Commencement to be held Saturday, May 11

The 127th spring Commencement Exercises at Valley City State University will be held Saturday, May 11, 2019, at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse on the VCSU campus.

More than 320 students are candidates for degrees, including 38 candidates for the Master of Education degree, 7 candidates for the Master of Arts in Teaching degree, 169 candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Education degree, 6 candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree, 102 candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree, and 2 candidates for the Bachelor of University Studies degree.

In addition, 18 students from Dakota College at Bottineau who are completing DCB nursing programs on the VCSU campus are recognized at commencement. This group includes 7 candidates for the Associate Degree in Nursing and 11 candidates for the Certificate in Practical Nursing.

Special recognition will be given to those graduating with academic honors, along with 22 undergraduates who completed their VCSU degrees in less than four years.

Presiding at the ceremony will be VCSU President Alan D. LaFave, D.M.A. LaFave will be participating in his first VCSU commencement, having joined the university in mid-December 2018. LaFave previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D.

Daniel Traynor, J.D., a member of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education and an attorney from Devils Lake, will bring remarks on behalf of the board.

Marc Wagner of Jamestown will give the undergraduate reflection. Wagner will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health education with a focus on special education, along with a coaching certificate. He served as president of the VCSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as a captain on the football team; he was twice named a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Emily Fenster, Ph.D., will present the faculty reflection. Associate professor in the VCSU Social Science Department, Fenster was recognized as “Teacher of the Year” by the VCSU Student Senate this spring. Fenster, who holds degrees from Miami University of Ohio and the University of North Dakota, has served on the VCSU faculty since 2013.

Music throughout the ceremony will be provided by the VCSU Concert Band and Brass Ensemble, both directed by Jerrold Heide.

The public is invited to attend the commencement ceremony, which will also be live streamed. It can be viewed online at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, at www.youtube.com/user/VCSUVikings/live.