ISSUE 071650071651 SEPTEMBERDECEMBER 2018 A Publication for Alumni & Friends of Valley City State University SBHE selects LaFave as VCSU’s 14th president RecordVCSU Fall Enrollment w Hidden Gem of Midwest w Homecoming 2018 CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Welcome to the Bulletin! The Bulletin is published in spring, summer and fall by the Valley City State 2 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CORNER University Alumni Association. 3 FOUNDATION CORNER Larry Robinson ’71 ....................................................................701-845-7217 Executive Director for University Advancement [email protected] 15 VIKING HIGHLIGHTS Kim Svenningsen-Hesch ’91 ....................................................701-845-7403 22 VCSU CONNECTIONS Assistant Director for University Advancement [email protected] Maggie Heinle........................................................................... 701-845-7216 Assistant Director for Annual Giving [email protected] Loree Morehouse ’89 .............................................................. 701-845-7203 Data Processing and Research Coordinator [email protected] Greg Vanney ............................................................................. 701-845-7227 Director for Marketing and Communications [email protected] Pete Smithhisler ....................................................................... 701-845-7300 Vice President for Student Affairs [email protected] Jill DeVries .................................................................................701-845-7160 Athletic Director [email protected] Mark Potts ................................................................................ 701-845-7228 Director for Sports Information [email protected] Tara Praska ’05 ....................................................................... 701-845-7362 Graphic Designer [email protected] Toll Free ....................................................................800-532-8641 ext. 7203 Alumni/Foundation Website ....................................................vcsualumni.org Cover Story 4 ‘You can call me Al’: LaFave selected as 14th president of VCSU After a nationwide search with 50 candidates, the State Board of Higher Education selected Alan LaFave, D.M.A., as VCSU’s 14th president. LaFave worked his way up through the music faculty ranks to become dean of fine arts and then provost and vice president for academic affairs of his alma mater, Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. Learn more about this clarinet-playing, motorcycle-riding family man and college administrator who will soon lead 4 VCSU into its next chapter. 8 Diane Burr: A veteran—and champion—of online teaching Diane Burr, professor and chair of the VCSU Kinesiology and Human Performance Department, has taught at VCSU for nearly 30 years. For two-thirds of her time here, she’s been teaching online classes. Read what she has to say about that practice and what she thinks of it. 10 Homecoming 2018 The beauty of traditions like Homecoming at a place like Valley City State is that even though things have changed, 8 there’s a familiarity to returning to one’s campus roots. Students celebrated all week long, and a mid-week snowstorm didn’t stop alumni and friends from joining in the fun over the weekend. Check out a photo spread that captures some of the spirit of the week’s celebration. 12 Alumni recognized at Honors Breakfast The annual Alumni Association Honors Breakfast was held Saturday morning of Homecoming. Read more about Distinguished Alumni Award winner Kirsten Baesler M.Ed. ’10, Young Alumni Award winners Megan (Schmidt) Zarbano ’08 and Matthew Johnson ’01, and Certificate of Merit awardees Peder Gjovik ’77, Mark R. Hanson ’86, 10 Joan (Leichtman) Heckaman ’67, Marcia (Knutson) Pritchert ’91, Clark Williams ’64, Heather L. (Schmit) Woods ’03 M.Ed. ’12, and Sheila (Lindeman) Zinke ’80. Cover: President-elect Alan LaFave poses with Don Morton, chair of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, shortly after LaFave was announced as VCSU’s next president. 12 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Presidential candidates validate our strengths Margaret Dahlberg, Ph.D., Interim President During the week of Sept. 10, VCSU hosted five presidential candidates, also impressive—we have met financial constraints with creativity and all interested in becoming the 14th VCSU president. While ultimately only compromise, making good decisions that have kept us solidly in the black. one candidate—Alan LaFave—was chosen as our next president by the The candidates found our students both informed and engaged in the State Board on Thursday, Sept. 27, we found all of their visits informative process, and they were complimentary about the thoughtful questions because they helped us see ourselves from the outside. Here’s what we the students asked. They were impressed by the interest our students learned from the candidates: showed in interacting with them during First, they were impressed by our VCSU Vision the student-candidate interviews. enrollment growth over the past few Since we had student guides walk each years, especially at a time when high As an innovative university, we deliver candidate from one meeting to the next school senior classes are shrinking. distinctive, learner-centered experiences. throughout the day, the candidates also What are we doing, they wondered, to had opportunities to visit individually keep achieving record enrollments? The with students, who did an impressive best answer, I think, can be found in our constant efforts to collaborate job of showcasing the VCSU student body. with other entities like the public schools, the development corporation, VCSU’s vision states that we are an innovative university, and our and two-year campuses across the state, along with a focus on our visitors confirmed that indeed this is true. They were impressed by our current students, to assure both their retention and success. efforts to collaborate, try new techniques, and respond to changes in All of them commented on our upbeat campus culture. In the midst of the workforce with altered curricula, new programs, and professional budget challenges and several years with no raises, they were expecting development. to hear complaints at staff and faculty meetings. Instead, they heard us At VCSU, we are learning-centered, innovative, student-focused, say, “Here’s what we’re doing, and here’s the next thing.” Our culture is collaborative, and engaged. These are our core values, the qualities we focused forward, on quality and innovation, not mired in negativity. attempt to embody in daily work, planning, and decision-making. It’s With the recent budget reductions, they expected to see financial reassuring to know that the outside perspectives from these presidential challenges, and several even sent our financial information to their candidates indicate that we are both “talking the talk and walking the campus experts, to determine whether what they saw is accurate: VCSU walk” in keeping our focus on the success of our students and our is financially solid, with strong financial ratings and reserves. This is university. The VCSU Alumni Association will be hosting the following alumni socials! January 23 Alumni Social – Valley City VCSU ALUMNI Valley City Town & Country Club SOCIALS AND EVENTS 5:30–7:30 p.m. February 1– 2 Arizona activities: You are invited to stop by, enjoy some See page 3 for schedule complimentary appetizers, spend time of events reminiscing and catching up with other February 12 Alumni Social – Fargo Crooked Pint Ale House alumni, and meet Alan LaFave, our 5:30–7:30 p.m. new president! March 26 Alumni Social – Bismarck Location TBD 5:30–7:30 p.m. Please help us spread the word; invite April 24 Alumni Social – Jamestown a fellow alumnus with you to the Sabir’s Buffalo Grill 5:30–7:30 p.m. social! For more information and to RSVP, please contact Kim Hesch at 800-532-8641 x37403 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CORNER leave a Ways to pay it forward: Phone-a-thon and Giving Hearts Day Kim Svenningsen-Hesch ’91, Assistant Director for University Legacy Advancement and Alumni Relations November provides us an occasion to reflect on a-thon that has dramatically increased fundraising for V-500 at opportunities in our lives to give thanks. As we look success for charities in North Dakota and western forward to the holidays, I encourage you to reflect on Minnesota. In 2018, more than $13 million was the things you are most thankful for in your life and raised for nonprofits to improve lives in the region VCSU consider paying it forward. This might mean practic- through Giving Hearts Day. ing a random act of kindness, making a donation to This one-day, online event is the biggest charitable those in need at your local food bank, or sponsoring giving day of the year in North Dakota. So, on Febru- a child’s holiday wishes by picking up a gift tag at ary 14, we ask that you visit impactgiveback.org your Annual Giving Tree. I would also encourage you online, search for “Valley City State University,” and to consider giving in support of our students at VCSU. donate. Donations that VCSU receives through Giving There are many ways you can give back to your Hearts Day are applied to our Phone-a-thon. alma mater. Our area of greatest need is our Annual (Giving Hearts Day is hosted by the Dakota Medi- Fund/Phone-a-thon. The Phone-a-thon supports cal Foundation, the Impact Foundation, and the Alex scholarships, The Bulletin, reunion/social events, Stern Family Foundation.) homecoming