Hotline // April 15, 2026

Kara Pranzo's Senior Capstone Exhibit Opens April 13 at VCSU

Storytelling, a Senior Capstone exhibit by Valley City State University student Kara Pranzo, will be featured in the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery from April 13-24. Pranzo will deliver an artist talk about the exhibit on Monday, April 20, at 3 p.m. in the CFA Choir Room.

The artist talk will be livestreamed on the VCSU Art Department’s YouTube channel and Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

Storytelling explores creating narratives via digital illustration to communicate ideas. With her pieces, Pranzo hopes to use visual storytelling to connect with others and explore ideas of loneliness, belonging, and striving to be the best version of yourself.

Originally from Minot, N.D., Pranzo will graduate this spring with a degree in digital design and a minor in marketing. After graduating, Pranzo hopes to find work as a graphic designer in a design firm or marketing department. She strives to keep exploring and experimenting in design and impact those around her with the art she creates.

Pranzo would like to thank her friends, family, and Professor Ekow Ephrim, Professor Angela Mircsov, and Professor Gratia Brown from the Art Department for their support and help over her time at VCSU. Without them, her exhibit wouldn’t be possible.

Percussion Ensemble this Thursday, April 16

The VCSU Department of Music proudly presents a Percussion Ensemble on Thursday, April 16. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.

Madilyn Klabo to Perform Senior Recital on April 18

The VCSU Department of Music invites you to attend a senior recital for Madilyn Klabo, soprano, on Saturday, April 18. Klabo will be accompanied by Dr. Ozzie Johnson on piano.

The concert will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.

Reminder: Call for submissions for Scholar Symposium

The 2026 Valley City State University Scholar Symposium will be held in the main lobby of the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts on Tuesday, May 5 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The annual event allows undergraduate students to showcase their research, writing and other creative projects developed over the past academic year. Last year’s event featured 45+ student-designed projects representing nine departments across campus, revealing the range of scholarship VCSU’s students produced individually and collaboratively in more than 15 unique courses. Student recipients of the SOAR (Student Opportunities for Academic Research) Award and of the EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) Award presented their advanced research projects, and faculty members from two departments shared their discipline-specific scholarship from the past academic year.

Please encourage your 2025-2026 students to participate in the Scholar Symposium this year, as presenters and/or attendees, as this event is designed to showcase and celebrate the individual and collaborative vibrant academic work of VCSU students and faculty across campus. Contact event coordinator, Emily D. Wicktor, associate professor (emily.wicktor@vcsu.edu) for more information on the submission process.

Submission forms are due by 5:00 p.m. on April 20.

A Month of Music: VCSU Hosting 10 Concerts at CFA

Student Ensembles, Guest Artists & Senior Recitals Highlight Upcoming Schedule

The Valley City State University Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts is the place to be over the next four weeks.

The VCSU music department will present or host 10 different concerts from April 10 to May 5, bringing a variety of music to the Valley City community, including student ensembles, senior recitals and guest artists. All performances are free and open to the public inside the Center for the Arts Performance Hall.

The busy stretch of performances commences on Friday, April 10, with the Spring Instrumental Concert featuring the VCSU Concert Band and guest artist Tuba Four. On April 11, VCSU senior Heather Lewis presents her senior recital on tuba. April 12-13 brings a pair of guest artist performances by Oda Voltersvik and Levante Duo.

For the latest performance information, follow VCSU Music on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VCSUMusic

View the VCSU Fine Arts schedule at https://www.vcsu.edu/center-for-the-arts/fine-arts-calendar/

VCSU Music – Upcoming Concerts

April 16 | 7:30 p.m.
Percussion Ensemble Concert

April 18 | 1:30 p.m.
Madi Klabo Senior Recital

April 23 | 7:30 p.m.
Jazz Ensemble Concert

April 26 | 3 p.m.
Opera Ensemble Performance

May 1 | 7 p.m.
Spring Choral Concert

May 5 | 7:30 p.m.
Woodwind & Brass Ensemble Concert

VCSU Education Faculty & Students Participate in AI Training

Valley City State University School of Education faculty and students recently participated in specialized artificial intelligence (AI) training from Solution Tree, a leader in K-12 education professional development. The training session, held April 10 at VCSU, focused on personalized learning and differentiation and helped the faculty and students expand their skill set and gain a deeper understanding of AI in education.

Ezekiel and Lorenzo Luchi Awarded Undergraduate Stem Research Awards

Ezekiel Luchi and Lorenzo Luchi, VCSU students and brothers, have been awarded Undergraduate STEM Research Grants from the North Dakota Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (ND EPSCoR). To receive the grant, they needed to write a 4-page proposal documenting the methods and importance of their work. Only three of these grants were awarded during this grant round. They will work with Andre DeLorme, professor emeritus, in the VCSU Macroinvertebrate Lab on their respective projects. Both students are juniors in the Fishiers and Wildlife Program at VCSU. Their projects are part of a three-year effort by the VCSU Macroinvertebrate Lab working with the North Dakota Game and Fish to document aquatic macroinvertebrate species of concern in North Dakota. A brief synopsis of their projects is provided below.

Documenting Ephemeroptera (Mayflies) Presence in ND Waters
Student researcher: Ezekiel Luchi

The VCSU Macroinvertebrate lab is working to identify aquatic insect populations for addition to lists of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and Species of Greatest Information Need (SGIN).  There are currently five species of Mayfly on the SGCN list and eight species on the SGIN list. Researchers will gather information about these species and identify potential additional candidates for each list, in conjunction with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Collected data will be summarized and made available on online access platforms such as iNaturalist and GBIF.

Documenting Mussel Populations in North Dakota Rivers
Student researcher: Lorenzo Luchi

Researchers will be collecting mussel habitat data, georeferencing data, and photographing exemplary specimens. Data will be collected and used to identify species of mussels for inclusion onto the SGCN and SGIN list for the state. The data will be summarized and made available on iNaturalist, GBIF and other online platforms.

The ND EPSCoR State Office helps institutions of higher education across the state increase STEM research capacity and competitiveness; works to build a stronger STEM pathway that produces our next generation of workforce, educators, and researchers; and informs North Dakotans about developments in the state’s STEM ecosystem and economy.

Students Complete Wildland Firefighter Qualifications

Last week, students in Restoration and Plant Ecology finished up their Wildland Firefighter qualifications by completing their work capacity test and field day with Eric Hoff and his crew from The Nature Conservancy. The students then spent the remainder of the day out at Bluestem Prairie learning about prescribed fire and prairie restoration. They broadcast seeded a new restoration with a native prairie seed mix and learned how to use drip torches and other hand tools on the fire line.

Scholarship auction takes place this Friday

Tickets are still available 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.

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. To reserve a half or full table go to https://secure.qgiv.com/for/auctionticketstables/event/2026auction/ or call the VCSU Foundation at 701-845-7203.

For more information regarding the VCSU Scholarship Auction, call the VCSU Foundation Office at 701-845-7203 or visit the auction website. 

VCSU Hosts Regional Science Olympiad

Valley City State University hosted about 300 middle school and high school students on April 9 for the VCSU Regional Science Olympiad.

A total of 21 teams competed at the Science Olympiad, which had been rescheduled from April 2 due to weather. Students prepared for a wide range of STEM topics, totaling 23 different events which included Bungee Drop, Water Quality, Circuit Lab, and Metric Mastery.

“Students and teachers invested significant time and effort preparing for a large variety of events, ranging from exam-based challenges to hands-on design and engineering builds,” said Teather Sundstrom, Ph.D., VCSU professor and regional coordinator for the Science Olympiad. “The day was a great success, marked by strong performances, collaboration, and plenty of fun.”

Sundstrom said all participating schools were still able to attend the rescheduled competition.

The VCSU Science Olympiad was one of five regional competitions across North Dakota where teams can qualify for the State Science Olympiad, which will be held April 25 at North Dakota State University.

Middle School teams (Division B) advancing to the state event from VCSU’s competition include Central Cass, Ben Franklin, Northern Cass and Dakota Prairie. In the high school division (Division C), five teams advanced from VCSU to the state competition: Fargo Davies, Grand Forks Red River, Central Cass, Fargo North and Northern Cass.

VCSU Hosts 500+ Students for Annual Math Competition

The Valley City State University Department of Mathematics hosted its third annual Math Competition on April 8, welcoming 539 students from 49 schools across North Dakota and the region. Students in grades 7-12 competed in individual and team-based problem-solving challenges designed to promote creative thinking, collaboration, and a genuine enjoyment of mathematics.

This year’s competition had 199 students compete in the grades 10-12 division and 340 students in the grades 7-9 division. The event featured 85 more participants than last year.

“This was an incredibly successful and fun day,” said Dr. Jamie Wirth, Chair of the VCSU Department of Mathematics. “It’s exciting to see so many students who genuinely enjoy mathematics and are willing to challenge themselves. Our hope is that events like this help students see math not just as a subject, but as a pathway to impactful careers—and we would love for many of them to consider VCSU for that journey.”

Students were recognized for excellence in both team and individual performances. The Top 3 teams and Top 10 individuals in each division received awards.

Find the results and more information at https://www.vcsu.edu/vcsu-hosts-500-students-for-annual-math-competition/

Schwab named 'Difference Maker'

Mindy Schwab, facilities services, recently received the Difference Maker award. She was nominated by Facilities Services.

Her nomination read, “Mindy truly exemplifies what it means to be a Difference Maker. She consistently goes above and beyond her custodial duties, not only for our department, but for everyone who enters the Rhoades building. Mindy takes great pride in ensuring the space is clean, welcoming, and inviting for our students, staff, and campus guests. In addition to her outstanding work in Rhoades, she is always willing to lend a hand in other areas of campus to help ensure all shared spaces look their best. She is also responsible for ensuring all building services receive their cleaning supplies each week, assisting with receiving stock and filling and delivering orders. Mindy’s positive attitude, reliability, and attention to detail make a lasting impression on everyone who uses the spaces she maintains.”

Leker Attends ND OER Conference

Lindsey Leker, associate professor for social science, attended the ND Open Education Resources (OER) Conference in Bismarck on Thursday, April 9. The conference was held at the North Dakota Heritage Center. She attended the following sessions: Student Panel: Insights from Students on OER, Getting Started with OERs, Unlocking Copyright: Understanding Law to Meet our Educational Mission, Making Neuroengineering Accessible, Making Sense of AI, and Making it Work for Open Education.

Lindsey said, “I was not familiar with OERs and wanted to learn about the various options and resources available so that I could provide my students with affordable educational materials. The conference was very good and answered all my questions related to OERs. The best sessions focused on copyright laws related to OERs, AI, and educational resources in general. I learned a lot about Fair Use (section 107) and the TEACH Act, which made me feel confident in the ways that I provide resources for my students and helped me realize other options allowed as part of Fair Use.”

Viking Sports Update

BASEBALL
The Viking baseball team were in Bismarck for a four-game series with Bismarck State College last weekend. Ther Vikings split the four games, taking the first two on Saturday 12-1, 19-6. The Mystics came back on Sunday and won 8-7 and 19-15. The Vikings have a busy week ahead with five games scheduled, all with Mayville State.

April 15 at 2 p.m. – VCSU vs. Mayville State at Charlie Brown Field in Valley City.
April 16 at 10 a.m. – VCSU vs. Mayville State at Charlie Brown Field in Valley City.
April 16 at 1 p.m. – VCSU vs. Mayville State at Charlie Brown Field in Valley City.
April 19 TBA – VCSU at Mayville State at Scott Berry Field in Mayville
April 19 TBA – VCSU at Mayville State at Scott Berry Field in Mayville

SOFTBALL
Valley City State Softball team was on the road last weekend in Dickinson to face the Blue Hawks. Dickinson State swept the four-game series, winning on Friday 4-0 and 9-4. On Saturday, the Blue Hawks won 15-2 and 7-5. This week, VCSU will play Mayville State at home before heading to Carroll College in Helena, Montana for a conference series.

April 15 at 1 p.m. – VCSU vs. Mayville State at VCSU Softball Complex in Valley City.
April 15 at 3 p.m. – VCSU vs. Mayville State at VCSU Softball Complex in Valley City.
April 18 at 1 p.m. CT – VCSU at Carroll College at Centennial Park in Helena, Mont.
April 18 at 3 p.m. CT – VCSU at Carroll College at Centennial Park in Helena, Mont.
April 19 at 12 p.m. CT – VCSU at Carroll College at Centennial Park in Helena, Mont.
April 19 at 2 p.m. CT – VCSU at Carroll College at Centennial Park in Helena, Mont.

TRACK AND FIELD
The Vikings Track and Field team was on the road at the Bison Spring Classic. It was another good day for the Vikings with 25 personal best and Frida Barrera set another school record.

April 16, TBD – VCSU Men and Women at Dewey Donat Classic at Swisher Field in Aberdeen, S.D.

GOLF
VCSU Men’s and Women’s golf had a successful first outing playing in the 54-hole Dakota Wesleyan Invite in Mitchell, S.D. The Vikings had two individuals finish in the top ten including Sydney Carlson and Nick Meisch, while the men’s team finished seventh of ten.

On the women’s side Carlson finished in ninth place shooting 84-85-79 (+32) with a final round highlighted by two birdies. Freshman Sadie Neustel followed in 13th 93-82-86 (+45) in the field of 28.

Freshman Nick Meisch finished tied for eighth after scoring 78-73-73 (+8), recording eight birdies in the tournament. Zach St. Aubin, Owen Haase, and John Renaud finished 23rd (+17), 25th (+18), and 47th (+36). Competing as an individual senior Howard Neustel produced a career best 81 in his final round of the tournament. Freshman Tony Piccalo produced three consecutive career bests shooting 93-91-86.

DWU Invite Women’s Golf Results

DWU Invite Men’s Golf Results

April 19 & 20, 10 a.m. CT – VCSU Men and Women at DSU Spring Invite a Heart River Golf Course in Dickinson.

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

April 16
7:30 p.m. Percussion Ensemble Concert, Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall

April 17
VCSU Scholarship Auction

April 18
1:30 p.m. Madi Klabo Senior Recital, Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Performance Hall

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/