vcsuhcbutton(VCSU Newsletter)  The Valley City State University Alumni Association will celebrate Homecoming Sept. 23–24, 2016. Activities will begin on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 with an alumni welcome back ice cream social at 2 p.m. in McFarland Hall Room 205. Friday evening the Viking Hall of Fame Banquet and Induction Ceremony will be held at the VCSU Student Center cafeteria beginning with a social at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet are available by calling the VCSU Fieldhouse at 845-7161.

On Saturday morning, the Alumni Honors Breakfast will be held in the VCSU Student Center cafeteria beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Honors Breakfast provides the VCSU Alumni Association with an opportunity to present fellow alumni with Certificate of Merit, Young Alumni Achievement, Alumni Service and Distinguished Alumni awards.

Eight alumni will be honored with the Certificate of Merit Award. The Certificate of Merit Award was adopted by the VCSU Alumni Association to recognize alumni for accomplishments, service or other noteworthy honors. This year’s recipients include Dale Hogie ’78, Timothy Jacobson ’76, Tricia (Brandt) Lebahn ’98, Sarah (Baertsch) Lutz ’05, Amy (Ashley) Neal ’96, Ruth (Langemo) Steen ’45, Richard Swanson ’66 and James Trett ’79.

Cory Schall ’99 will receive the Young Alumni Achievement Award. The Young Alumni Achievement Award was established in 2012 to recognize VCSU’s more recent outstanding alumni as they embark on their chosen paths and strive for greatness. The award is presented to recognize future leaders under the age of 40 based on achievements in their chosen career, demonstrated leadership and service to others.

Kim Svenningsen-Hesch ‘91 is the 13th recipient of the Alumni Service Award. The Alumni Service Award was adopted by the VCSU Alumni Association to recognize alumni or university friends who have attained exceptional achievement in their careers and have made significant contributions to the university through dedicated service, promotion, financial support or other efforts.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was adopted by the VCSU Alumni Association to recognize alumni who have achieved prominence in their chosen field of endeavor. The nominee must have received national or international recognition and must have been identified as an expert in the individual’s chosen field. Paul Sandness ’76 has been selected by the Valley City State University Alumni Board of Directors to become the 59th recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Tickets are $10 each and may be reserved by calling the VCSU Alumni Office at 701-845-7403 or emailing kim.hesch@vcsu.edu.

Other activities on Saturday include the homecoming parade at 10:30 a.m., Viking football vs. Waldorf University at 2 p.m. and a postgame social at the Valley City Town & Country Club at 5 p.m.

For more information, contact the VCSU Foundation and Alumni Office at 701-845-7403.