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Student Senate recognizes King and Tykwinski with 2020 awards

May 4, 2020

The Student Senate of Valley City State University has announced its 2020 awards. Steven King, professor of social science, was named Teacher of the Year, and Betty Tykwinski, director for health services and worksite wellness coordinator, was named Student Advocate of the Year.

King began teaching at VCSU in 1998 and secured a tenure track position in 2005. He served as chair of the Department of Social Science from 2007–14. In April 2019, he was recognized at the Dakota Conference at Augustana College with the Distinguished Contribution to the Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Northern Plains Award. King has led VCSU students on four European study tours.

He holds two advanced degrees in history, a doctorate from the University of North Dakota and a master’s from St. Cloud State University, along with a bachelor’s degree from Oak Hills Christian School.

Tykwinski has served VCSU as director for health services since 2018; she previously served as interim director of student academic services. Tykwinski serves as member-at-large on the regional board for the North Central College Health Association.

From 2011-18, Tykwinski taught nursing at Dakota College at Bottineau’s site on the VCSU campus. She served Mercy Hospital in Valley City in various education and nursing roles from 1986-2015. A registered nurse, Tykwinski hold a master’s degree in nursing education from Walden University and a bachelor’s in nursing from Mankato State University.