This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• Foundation seeks support for Grooters ’57 and Lemnus ’58 scholarships
• Russi to sing national anthem at Ranch Rodeo Wednesday
• Alumni Association to host social for women’s basketball on Thursday
• Bluegrass jam at museum Saturday
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every Monday during the academic year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. the Friday before publication.

Foundation seeks support for Grooters ’57 and Lemnus ’58 scholarships

At the urging of former students and athletes, the VCSU Foundation is working with interested parties to establish endowed scholarships to honor two VCSU alumni and teaching and coaching legends: Larry “Buck” Grooters and Don Lemnus.

According to Larry Robinson, VCSU executive director of university advancement, “There is no question about the tremendous impact Larry Grooters and Don Lemnus have had on their former athletes and students. Their long tenure at VCSU serves as a legacy and inspiration for all of us. They are clearly Viking icons.”

Larry Grooters is a 1957 graduate of VCSU. His tenure at VCSU began in 1963. With the exception of a short stint when Coach Grooters returned to Class B school administration at Tuttle, N.D., he has remained on the staff at the university since then. He currently serves as the director of the Transition to Teaching program for the VCSU School of Education and Graduate Studies.

Don Lemnus is a 1958 graduate of VCSU. His tenure at VCSU began in 1962. In addition to serving as a classroom professor in the Department of Physical Education, Lemnus served as a very successful coach of the Viking wrestling team and as defensive coordinator for the Viking football.

Grooters and Lemnus are both members of the VCSU Viking Hall of Fame.

Those interested in supporting to these scholarship funds should contact the VCSU Foundation Office at 701-845-7203 or visit the VCSU Foundation website at www.vcsualumni.org.

Russi to sing national anthem at Ranch Rodeo Wednesday

Jenni Lou Russi, department chair and associate professor of communication arts, will sing the national anthem at the Ranch Rodeo on Wednesday, March 7, at 6 p.m. in the North Dakota Winter Show main arena.

Alumni Association to host social for women’s basketball on Thursday

The VCSU Alumni Association will host a social for the VCSU women’s basketball team and their fans March 7 at the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa.

You are invited to join us and spend time with the Vikings as they prepare to face St. Francis (Ill.) in the opening round on Thursday, March 8, at 1:45 p.m.

A complimentary pizza buffet will be provided, along with a cash bar. The social will take place after the tournament’s opening ceremony on Wednesday, March 7. Join us from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Clyde’s Grill & Pub, 3828 Stadium Drive, Sioux City.

Bluegrass jam at museum Saturday

The monthly Valley City bluegrass jam session will be held on Saturday, March 10, from 1–5 p.m. at the Barnes County Museum. The acoustic-only jam is free and open to the public; beginning bluegrass musicians are welcome.

The event is sponsored by the Barnes County Museum and the Bluegrass Association of North Dakota (B.A.N.D.) For more information, call John Andrus at 701-762-4891.

Viking sports update

Track & Field
Senior Megan Johnson and freshman Bryeann Robertson represented the VCSU track & field team this past weekend at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Pittsburg, Kan. Johnson placed 24th in the women’s long jump, and Robertson placed 27th in the women’s shot put. For more info, visit www.vcsuvikings.com/article/2949.php.

Women’s Basketball
The Valley City State University women’s basketball team will play Thursday in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. The Vikings are a No. 4 seed and play No. 5 seed University of St. Francis at 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Local radio coverage of the game will be on KOVC 1490-AM/96.3 FM. The NAIA will produce a pay-per-view video broadcast that can be purchased for $9.95.

• Buy Tickets
  
• Watch Live Info
  
• Valley City Radio Coverage
  
• Tournament Bracket

Upcoming Events
March 7–15: Baseball @ Tucson, Ariz.
March 8: WBB @ NAIA National Tournament (Sioux City, Iowa), 1:45 p.m. vs. St. Francis
March 11–18: Softball @ Tucson, Ariz.

What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

Tuesday, March 6
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
4–6 p.m. Valley City Chamber Ag Social, North Dakota Winter Show

Wednesday, March 7
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, March 8
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30-10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, March 9

Saturday, March 10

Sunday, March 11

Monday, March 12

Tuesday, March 13
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, March 14
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, March 15
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30-10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, March 16

Saturday, March 17

Sunday, March 18

Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.