Hotline // June 15, 2022

President's Column: Summer renovations and honoring excellence

Greetings from Valley City State University!

For those that may think the campus slows down during the summer, it might surprise you that these months are among the busiest for many. Building maintenance, summer camps, alumni meetings, foundation events, golf tournaments, athletic team camps, and work on the campus grounds are just a few of the activities underway. Specifically, you will notice lots of activity on campus this week beginning with the demolition of Foss Music Hall.

This building has served the campus well as a center for learning, musical development, and performance. Due to the location of the facility on the wrong side of the flood wall, the music and art departments have relocated into the new Center for the Arts. The recent spring flooding event heightened the awareness of the devastating potential of flooding and we are thankful for having the new facility built in a way to avoid any future flooding issues.

While recognizing the history and impact of Foss Hall, we also recognize VCSU Athletics history. I’m very pleased to announce that on Friday, June 10, Valley City State University will be honored to induct 27 individuals into the inaugural class of the VCSU Coaches Hall of Fame.

The Coaches Hall of Fame is a new addition to VCSU and will honor Viking alumni who have gone on to successful and influential coaching careers. The inaugural class includes alumni from five different decades. Combined, the class coached nine different sports at the collegiate and high school level and won national championships and numerous national coach of the year awards.

Inductees into the VCSU Coaches Hall of Fame receive the Osmon Icon Award which honors individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in the field of coaching through their careers. The award is named in honor of Viking Icon Coach Bill Osmon. Coach Osmon’s teams won 24 conference championships in four different sports making him the all-time winningest coach in Valley City State history while providing dedication and influential service during his tenure at Valley City State from 1947 – 1982.

Here are some interesting facts regarding the group:

• 4 of the inductees have also received VCSU Distinguished Alumni Awards
• Numerous are inducted into various Halls of Fame including Respective State Coaches Hall of Fame (14); Collegiate Hall of Fame; National High School Coaches Hall of Fame (2); NJCAA Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame, Officials Hall of Fame, ND Sports Hall of Fame,
• 85 total Coach of the Year Awards
• 4 National Coach of the Year Awards
• 52 Collegiate Conference Championships
• 101 State Championships
• 1 NCAA National Championship

We are so pleased and honored to recognize these coaches and their legacies. We look forward to welcoming them and their family members back to Valley City and the campus.

Go Vikings!

Summer Vikes on Central to take place September 8

Valley City State University is excited to partner with Summer Nights on Central to host the first annual Summer Vikes on Central event on September 8 featuring live music by Slamabama. This event will welcome incoming and current VCSU students to Valley City and introduce them to local businesses and community members in a fun and relaxing atmosphere.

Summer Nights on Central is a series of events held each summer on Central Avenue in downtown Valley City featuring live music, late night shopping, food and beverage vendors and more. These events were started in 2019 and have previously drawn a crowd of 500 to 1,000 people. The community events will take place in July with performances by FM All Stars on July 14 and 2 Weeks Notice on July 21.

The freshmen class will join President LaFave at the VCSU footbridge before the event. From there, the VCSU Marching Band will lead the group downtown where they will join the community. All current VCSU students and members of the VCSU Viking Family that are interested in marching, are invited to meet at the footbridge at 5:30 p.m. on September 8.

Businesses are encouraged to set up a booth where they can provide information, freebies, drawings, games, giveaways or college student discounts. Those interested can sign up at https://valleycitynd.org/summernights.

This event is for all ages and admission is free for both Summer Nights on Central and Summer Vikes on Central. These events are open to the public and the community is encouraged to attend.

Fenster attends human services conference

Emily Fenster, associate professor of sociology, attended the Leadership Institute Focusing on Effective Human Service Organizations held June 3. Tim Nolan was the presenter for the day and the workshop was hosted by the National Organization for Human Services. It included various topics: why job burnout occurs in helping professions; characteristics of transformational leadership; ways to show commitment and promote connection; and effective onboarding approaches for new employees.

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

Ongoing

MWF: 1 – 2 p.m. COVID-19 Testing, City County Health District (by appointment only, call 701-845-8518)

This Week

June 14-16
Football Team Camps: 11-Man

June 15
7 – 8:30 p.m. Climate Change Presentation, Rhoades 102

June 17
7 p.m. Peggy Lee Day, Myron Sommerfeld and His Music, Center for the Arts

June 18 & 19
Rally in the Valley

Save the date

June 19-23
INSTEM Camp, Kolstoe/Rhoades

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
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. CTS Service One Town Hall Meeting, Rhoades 102

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

July 24
Youth Football Camp

August 3
New Student Orientation

August 15
8 – 11 a.m. Employee Convocation and Welcome Back, CFA Performance Hall

August 17
8:30 – 10 a.m. All Faculty Meeting, Rhoades 102

August 19
Freshmen move-in day

September 8
11 a.m. – noon VCSU Convocation, McFarland Greenspace
5 p.m. Summer Vikes on Central, downtown Central Avenue

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.