Hotline // July 13, 2022
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
Passing of Pat Horner
We will deeply miss Pat Horner, director for facilities services, who passed away last week. Pat’s 21 years of employment at VCSU were marked by his dedication, commitment, collegiality and passion for this institution. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 13 at 6 p.m. with a prayer service to follow at 7 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Valley City. The funeral will be held on Thursday, July 14 at 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church with burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery in Valley City. The funeral service will also be streamed on Faith Lutheran Church’s website. Read the full obituary at https://bit.ly/3bWuxNO.
Free public planetarium show this Saturday
VCSU’s Planetarium presents Solar System & All About Stars on July 16 at 1 p.m. The planetarium is located in the Rhoades Science Center Room 309. The show is free and open to the public. 
Valley City State University is home to the only Planetarium in North Dakota. Our state-of-the-art Rhoades Science Center houses a Spitz 512 planetarium with a 24-foot domed ceiling and 50 reclining seats.
Each semester, VCSU students produce a new show to be used in the Planetarium. Our shows range from basic astronomy to exploring how Lewis and Clark used the night sky to aid in their exploration of North America.
Our planetarium is primarily used to educate area school and community groups, but is also used for some classes at VCSU, like Astronomy and Earth Science. With no charge for shows, it’s easy to make the trip to our beautiful campus and have a one-of-a-kind celestial experience.
For more information about the VCSU Planetarium contact Wes Anderson, 701-845-0966.
VCSU students performing at Frost Fire Theater
Two VCSU students are spending their summer in the Pembina River Gorge participating in The Sound of Music at Frost Fire Theater.
Kristin Albrecht is performing as a nun as well as playing flute and trumpet. She grew up in Pembina, N.D. and is a sophomore at VCSU where she studies math education. Albrecht has been involved in band since 5th grade and continues both band and choir at VCSU.
Elizabeth Gazeley, Valley City, N.D. plays the Reverend Mother. She is a junior at VCSU and is working towards a bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a minor in Spanish.
Frost Fire Summer Theater is located in Frost Fire Park near Walhalla, N.D. The theater, which opened in 1985, regularly welcomes 5,000 guests from around the region during each theater season. Shows run Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays through the end of July. Find the full details for the performances at https://frostfirepark.org/summer-theatre.
Meet Joe Wright
Joe Wright always had a passion for becoming an entrepreneur, although at a young age he wasn’t quite sure what that word meant. Now the VCSU grad operates both of his businesses out of a two bedroom apartment and uses his communications degree in every aspect of his work. 
Read Joe’s profile: https://www.vcsu.edu/joe-wright/
Let's Walk Valley City coming up July 18
Let’s Walk Valley City is a free event on Monday, July 18 from 5 – 8 p.m. This event features a 1.5 mile route that starts at either Jefferson Elementary or Hi-Line Prairie Gardens and Orchard. Join the fun by walking, biking, blading or running the route. Along the way, there will be games, activities, live music, art, and delicious food.
Attendees can check out over 25 booths with many different activities for kids and adults. Try pickleball, learn a dance, hula hoop, listen to live music, play carnival games, paint part of the On the Move mural, or check out the foster pets available from Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals and check out a variety of food booths.
For more information about the event, please contact Emma Tufte at 845-8518. The event is funded by a grant City County Health District received from the North Dakota Department of Health.
Great Plains Food Bank July 20
The Great Plains Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry will be stopping in Valley City on Wednesday, July 20. The pantry will be located at the Epworth United Methodist Church from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Anyone in need of food assistance from any community is welcome to attend!
View the website for all upcoming distribution information or to find out how you can help.
Viking Sports Update
Bratsch and Potts named Assistant Athletic Directors 
Valley City State University president Alan LaFave has announced changes to the athletic department leadership team under new interim athletic director Dennis McCulloch.
Anna Bratsch has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director/Director for Sports Medicine, and Mark Potts has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Sports Information. Both Bratsch and Potts, along with current assistant athletic director, Casey Olney, will be a part of McCulloch’s leadership team for athletics.
Bratsch has served as VCSU’s head athletic trainer since joining the staff in 2013. She was named NSAA Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2020. Bratsch’s main focus as assistant athletic director will be in helping promote VCSU’s women’s athletic programs and ensuring equitable support for those programs from the university. She will also lead Title IX and gender equity planning for the overall department, to include both men’s and women’s sports.
Potts has served as a leader in university communications since 2013, especially within the athletic department. He was named the conference’s Sports Information Director of the Year in 2017, 2019 and 2022. As assistant athletic director, he’ll take on a larger role in gameday management, gameday staffing, marketing, promotions and business sponsorships.
VCSU athletes earn 93 NSAA Scholar-Athlete awards
Valley City State University student-athletes have earned 93 North Star Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete awards for the 2021-22 season, the conference office announced.
The NSAA honor recognizes student-athletes for outstanding academic achievements while managing the heavy time demands of being a collegiate student-athlete.
To be eligible for the NSAA Scholar-Athlete award, a student-athlete must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and participate in a junior varsity or varsity contest that season.
Complete List: https://www.vcsuvikings.com/d/2021-22/2022_VCSU_NAIA_Scholars.pdf
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
July 13
Volleyball Prospects Camp, Bubble/Graichen Gym
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. CTS Service One Town Hall Meeting, Rhoades 102
7:15 p.m. Music in the Park, Myron Sommerfeld & His Music, City Park Bandshell
July 13-14
Football Line of Scrimmage Camp
July 14-16
Volleyball Team Camp, Bubble/Graichen Gym
Save the date
July 18
5 – 8 p.m. Let’s Walk Valley City
July 20
7:15 p.m. Music in the Park, Greg Hager, City Park Bandshell
July 24
Youth Football Camp
July 27
7:15 p.m. Music in the Park, The Imperials, City Park Bandshell
August 3
New Student Orientation
7:15 p.m. Music in the Park, Tuckered Out, City Park Bandshell
August 10
7:15 p.m. Music in the Park, SueAnn Berntson & Family, City Park Bandshell
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
7:15 p.m. Music in the Park, Maasjo Sisters, City Park Bandshell
August 19
Freshman 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.