Hotline // July 1, 2026

Nix Receives ‘Staff Member of the Quarter’ Award

Mike Nix, director for technology service desk, recently received the Staff Member of the Quarter award.

His nominations read, “Mike Nix is someone who truly deserves recognition for everything he does for our campus community. As Director of the Service Desk, he is constantly helping students, faculty, and staff with technology issues, often solving problems before most people even realize there is one. He plays a major role in keeping many of the campus’s day-to-day operations running smoothly, and he does it with professionalism, patience, and genuine care for others.”

“What stands out most about Mike is that he does not seek recognition or attention for the work he does. Much of what he contributes happens behind the scenes, yet his impact can be seen across the entire campus. Whether it is helping someone troubleshoot a problem, supporting large campus technology projects, or making sure his team has the tools and guidance they need to succeed, Mike is always willing to step in and help however he can.”

“Mike has dedicated 30 years of service to supporting this campus, and throughout that time he has built a reputation as someone people can trust and rely on. He treats everyone with respect and patience, no matter how busy things may be. His calm attitude and willingness to help make a difference not only for the people he supports, but also for the employees he leads.”

“As a supervisor, Mike encourages his staff to continue learning and improving themselves professionally. He leads by example and creates an environment where people feel supported and valued. He is the kind of leader who wants to see others succeed and is always willing to share his knowledge and experience.”

“Mike’s contributions have positively affected students, faculty, and staff for many years, even if much of his work happens quietly in the background. His dedication, leadership, and commitment to helping others make him more than deserving of the Staff Member of the Quarter award.”

VCSU Hosts More Than 125 Students for INSTEM Academy

Photo: INSTEM students participate in the “Microbe Mayhem” activity with VCSU science professor Hilde van Gijssel.

The Valley City State University INSTEM Academy brought more than 125 students to campus this month for weekly sessions focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math.

Students from 15 different school districts attended the sessions this summer, which is the seventh year that VCSU has offered the INSTEM Academy. The academy began with just 12 students in 2018.

“It’s exciting to see how far the program has come—from just 12 students in 2018 to more than 120 annually from more than 15 school districts,” said Dr. Jamie Wirth, VCSU Professor and INSTEM Academy director. “This growth shows the growing demand and impact of this work.”

The INSTEM Academy runs four different weekly sessions in June for students in grades 7-12, who are grouped by class level. The weekly sessions begin on Sunday night and conclude on Thursday afternoon and are full of hands-on activities that build students’ skills and confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math.

VCSU faculty worked with students in various classes including bird watching, robot building, building hydraulic arms, studying the brain, using sonar, monitoring walleye, editing video, using audio recording equipment, and using scientific discovery.

Students in Weeks 1 and 2 participate in activities throughout the week as a large group. This allows them to try many different activities, tour different locations and get their first taste of what life on a college campus is like.

Older students in Weeks 3 and 4 select specific projects to focus on during their INSTEM time. Students work on their project for more than a day and present their results during a showcase event at the end of the week.

Jake Ryan John, a first year INSTEM participant, said he has enjoyed the projects and meeting new friends.

“I’ve always wanted to go into STEM and science related stuff since I was in first grade,” he said. “This is a great experience for me.”

“I think these sessions will help me very much in my future,” Chayton Yankton said. Yankton participated in building an audio story through sound and editing videos during Week 3.

Athena Starr has been attending INSTEM for three years and participated in a new session led by Dr. Lindsey Leker focusing on neuroscience and the brain.

“This session is really into psychology, and I want to be a neuropsychologist,” Starr said. “We are playing games with things like taste. It’s really fun.”

In addition to academic activities, students experience trips to Medicine Wheel Park, the Gaukler Family Wellness Center, the VCSU Planetarium, and have free time to experience residence halls.

“INSTEM has been a tremendous success this year. The level of engagement from students has been outstanding—they’re having fun, building connections, and really embracing the challenge of STEM learning,” Wirth said. “It’s exciting to see so many of them already talking about returning next year.”

Photo: INSTEM students build hydraulic arms during an activity. The hydraulic arms were then used to move items in a competition.

Photo: Students visit John Deere Seeding Group and experience virtual reality training programs that train John Deere employees on welding and painting.

Photo: Students edit audio in VCSU’s audio production lab as part of an INSTEM session.

VCSU Faculty attend and Host North Dakota Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NDCTM) Summer Conference

Harmony Richman, NDTCM Past-President, Jessica Haut, NDTCM Treasurer, and Sidney Gilbertson, pre-service Elementary Education major attended the two-day math conference hosted at VCSU. This organization supports elementary, secondary and university level math teachers across the state as they work to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics.

‘From Insight to Impact: Empowering Educators, Empowering Learners” brought together 90 math educators from across the state to collaborate, inspire, and elevate mathematics education. This year’s conference featured an exceptional lineup of leaders, anchored by Keynote Speaker Latrenda Knighten, President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Joining her to share their expertise were our two featured special guest speakers, Dr. Jenna Menke and Jessica Strom. Richman also presented a session on AI during the conference.

Attendees had the opportunity to explore 28 dynamic breakout sessions filled with practical ideas for every classroom. Presentations and workshops focused on getting learners talking with collaborative math tasks, setting up active “Thinking Classrooms,” and introducing easy-to-use tools like AI and math technology. From simple ways to differentiate lessons to strategies that build learner confidence, the sessions gave teachers real, ready-to-use activities to bring back to their schools.

Viking Sports Update

BASEBALL
VCSU Assistant baseball coach TJ Hokanson has been promoted to head coach of the Viking program. The Vikings are coming off a season where they won 26 games, the most since they won 27 in 2017.

Viking sophomore Connor Martin was named College Male Athlete of the Year by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. The Nesbitt, Manitoba native had a record setting season for the Viking baseball team. 

SPORTS INFORMATION
Savannah Williams has been named Assistant Sports Information Director at VCSU. Williams will begin her duties on July 13.  

ADMINISTRATION
Congratulations go out to Dave Bass who was named Faculty Athletic Representative of the Year in the Frontier Conference. 

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

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