The Bulletin 11-03.Pmd
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THE BULLETIN A Publication for Alumni & Friends of Valley City State University Official Publication Number 071610 December 2003 Back to head of class by Mike Nowatzki, The Forum At first glance, Ellen Chaffee appears to be a Inside typical college instructor. When she asks her freshman writing class at Valley City State President’s Corner University how a citywide power outage the night President’s Message before affected their homework, one student’s excuse doesn’t make the grade. USNews Best College “Yeah, yeah, and the dog ate it,” she says, drawing New academic programs laughs from the freshmen. VCSU Foundation Corner About 15 minutes into the period, as Chaffee reviews sentence structure, two students wearing VCSU hosting NSMIT shorts and baseball caps stroll into the room. statistics part time. She became president of both Arneson releases new CD “So nice to have you here, gentlemen,” she says VCSU and Mayville State University in 1993, wryly. “Thank you for coming.” and of VCSU alone on Oct. 1, 2002. Students honor soldiers And as class gets under way, she announces Over the years, Chaffee has stayed on top of her VCSU receives Bush Grant tongue-in-cheek, “OK, I think we’re going to start English and writing skills by publishing 20 articles VCSU Music Reunion with the mini-lesson in grammar and stuff.” and penning her weekly column, the “President’s Despite her comfortable appearance, Chaffee Corner.” But writing and teaching students how Homecoming isn’t an average college instructor. For the past 10 to write are two very different things, she said. Viking Highlights years, she has served as president of VCSU, which On the first day of class, she put the freshmen at reported fall enrollment at 998 students. Two ease by admitting that she, too, felt like a freshman, Still special after all these years weeks before fall classes began, a part-time being in front of a class for the first time in 20 Success Stories instructor was lured away from VCSU with a years, said one of her students, Alicia Rothschiller Vikings on the Move full-time position at North Dakota State of Ashley. University. With no time to find a replacement, “She has a fun class,” Rothschiller said. “She’s Weddings Chaffee filled the void. all excited.” Toll Free By teaching, Chaffee said she is learning a lot Chaffee also understands the challenges facing 800-532-8641, Ext. 37203 about students’ experiences and ideas, faculty life students, Rothschiller said. Thursday’s class was Val Moritz and herself. in part a special review session for the midterm 701-845-7403 However, it’s not the first time she’s stood in exam, which Chaffee postponed a week because front of a classroom. she felt students didn’t have a proper grasp of the Tiffany Hieb 701-845-7411 Chaffee graduated with a bachelor’s degree in subject matter. English from the University of Kentucky in 1966 “If we don’t get it, she makes sure she goes over Larry Robinson 701-845-7217 and taught at high schools in Moorhead and it,” Rothschiller said. Hinsdale, Ill. In 1971, she received her master’s Chaffee said she works hard at being a good E-Mail degree in counseling from NDSU and worked in teacher, spending at least 15 hours a week — mostly [email protected] [email protected] the student affairs office for several years. during nights and weekends — preparing for class [email protected] After earning a doctorate degree in and grading papers. administration and policy analysis from Stanford Her responsibilities as a teacher almost always VCSU Home Page http://www.vcsu.edu University in 1980, she landed a research position at the University of Colorado, where she also taught Back to head of class, continued on page 8 Page 2, The Bulletin President’s Corner by David M. Hanson ’83 Greetings from Wyndmere, ND... My name is David Hanson and As elementary administrator for the school, I have had the responsibility I am the VCSU Alumni President of hiring new elementary instructors. Valley City State is always my first for 2003-2004. I graduated from call. Who is graduating and who might fit the needs we have here at VCSU in 1983 with a major in Wyndmere? All of the instructors I have hired from VCSU have been elementary education. I am top notch! currently the elementary This past year I was asked if I would consider having two student administrator and technology teachers from VCSU. Needless to say this was a request I could not say David M. Hanson coordinator for the Wyndmere no to. Our students benefited greatly from their presence here. One of VCSU Alumni President Public School. My wife Tami them is now my kindergarten teacher. teaches JH/HS Math. I have two The story comes full circle with my holding the position of Alumni sons, Devin (10th grade) and another son Christian (6th grade). This year President. I take this responsibility very seriously as VCSU commands a marks the 19th year I have spent in Wyndmere. very high degree of respect not only in our state, but across the country Valley City State has always been an important part of my life. Growing as well. If there is anything the Alumni board or I can do to promote up in Valley City, I was (am) a loyal Viking fan! I really can’t remember VCSU in your area, I hope you won’t hesitate to contact me. ever considering any other colleges when entering that part of my life. I Sincerely, was very well prepared for my first elementary teaching position in David M. Hanson Lidgerwood, North Dakota. I have taken that training and experience Class of 1983 and continued my professional career here at Wyndmere. [email protected] VALLEY CITY STATE UNIVERSITY Valley City State University has a respected ALUMNI ASSOCIATION reputation for having excellent faculty and staff. OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS Numerous faculty and staff devote many years of OFFICERS their lives to serving students here at VCSU. We President David Hanson ’83 – Wyndmere, ND have been saddened this last year by the passing of First Vice President Linda Olson ’79 – Cooperstown, ND two of those longtime VCSU alumni and faculty: Second Vice President Jim Ukestad ’78 – Jamestown, ND Art Dafoe and Jim O’Connell. Treasurer Joan Noeske ’62 – Oriska, ND Immediate Past President Gayle (Klinkhammer) Nelson ’83 – Jamestown, ND Art was a faculty member and chair of the chemistry department for 24 years before he retired in 1981. DIRECTORS Jim began his career at VCSU in 1948 and taught Serving to 2004: Val Moritz for 46 years before retiring in 1994 as chair of the Brian Griffin ’69 Battle Lake, MN Alumni Relations Leo Schmidt ’61 Valley City, ND mathematics department. Their dedication to their Janis Wallender ’77 Beulah, ND students was evident, and both also served their Mike Zick ’97 Rosemount, MN communities in many different capacities. Their retirement didn’t end their relationship Serving to 2005: with VCSU. They remained interested in campus news and attended campus events Greg Grooters ’82 West Fargo, ND D.C. Lucas ’96 Fargo, ND whenever possible. John Monilaws ’87 Valley City, ND We will miss Art and Jim, but we know their legacy will live on for years. Their Jerry Topp ’74 Fargo, ND students are passing on the love for learning that Art and Jim instilled in so many. To Serving to 2006: Nora and Meryl and their families, we extend our sincere sympathies and our heartfelt Coleen Asche ’86 Grand Forks, ND Mike Hangaard ’77 Elk River, MN thanks for sharing these wonderful gentlemen with us. Rae Ann Vandrovec ’75 Jamestown, ND Missy Vollmers ’89 Bismarck, ND VCSU Foundation Representatives Janet E. Schultz ’66 Valley City, ND Bob King ’55 Valley City, ND Editor: Val Moritz Frequent Flyer Miles Layout: JJ Thoreson If you have frequent flyer miles you would The Bulletin is published in Spring, Summer, and Fall by Valley City State University Alumni Association, Valley City, ND. Postage paid at Valley City and like to donate, please call our office at: additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to 1-800-532-8641 ~ ext. 37203 The Bulletin, 101 College Street SW, Valley City, ND 58072 Page 3, The Bulletin President’s Message by Dr. Ellen-Earle Chaffee For the sixth straight year, we exponentially in the area of science education at VCSU and started fall semester with the news undergraduate scientific research. United Tribes Technical College. that Valley City State University is Dr. Andre DeLorme had the first We are proud, too, of Linda one of the top public colleges in major projects in the 1990s from Whitney-McGillis, associate the Midwest, according to US state sources to fund research on professor of art, who received a News & World Report. As usual, we macroinvertebrates in North $2,500 fellowship from the North have much to celebrate. Our new Dakota. Last year, a federally Dakota Council of the Arts. The IBM notebook computers for funded program allowed us to hire program supports professional faculty and students have Dr. Hilde Van Gijssel, a artists with outstanding talent multimedia features to help toxicologist from the Netherlands and ability. Ellen-Earle Chaffee students prepare their digital who had been working at the Construction has begun to VCSU President portfolios, now required for National Institutes of Health. Not convert Kolstoe Hall to suites with graduation. Sun Microsystems is only was she the students’ choice upscale amenities such as a fitness our new and very supportive for teacher of the year last year, center, air conditioning, and top once stood, destined to be much- partner for networking and but her work has also attracted of the line materials.