitting for this year’s 70’s-themed event on April 26, 2024 at the Valley City Eagles Club. Included with admission are a buffet dinner serving roast beef, bacon-wrapped chicken, potatoes, vegetables, salad and dessert as well as two drink tickets to use that evening. Tickets can be purchased here or by contacting the VCSU Foundation office at 701-845-7203. 

Donations are still being collected for this year’s auction! If you have a donation for the silent or live auction, please notify the VCSU Foundation Office. Want to make a donation but don’t have an idea in mind? Help fill the Mystery Wine Table! Individuals or groups are asked to provide a minimum of $20 to go towards the purchase of a bottle of wine.

The live auction includes a few special items made by VCSU employees including a VCSU t-shirt quilt, homemade wine, crochet Vikings, a handmade coat rack and some McCarthy Hall treasures that have been repurposed. 

Schedule of events for the 29th Annual VCSU Scholarship Auction 

Monday, April 22
Silent auction opens in the Handbid app – noon 

Friday, April 26 
Social and games of chance – 5 p.m.
Buffet Dinner – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Live Auction begins – 7 p.m.
Silent Auction closes – 7:30 p.m. 

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. 

Winkler named Staff Member of the Quarter

Patsy Winkler was recently presented with the Staff Member of the Quarter award.

She was nominated for the following reasons, “She adjusted to a different dorm (McCoy) mid-semester and improving the quality of life for the residents as well as improving the cleanliness of the dorm as well as the overall appearance of the dorm. She also is more than willing to help out at a moment’s notice any day of the week. Patsy is not only professional but personable when it comes to interacting with staff and students alike and she has a keen eye for detail in her profession.”

Edinger named Difference Maker for April

Erin Edinger, director for residence life, was recently selected as the “Difference Maker” for April.

The Facilities Services team nominated Erin, saying “We appreciate how Erin fosters the partnership between Facilities and Housing. Erin has great communication, which is critical in ensuring that the students are being taken care of, as well as maintaining the residence halls. Her customer service skills to campus and visitors sets a high bar. She makes our job easy when it comes to the residence halls!” A very deserving ‘Difference Maker.’

Thank you for all you do for VCSU, Erin!

VCSU offers free tax preparation

Valley City State University (VCSU) students will offer free tax return preparation clinics for low-to-moderate income taxpayers from Monday, Feb. 5 to Monday, April 15. This is a basic tax service for qualified taxpayers with income less than $64,000 per year. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offered by VCSU’s Department of Business.

The clinics begin on Monday, Feb. 5, and will be located on VCSU’s campus in McFarland 122. Walk-ins and appointments are accepted. Appointments can be made online at www.vcsu.edu/vita.

The clinics include face-to-face meetings between students and the tax filer to complete their return. The returns are then reviewed by a faculty member. Filers should bring a government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license to the appointment. A married couple filing jointly will need photo identification for both the husband and the wife.

“These clinics offer a service for our community and provide students and faculty the chance to work together as a team,” said Brenda Tyre, chair of the VCSU Department of Business. “We are happy to coordinate these clinics to give students the opportunity to develop strong leadership, tax law knowledge, and communication skills. Every student volunteer working in the clinic has passed a tax preparation and code of standards exam to ensure returns are prepared accurately, maintain privacy, and ensure all personal information is secure.”

Dates available on Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. include:

To schedule an appointment, visit www.vcsu.edu/vita/ or contact the Department of Business at (701) 845-7508.

Viking sports update

Softball
VCSU Softball posted a 4-2 record over the past week, which included a four-game series sweep against Dakota State. The Vikings are now 20-17 overall and 12-3 in conference play. VCSU currently sits second in the NSAA conference standings. The Vikings are back in action April 20-21 with a four-game home series against Dickinson State.

Baseball
Viking Baseball split a four-game road series last weekend at Waldorf University. VCSU is now 13-22 overall and 5-7 in conference play. The Vikings host Dakota State this weekend for a four-game series at Charlie Brown Field. Games are at 1/4 p.m. on Friday, and 12/3 p.m. on Saturday.

Track & Field
VCSU’s Kendra Odegard and Jaiden Peraza both qualified for the NAIA National Track Meet with their performances last week at the Dr. Tom Johnson Open. Odegard recorded the top javelin throw in the entire NAIA so far this season (45.03 meters) while Peraza met the high jump qualification standard with his mark of 2.02 meters.

Read more: https://vcsuvikings.com/news/2024/4/6/womens-track-and-field-odegard-and-peraza-qualify-for-national-meet.aspx

Golf
The VCSU golf team opened the season this week with a 36-hole tournament in Mitchell, S.D. Grant Inniger and Kathleen Vetter led the Vikings, with both finishing in the top half of the tournament field.

Read more: https://vcsuvikings.com/news/2024/4/9/mens-golf-viking-golf-competes-at-dwu-spring-invite.aspx

Upcoming Events
April 12: Track & Field at U of Jamestown, 12 p.m. (Jamestown, N.D.)
April 12: Baseball vs. Dakota State, 1/4 p.m. (Valley City)
April 13: Baseball vs. Dakota State, 12/3 p.m. (Valley City)
April 15-16: Golf at Dickinson State Invite (Dickinson, N.D.)
April 15-16: Track & Field at NSAA Multi-Event Championship (Madison, S.D.)

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

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/