Hotline 4.26.21

President's Column: A lifetime of giving…

As you likely know, VCSU is embarking on its first ever capital campaign for the benefit of our students, campus and community. The campaign has already seen excellent early success with gifts and pledges of nearly $2 million. One of our significant early gifts came from Valley City resident, Ray Braun. The following article is a reprint from the April 2021 issue of The Bulletin, a publication for alumni and friends of VCSU.

Ray Braun’s impact on Valley City State University has been years in the making. From monetary gifts to volunteer work, Braun has continually shown strong commitment to VCSU since making the Valley City community his home.

After 60 years of ongoing support, Braun recently gifted a $1 million life estate to VCSU in support of the university’s first ever capital campaign. It is the first major gift of the $25 million capital campaign – titled Forward Together – which includes expansion of VCSU’s athletic facilities, renovations of campus buildings, and increased scholarship support.

Braun’s gift will directly support student scholarships for years to come, says Larry Robinson, the VCSU Foundation’s Executive Director for Advancement.

“Ray’s commitment to VCSU has been exemplary,” Robinson said. “He has given of his time, talent and treasure for more than 60 years. His generosity speaks volumes of his desire to constantly give back and advocate for our university. We are most appreciative and thankful for his support. He has clearly impacted generations of students.”

Braun was a key player in the establishment of the VCSU Foundation in 1996, and he has been central to its success over the subsequent 25 years. This year, the Foundation allocated a record $1.86 million in student scholarships.

“This community and this university mean a lot to me,” Braun said when asked about his contributions over the years. “It is a great feeling to be able to give something back.”

Along with playing a major role in establishing the VCSU Foundation Board of Directors, Braun also helped create the Foundation Investment Committee. He has been a long-term member of the Viking Century Club and is a regular in the stands at VCSU football and basketball games, cheering on the Vikings.

In 2011, Braun was recognized with the VCSU President’s Distinguished Service Award – the highest honor that the President can bestow – for his exemplary contributions and ongoing support of Valley City State University. He is one of just 25 individuals to receive the honor.

Braun spent his working career as a managing partner of Ludvigson Braun and Company, a CPA firm in Valley City. The business provided a variety of accounting and financial services, including tax preparation, audit representation and payroll reporting. The firm was recently transferred to new ownership, and for the last several years Braun has served in an advisory capacity.

Born and raised at Strasburg, N.D., Braun attended Dakota Business College and the University of North Dakota. After making his home in Valley City, he became actively involved in the Valley City community, including Saint Catherine’s Church, Reach (Religious Educators Advancing Christian Heritage), the Chamber of Commerce and the Valley City-Barnes County Development Corporation.

Braun is a director with TRI W-G Inc., a medical equipment manufacturing firm in Valley City. He also serves as a board member of the Sheyenne Valley Foundation and a director of the Dakota Real Estate Investment Trust in Fargo, N.D. With various other commercial real estate interests in the community, Braun’s roots in Valley City continue to run deep.

He is the proud father of three children, John (VCSU ’94), Chris, and Rae Marie, and has eight grandchildren.

We thank Mr. Ray Braun for his generosity in providing this substantial lead gift as we begin our campaign.

Thank you, Ray, and Go Vikings!

VCSU music majors win at NATS Auditions 2021

Valley City State University voice students of Robin Allebach, assistant professor of music, competed against the top university singers in North Dakota at the North Dakota National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Auditions. Contending alongside NDSU, UND, Concordia College, University of Mary, University of Jamestown, Bismarck State, Minot State, and Dickinson state, the results for the spring 2021 auditions have been announced. VCSU winners took home these top honors:

· Joseph Munowenyu, 1st Place Musical Theater, Upper Division Senior TTB
· Elizabeth Gazeley, 2nd Place, Lower Division Freshmen Treble
· Marlen “Mikey” Meester, 2nd Place, Classical, Upper Division Senior TTB
· William Egan, 3rd Place, Upper Division Junior TTB

Kaitlin Bitzegaio of West Fargo Sheyenne High School, a private student of Robin Allebach, won 1st Place High School Treble and 1st Place High School Musical Theater Treble. The pianists were Sarah Larsen, Dianna Van Bruggen, and Robin Allebach. We congratulate all of the VCSU singers who auditioned. Bravi tutti!

VanHorn participates in podcast

Shannon VanHorn, professor of communication arts, recently participated in a podcast sponsored by the National Communication Association.

The podcast, entitled “The Future of Education: Identifying Challenges and Opportunities in Pandemic Learning,” featured communication and sociology experts from Salsbury University, University of South Carolina, St. Lawrence University, University of Tampa, Westcliff University, and Valley City State University. Dr. Trevor Parry-Giles, NCA’s Executive Director, moderated the event. The podcast focuses on how COVID-19 has brought changes to education and how those changes create challenges but also present opportunities for digital learning moving forward. It will be available April 29 and can be watched at https://www.natcom.org/calendar/future-education-identifying-challenges-and-opportunities-pandemic-learning.

The National Communication Association advances Communication as the discipline that studies all forms, modes, media, and consequences of communication through humanistic, social scientific, and aesthetic inquiry.

Baughman discusses psychological principles in podcast

Kiersten Baughman, associate professor of social science, recently recorded an episode of a popular podcast, CinemaPsychPodcast, where she discussed psychological principles in the film, “50 Shades of Grey.”

Baughman was invited as a guest host on this podcast after connecting with the organizer at a session during a virtual teaching conference (SouthEastern Teaching of Psychology SETOP). As April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, the timing of the release of this particular episode seems most appropriate.

The podcast is available here: https://cinemapsychpod.swanpsych.com/2021/04/19/episode-030-i-cant-get-over-the-stalker-behavior-50-shades-of-grey-2015-with-kiersten-baughman/?fbclid=IwAR2ySxnOXW_LytayHwK6oi9UiBdUPdmDYUwypDuKycezBujV5s_HNxIzxJc

Richman elected NDCTM president

Harmony Richman, assistant professor of education, was recently elected president of the N.D. Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NDCTM). She has served on the NDCTM Board of Directors since 2019. In the coming year, she will partner with current board president, Sarah Volk, in shaping goals for the organization.

Congratulations, Harmony!

COVID-19 testing events this week at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, “The Bubble”

A free COVID-19 testing event for the VCSU and Valley City communities will be held this week from 1-2 p.m. at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, “The Bubble”. Rapid and conventional testing will be offered at these events on April 26 and 30.

These are WALK-IN testing events. If you wish to be tested, please park your vehicle and enter through the west entrance. Handicap parking spaces and access are available at the east entrance. Preregistration at testreg.nd.gov is encouraged; one only needs to register once.

Care19 Alert App

VCSU students and employees are strongly encouraged to download a free smartphone app, Care19 Alert, to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by notifying users of possible COVID-19 exposure while protecting their privacy with technology developed by Apple and Google.

Find more information or download the app here.

Coronavirus Update

Stay informed about campus coronavirus information with the following resources. Click each link to learn more.

• VCSU Coronavirus information
• COVID-19 Dashboard
• COVID-19: Campus Health & Safety Information
• Campus face covering policy
• Required Quarantine/Isolation Procedures for Employees

Vikings sports update

Softball
April 21: VCSU 10, Mayville 1; VCSU 5, Mayville 1
April 24: VCSU 8, Waldorf 4; VCSU 7, Waldorf 4; VCSU 9, Waldorf 0
The Viking softball team extended its winning streak to nine games after going 5-0 this past week. The Vikings are now 26-5 overall and 19-2 in conference play. VCSU can clinch the regular season conference championship with two wins Wednesday at Mayville State. 

Baseball
April 21: Mayville 7, VCSU 6; Mayville 6, VCSU 3
April 24: VCSU 2, Waldorf 1; Waldorf 5, VCSU 2; VCSU 7, Waldorf 6
The Viking baseball team won two games in walk-off fashion during a Saturday triple-header with Waldorf University. VCSU is now 17-23 overall and 10-9 in conference play. 

Golf
VCSU junior Jocelyn Braunberger erased a four-shot deficit on Thursday to win medalist honors at the 36-hole Dickinson State Spring Invite. Braunberger entered the final round trailing by four shots after shooting an 86 on Wednesday. On Thursday, she carded an 81 – the best round of the tournament – en route to a three-shot victory and her seventh career win. Read more: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4040

Track & Field
Viking athletes won 12 events and Brooke Malsom shattered a school record on Thursday during the Dickinson State University Invite. Malsom broke a 33-year-old record in the 200 meters, finishing in a time of 25.34 seconds. Read more: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4041

VCSU junior Zachary Co qualified for nationals in the hammer throw on Saturday during the Northern State Spring Open in Aberdeen, S.D. Co unleashed a top throw of 53.43 meters during the meet, setting a new personal record by more than nine feet and surpassing the NAIA ‘A’ Standard of 53.00 meters. Read more: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4044

Upcoming Events
April 26-27: Golf at NSAA Conference Championships, 9 a.m. (La Crosse, Wis.)
April 27: Baseball at North Dakota State University, 5:30 p.m. (Fargo, N.D.)
April 28: Softball at Mayville State University, 1/3 p.m.
May 1: Track & Field at MSU-Moorhead, TBA
May 1: Softball vs. Presentation College, 1/3 p.m.
May 1: Baseball vs. Presentation College, 1/4 p.m. (Senior Day)
May 2: Baseball vs. Presentation College, 12/3 p.m.
May 2: Softball vs. Presentation College, 1/3 p.m. (Senior Day)

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

Monday, April 26
9 a.m. Viking golf @ NSAA Conference Championships (April 26-27)

Tuesday, April 27
5:30 p.m. Viking baseball @ North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.

Wednesday, April 28
10:30 a.m. VCBC Library activity: Reada Reddy Mother Goose with Humpty Dumpty Craft. Call 845-3821 for kit.
1 and 3 p.m. Viking softball @ Mayville State University, Mayville, N.D.

Thursday, April 29
VCBC Library activity: Cinco de Mayo make and take craft. Call 845-3821 for kit.

Saturday, May 1
Viking Track & field @ MSU-Moorhead (time TBD)
1 and 3 p.m. Viking softball vs. Presentation College, Aberdeen, S.D.
1 and 4 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Presentation College, Aberdeen, S.D. (senior day)

Sunday, May 2
noon and 3 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Presentation College, Aberdeen, S.D.
1 and 3 p.m. Viking softball vs. Presentation College, Aberdeen, S.D. (senior day)

Wednesday, May 5
Cinco de Mayo
6:30 p.m. Crop Walk for Hunger, starting at Jefferson Elementary School on North Central Avenue

Saturday, May 8
5 to 7 p.m. Debbie Miller Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals Fundraiser, Valley City Eagles Club

Sunday, May 9
Mother’s Day

Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.