Hotline // June 1, 2022
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
President's Column: Reflections on end of year activities
The end of the year flurry of activities have subsided, and our beautiful campus is a much quieter place this week. Students have checked out of the residence halls and following commencement and submission of final grades, we are on to a summer of planning, organizational work, and efforts to complete several projects on campus.
On May 9th our campus, athletes and coaches celebrated the successful year of competition with an athletic banquet held at the Valley City Eagle’s Club. Athletic Director Jill DeVries presented awards to students for their achievements during the past year which culminated with a video compilation assembled by Mark Potts highlighting all our athletic teams. It was a wonderful opportunity to recognize individual and team achievements during the past academic year. We are proud of our student athletes and appreciate the value they add to our campus and community. We wish to thank the Athletic Boosters for their support throughout the year and sponsorship of the meal.
We honored the efforts and successes of our employees at our annual Employee Recognition Dinner held in the student cafeteria on May 12th. Employees were recognized for years of service, new certifications and degree completions, promotions, tenure, and retirements. Impressively, seven of our retirees have a combined 155 years of service to VCSU! We thank and congratulate all for their contributions and dedication to the campus and community.
The following day, on May 13th, we held a special senior awards recognition ceremony for all our seniors. Each department presented awards to the graduating seniors based upon the academic and research successes they’ve had during this past year. It was a tremendous event, emceed by Dr. Erin Klingenberg, Vice President of Student Affairs, involving several faculty and department chairs. It was an impressive ceremony in the new Center for the Arts, recognizing the academic success and achievements of our graduating seniors. This event truly exemplifies student excellence and the numerous opportunities they have had for collaboration with faculty that led to academic success.
Finally, on May 14th, we were very pleased to celebrate our commencement exercises in the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse. This marked the one hundred and thirtieth spring commencement exercise at VCSU. This academic year, we awarded 304 diplomas including 272 undergraduate degrees and 32 graduate degrees. Remarks were made by Mr. Jeffry Volk, member of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. Ms. Riley Perryman, an accomplished student and athlete provided the undergraduate reflection, and Mr. Dave Hanson, assistant professor of education and the 2022 Student Senate Teacher of the Year, gave the faculty reflection.
Commencement is a time to recognize the completion of an important time in the lives of our students, but also the beginning of their next chapter. An alumni greeting was given by Mr. Cory Anderson, Executive Director of the VCSU Foundation. It was especially gratifying to have so many family members and friends join in the excitement of the day – and a picture-perfect day it was! Some graduates travelled from great distances to attend – including students and family members from as far away as South Carolina and Mexico! The ceremony concluded with a final walk of the graduates through the assembled faculty and staff applauding the accomplishments of our students. This is one of my favorite moments of the year – giving students a final opportunity to take photos with friends, professors, coaches, and family members.
We welcome you to take a walk on the picturesque campus in the late spring and summer days ahead and wish you all a relaxing, safe, and enjoyable summer!
High school art exhibit at VCSU Art Gallery
The VCSU Art Gallery is happy to present the High School Art Exhibit. The exhibit is a collection of work from area high school students and will be on display through June 17. The gallery is open to the public Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Prairie Waters to host summer camps in June
Prairie Waters Education and Research Center will host two day camps this summer for students entering 5th through 8th grade next school year. 
Splashin’ Around at Prairie Waters — for those entering 5th and 6th grades — will be held June 13–15, 2022. Among other activities, participants will wear waders as they walk in streams to discover what lives in the water.
Fishin’ Around the Prairie Waters — for those entering 7th and 8th grades — will be held June 20–22, 2022. Participants will explore fish habitats, including lake exploration via pontoon boat and catch fish with and without rods.
Camp fees for each camp are $95, which includes a T-shirt, lunch, and transportation from VCSU to the Prairie Waters facility in Kathryn, N.D., daily. Fishing tackle will also be provided for the Fishin’ Around camp.
Registration deadline is May 27 for both camps. Registration forms can be found online at https://www.vcsu.edu/academics/academic-centers/prairie-waters-education-research-center/summer-camps/.
An extension of Valley City State University, Prairie Waters is an environmental education center specializing in water education and water-related research. Prairie Waters connects K–12 students with water resources in a number of classroom and field experiences, provides water-sampling certification workshops for state employees, and does contract research for state agencies such as the Department of Health and North Dakota Game and Fish.
For more information, call Prairie Waters at 701-845-7570 or email bonita.roswick@vcsu.edu.
Viking Sports Update
VCSU track and field athletes Zachary Co and Kendra Odegard competed May 26-27 at the NAIA Track & Field National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. Clay Kummer was scheduled to compete in the 400 meter hurdles, but the VCSU sophomore was forced to withdraw due to an injury.
Co unleashed a season-best throw of 17.22 meters in the shot put, taking a career-best third place at the meet. His performance gave Co the fifth All-American honor of his shot put career.
Co also placed 15th in the men’s hammer throw, recording a top mark of 53.81 meters.
Odegard competed in the women’s javelin with a top mark of 39.63 meters to place 14th overall in her first appearance at the national meet.
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
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Ongoing
MWF: 1 – 2 p.m. COVID-19 Testing, City County Health District (by appointment only, call 701-845-8518)
This Week
June 4
7 a.m. 26th Annual Sheyenne Valley Soap Box Derby, Central Avenue
Save the date
June 5-7
Girls Basketball Skills Camp(Grades 5-10)
June 8
Girls Basketball Prospect Camp (Grades 11-12)
June 9
Girls Basketball Team Camp
June 10
New Student Orientation
June 10-12
Football Team Camps: 9-Man
June 12-13
Volleyball Middle School Camp, Bubble/Graichen Gym
June 14
Volleyball Elementary Camp (Grades 4&5-GG only)
Men’s Basketball Team Camp
June 14-16
Football Team Camps: 11-Man
June 17
7 p.m. Peggy Lee Day, Myron Sommerfeld and His Music, Center for the Arts
June 18 & 19
Rally in the Valley
June 22
New Student Orientation
July 10-12
Volleyball All Skills Camp (Grades 9-12), Bubble/Graichen Gym
July 12
Football Jr./Sr. Showcase Camp
July 13
Volleyball Prospects Camp, Bubble/Graichen Gym
July 13-14
Football Line of Scrimmage Camp
July 14-16
Volleyball Team Camp, Bubble/Graichen Gym
July 18
5 – 8 p.m. Let’s Walk Valley City, activities and walking route through campus
July 24
Youth Football Camp
August 3
New student Orientation
Community Club meetings
- Kiwanis – Wednesdays at noon, Valley City Town & Country Club
- Optimist Club – Thursdays at 7 a.m., Vicky’s Viking Room
- Rotary Club – Tuesdays at noon, VCSU
- Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals – 2nd Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church
- Barnes County Wildlife Federation – 2nd Wednesday of the month
- Grief Journeys for Adults Support Group – meet virtually, call Hospice at 701-845-1781 to take part
Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.