The VCSU Student Senate named Dr. Joe Stickler "Teacher of the Year." The award is given annually to a professor who shows dedication to the students of VCSU through innovative teaching methods and continued professional development both inside and outside of the classroom.The award was presented to Stickler by VCSU Junior Billy Anderson, Teacher of the Year Committee co-chair. In his comments, Anderson said, "Dr. Stickler has not only shown tremendous knowledge in his content area but has shown a special ability to teach his students with great enthusiasm and passion. He goes above and beyond his job title assisting students outside the class, particularly with lab work. His community work with the Medicine Wheel Park is well known throughout the university and community. Dr. Stickler has been a consistent standard of success with numerous students going on to graduate school. He has shown his reliability and stability by winning this award several times in the past. On behalf of the VCSU Student Senate, we are happy to honor and recognize Dr. Stickler with the Teacher of the Year award."Professors are nominated by members of the student body, and the winner is elected by the Student Senate.Dr. Stickler is a professor in the Division of Mathematics, Science, and Health & Physical Education. He has been with VCSU for 27 years teaching courses in Chemistry and Astronomy, and has been chair of the division since 1992. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Ohio Wesleyan University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois. In addition to high quality instruction in the classroom, Stickler is well known for his work envisioning, building, and enhancing the Medicine Wheel Park in Valley City, a unique 30-acre park that includes a 213 foot replica of a Native American medicine wheel, Native American burial mounds, a scale model of the solar system (1 foot equal 3 million miles), a segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail and other woodland nature trials, several scenic overlooks of the Sheyenne River valley and Valley City, and a 3,000 square foot perennial flower garden.

News ReleaseSteven W. Shirley Named President of VCSU4/21/2008For Immediate Release: For More Information Contact: April 21, 2008 Debra A. Anderson, Director of Public Affairs North Dakota University System Phone: 701.328.2962 E-mail: debra.a.anderson@ndus.nodak.edu BISMARCK, N.D. - The State Board of Higher Education today named Steven W. Shirley, Ph.D., president of Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D. Shirley is vice president and dean of student affairs at Dakota State University, Madison, S.D. He is responsible for undergraduate admissions and oversees the university relations department. He is a former business faculty member and director of study abroad at the University of Minnesota, Crookston."Members of the State Board of Higher Education were very impressed by Dr. Shirley's passion for and understanding of Valley City State University. His leadership and teambuilding skills will be strong assets to this university," said John Q. Paulsen, SBHE president. "The Valley City State University presidential search committee brought a tremendous amount of energy and commitment to this process, and they forwarded two highly qualified finalists for this position. In the final analysis, however, Steven Shirley's professional experience more closely parallels the expectations of the VCSU presidency.""Dr. Shirley has a strong understanding of what's important to students," said Bill Goetz, chancellor of the North Dakota University System. "His background clearly demonstrates that he is someone who can drive the growth of this university."Shirley holds a doctorate in teaching and learning: higher education, a master's degree in marketing and global business, and a bachelor's degree in marketing and management, all from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D. He also is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education Program in Professional Education, Cambridge, Mass.Shirley will become president of VCSU July 1, 2008. He will succeed Dr. Ellen Chaffee who announced her upcoming retirement in Sept. 2007 after 15 years of distinguished service. He will be paid an annual salary of $155,000 and will have a three-year contract.

Valley City State University will hold its 116th commencement ceremony on May 10, 2008. The commencement address will be delivered by Doug Burgum, former Chairman and CEO of Great Plains Software and former Senior Vice President for Microsoft Corporation. Burgum joined Great Plains in 1983 when the company was a small start-up. He led its rapid growth through an initial public offering in 1997 and its acquisition by Microsoft in 2001. From September 1980 to March 1983, he worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Co. in their Chicago office. He currently serves on the board of directors for SuccessFactors and is a partner with Arthur Ventures. He is a principal in the Kilbourne Group, a development company investing in the revitalization of downtown Fargo. Burgum established the Doug Burgum Family Fund which focuses its charitable giving on youth and education. He lives on the Red River near Fargo, ND, with his three children. He holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and serves on the school's advisory council, and he holds a Bachelor of University Studies degree from North Dakota State University.Also delivering commencement addresses during the ceremony will be VCSU students John Grohol, Eagle River, AK and Judith Walter, Minot, ND.This will also be the final year that VCSU President Ellen-Earle Chaffee will preside over the ceremony. Chaffee announced her intention to retire effective June 30, 2008, following fifteen years of exemplary service. A search for a new president is in its final stages.During the 2007-2008 academic year, 172 undergraduate and 19 graduate students completed their programs of study. Commencement will be held at 10:00 am on May 10 in historic Vangstad Auditorium.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Valley City State University presidential search committee today recommended two presidential finalists to the State Board of Higher Education. They are Steven W. Shirley, Ph.D., and Blake Faulkner, D.B.A. The search committee interviewed five semi-finalists, who also met with campus and community members during open forums April 7 – 10, 2008.A brief description of the two finalists follows.Steven W. Shirley, Ph.D.: Shirley is vice president and dean of student affairs at Dakota State University, Madison, S.D. He is responsible for undergraduate admissions and oversees the university relations department. He is a former business faculty member and director of study abroad at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. Shirley holds a doctorate in teaching and learning: higher education, a master's degree in marketing and global business, and a bachelor's degree in marketing and management, all from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D. He also is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education Program in Professional Education, Cambridge, Mass.Blake Faulkner, D.B.A.: Faulkner is president of the online campus/system vice president for international affairs at National American University in Rapid City, S.D. He has worked for the university for 14 years, serving in a variety of roles, including vice president of enrollment, vice president of administration and president of the Rapid City residential campus and online campus. He also has served as athletic director/associate athletic director at Western New Mexico University, Silver City, N.M.; as an instructor at Cameron University, Lawton, Okla., and Peru State College, Peru, Neb.; and as a graduate assistant at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan. Faulkner holds a doctorate in business administration from Argosy University, a master's degree from Pittsburg State University and a bachelor's degree from Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colo.Finalists will be interviewed by the SBHE April 21, 2008. The beginning date for the new president is subject to negotiation with the successful candidate. Dr. Ellen Chaffee, VCSU president, announced her upcoming retirement in Sept. 2007.

VCSU's Scholarship Auction incorporates glitter and flash in an event that generates essential scholarship dollars!Live Auction ItemsOnline Auction'Viva Las Vegas' is the theme for the 14th annual VCSU Scholarship Auction scheduled for April 25 at the Valley City Eagles, and it promises to be an exciting and eventful night!You may have seen posters announcing the event around town – they feature the famous Las Vegas sign to play off this year's theme. The Valley City Eagles Club will be all decked out Las Vegas-style. The Eagles Club will be the site of the famous 'Viking Downs' horse race during the live auction. Six horses will be auctioned off to the highest bidder(s). You may bid on a horse as an individual or with a group of friends. The first horse to cross the finish line will be declared the winner and that horses owner(s) will be awarded 50% of the combined winning bids of the six horses auctioned off, with the remaining 50% going to the VCSU Scholarship Auction. Ever wanted to dash off to Vegas for a quick wedding? A Vegas-style wedding chapel will be available complete with a photographer to help you remember who you married. And of course, casino games will be big – they will be featured during the social hour (5:00 – 7:00 pm), and lucky auction participants can win even more prizes! Las Vegas is also all about great food, and the 2008 Scholarship Auction will offer plenty of that. A huge buffet dinner will offer auction-goers their choice of two main entrees plus salad, various side dishes, bread and deserts. It is a sure bet that no one will leave hungry."We are also planning to have a few Las Vegas personalities in the crowd," said Kim Hesch, VCSU's assistant director of Advancement. "Everyone on the committee that organized the auction will be dressed 'Vegas-style," and we encourage everyone attending to dress up, too!' Former Dakota Country Live Host Ryan Cunningham and VCSU student Randy Hooey will serve as emcees for the event again this year.The main events of course are the auctions themselves. Once again this year, the Scholarship Auction will have 3 components: an online auction will be hosted at the VCSU web site (www.vcsu.edu) beginning April 21, 2008, a silent auction will be held throughout the evening of April 25, and a live auction will start at 7:00 pm. "This is a chance to get some great deals while you contribute to a great cause," said Hesch. "All of the prizes are donated, so all proceeds from items sold at the auction go directly to scholarships. We have lots of great items up for bidding, including a Honda generator, 7 course authentic Italian home cooked meal for 4, 10 yards of black dirt, handmade cedar planter with plants, guided pheasant hunt, a fresh bouquet of flowers a month for a year and a one night stay and six waterpark passes at the Seven Clans Casino Hotel and Indoor Waterpark.""This is our single biggest event in terms of generating scholarship dollars, and it has been getting bigger every year," said Larry Robinson, Executive Director of the VCSU Foundation. The 2007 auction generated over $40,000, a record in the history of the event. 'Scholarships are absolutely vital to VCSU's success because they give us a way to compete for the best and brightest students. I think people like knowing that the money raised by the Scholarship Auction is going to a great cause.'Tickets to the event cost $25 and include admission to the auction, buffet dinner, beverages, and a chance to a prize to be announced at a later date. Social hour and silent auction begin at 5:00 pm, buffet from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, and the live auction begins at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at the VCSU Foundation office, from auction committee members, or at the door. For questions or more information, contact Kim Hesch at 701-845-7203 or kim.hesch@vcsu.edu.

The Museum of Science's National Center for Technological Literacy (NCTL) and Valley City State University (VCSU), have completed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) leveraging their strengths to bring quality standards-based engineering and technology education to K-12 schools throughout the United States. The goal is to improve the technological literacy of K-12 teachers nationwide and prepare qualified teachers to address the national shortage of technology educators.Dr. Yvonne Spicer, NCTL vice president for advocacy and educational partnerships, at the Museum of Science, Boston, said, "Engineering builds the thinking and design skills that our students need for today's competitive global economy by asking them to apply their math and science knowledge to solve real-world problems. But to prepare our children for the 21st century, we must give our educators the engineering and technical knowledge they need to teach."Dr. Ellen Chaffee, president of VCSU, Valley City, North Dakota, said, "Increasing the number of students entering technology and engineering fields is recognized as a critical need in the United States. Our technology/engineering education curriculum can play a strategic role by graduating teachers qualified to improve the technological literacy of their students."According to the MOU, Valley City State University will become the lead partner in a new K-12 initiative, "Closing the Technology & Engineering Teaching Gap." The initiative will use VCSU's innovative, fully accredited online teacher certification program to increase the number of K-12 educators in technology and engineering who can effectively use NCTL materials . The NCTL will make its curriculum materials and training available to VCSU at favorable rates and inform appropriate audiences and candidates of the opportunity to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology education through distance delivery from VCSU.The agreement also provides for the institutions to work collaboratively to transform the K-12 system and the postsecondary teacher education system to support and ensure technology literacy in and through all schools. One of the first outcomes of the agreement is planning two or three day workshops for K-12 teachers jointly led by NCTL staff and VCSU faculty. The first of these is planned for the summer 2008 on the VCSU campus.The Museum of Science founded the NCTL in 2004 to enhance knowledge of engineering and technology for people of all ages and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. The Museum is the only science museum in the country with a comprehensive strategy and infrastructure to foster technological literacy in both science museums and schools nationwide. Through the NCTL, the Museum is 1) developing technology exhibits and programs and 2) integrating engineering as a new discipline in schools via standards-based K-12 curricular reform. Recognizing that a 21st century curriculum must include today's human-made world, the NCTL strives to introduce engineering as early as elementary school and continue it through high school, college, and beyond. The NCTL is helping schools develop standards- and research- based engineering curricula and offering educators professional development, while also advancing public understanding of engineering and technology through museum exhibits, programs, and professional development.As a national leader in graduating pre-service and in-service K-12 technology educators, VCSU "stands ready to provide a missing piece of the puzzle – teachers who can educate a nation of technologically literate citizens," said Chaffee. The university offers both bachelor's and master's level degrees in Technology Education. Both VCSU and NCTL programs are based on the latest national standards for K-12 engineering and technology literacy standards. Online delivery makes VCSU's programs accessible anywhere an Internet connection is available. "The missions of our organizations are complementary," said Chaffee. "The NCTL creates engaging K-12 engineering curricula and resources, and VCSU produces teachers qualified to use those and related materials most effectively in the classroom. It is a natural fit."As of December 2007, the NCTL's Engineering is Elementary elementary curriculum had reached over 4,470 teachers and 163,200 students in 42 states (and Washington, DC). In 2007, the Museum of Science launched its first school textbook publishing partnership, introducing its high school course, Engineering the Future, which has been successfully field-tested in 102 schools. A Building Math middle school curriculum, developed with Tufts University, is also now available.

Head Coaches Craig Case and Chad Slyter have announced the signing of Paige Smith to a Dakota Athletic Conference letter of intent. The Gretna, Manitoba native is a senior at Mennonite Collegiate Institute. Paige is the daughter of Bruce and Delores Smith. Smith is well recognized in the Manitoba softball world. A pitcher/outfielder for the Manitoba Angels midget team, Smith shows a combination of power and speed that will be well served for the Vikings. 'Paige is an impact player,' commented head softball coach Chad Slyter. 'She is the kind of player that possesses all five tools; hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, defense and has a great arm.'In the summer 2007 season, Smith hit for a .519 batting average, compiling 58 hits in 113 at bats. In addition, she scored 39 runs while hitting seven doubles, 14 triples and five home runs with 18 stolen bases. In the circle, Smith recorded a 6-1 record with six complete games and four shutouts. This past fall at the Des Moine, IA Fall Jamboree, Smith hit for a .714 batting average in four games. For her efforts, Smith received the 2007 Manitoba Female Midget Player of the Year award. She was also selected to the MLSSL All-Star game in 2007. In 2006, Smith was labeled the 2006 Manitoba Female Bantam Player of the Year award and was also a MLSSL All-Star.'Paige is a great player and has unlimited potential and ability on the field,' added Slyter. 'I think we can expect to Paige to be a valuable part of the future success of the Viking Softball program.'Smith is equally as impressive on the court. The 5'9' hitter was named to numerous all-tourney teams and picked up multiple tourney MVP's awards during her senior campaign. 'Paige has a very unique athleticism and we're thrilled about getting her into our program,' Commented head volleyball coach Craig Case. 'We have some immediate recruiting needs, but what we're most excited about is Paige's potential to pick up where our upcoming seniors will be leaving. Karissa Fahlman, Megan Floerke, and Heidi Larson are all graduating next year and we need players like Paige in the wings ready to continue on.' Smith will join Emily Goedert as a two sport athlete on the Viking's volleyball roster. Goedert recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball and volleyball at VCSU. On the softball side Paige joins Amanda Bilton, Carly Holub, Ashley Mayry, and Jennifer Shadlock as athletes who have signed letters of intent.[image2]Valley City State University (VCSU), Valley City, North Dakota is a four-year undergraduate university that prepares people for life through visionary leadership and exemplary practices in teaching, learning and service. VCSU is nationally acclaimed for attracting and retaining talented individuals who advance quality learning opportunities and economic growth through technology and innovation. Visit www.vcsu.edu for more information.