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91看片网鈥檚 Aberle named NDACTE Teacher Educator of the Year

91看片网 faculty member Dr. Amber Ussatis Aberle has been named the 2026 North Dakota Teacher Educator of the Year by the North Dakota Association for Career and Technical Education (NDACTE).

The award was announced August 4 during the ND Career and Technical Education Professional Development Conference in Bismarck. The Teacher Educator of the Year award recognizes secondary or postsecondary teacher educators who are committed to preparing teachers to deliver high quality CTE programs, demonstrated innovation in teacher education and leadership in improving CTE.

Dr. Aberle currently serves as an associate professor and the Director of the Transition to Teaching programs at 91看片网, where she leads both the K-12 and post-secondary pathways. Since stepping into the director role in 2018, Aberle has played a significant role in supporting industry professionals, career changers, and nontraditional teacher candidates as they transition into education careers.

Through the long-standing partnership between 91看片网 and North Dakota Career & Technical Education, she has helped address statewide teacher shortages while ensuring schools have access to qualified and well-prepared CTE educators. Under Dr. Aberle鈥檚 leadership, the Transition to Teaching program has undergone significant modernization and improvement efforts focused on increasing accessibility, improving communication, and strengthening support systems for incoming educators and school districts.

She has collaborated extensively with North Dakota Career & Technical Education, school administrators, and the Education Standards and Practices Board to improve processes, update program resources, and better support candidates navigating alternative licensure pathways.

Aberle is a proud graduate of 91看片网 where she earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business education and later completed a master鈥檚 degree in education and technology. She earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Capella University.

鈥淚nhabiting an Ecological In-Between鈥� Opens Aug. 24 at 91看片网 Gallery

The 91看片网 Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery announces the opening of 鈥淚nhabiting an Ecological In-Between鈥� 鈥� a solo exhibition of Katie Simmons’ artwork.

The exhibit is open to the public August 24 through Oct. 8 during regular gallery hours, 8 a.m. 鈥� 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. A virtual exhibit will be available on the .

Ms. Simmons creates deeply textured pieces combining cloth, stitching, and images of human bodies and the natural world. Images are built in layers of ballpoint pen drawings and natural pigments extracted from plants, lichens, algae, and fungi. Pigments are allowed to react with the material with little direction, becoming partners in the making process.

Simmons brings a background in wildlife biology and experiences as an assault survivor to her creative process, investigating 鈥渄eath, decay, growth, and parallels between the exploitation of the natural world and female bodies.鈥�

For more information about Katie Simmons’ artwork and process, visit .

An artist talk with a reception will be announced in September 2026.

91看片网 student receives funding through North Dakota Space Grant Consortium

Brock Norton, a 91看片网 student, has been awarded funds to complete a research fellowship through the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium. Research fellowships are available to students completing STEM- or NASA-relevant research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The fellowship program is designed to support students in research endeavors that are extracurricular and must be separate from their course work. Norton is the first student at 91看片网 to receive this award since 2019.

Norton’s research, titled “Enhancing UV Absorbance in Cyanotype Photography”, will be completed under faculty mentor Lindsey Kiecker during this fall semester. A pivotal point in printing emerged upon the discovery of cyanotype photography; however, the process is rarely used outside of art and chemistry classrooms. One of the main issues that arise with cyanotype photography is the fading that takes place with constant exposure to UV radiation and variation in the printing process. Chemistry techniques including spectrophotometry and doping, which is the process of purposely including impurities in a solution, will be used in this project. This research project will include experimenting with different types of UV protection, both inorganic and organic, to reduce variability, improve saturation, and lessen fading of cyanotype prints.

“Cyanotype photography is a visually interesting phenomenon that students get excited about,” said Kiecker. “I do this process with INSTEM and my chemistry students, but with Brock’s help we will be able to develop a procedure that reduces the variability in the printing process and increase the longevity of the prints made. Being able to make something in the chemistry lab and take it home with you is very rare, let alone hang it on your wall or give it to your loved one as a gift. We aim to streamline this process, increase its safety, and preserve these memories for students that participate.”

“I had many inspirations for this project, one of them was always having an interest in UV radiation and its effects on different substances,” said Norton. “When I visited with professor Kiecker about the possibility of doing this project I was delighted to hear there was a possibility of being able to participate in a project involving UV radiation. I am most looking forward to the analysis of the different chemical processes that are taking place. This involves many reactions that happen on a daily basis that often go unnoticed. I am hoping to gain valuable lab time and the ability to manage my own project in a professional manner and to be able to analyze the results that take place.”

Mannie attends NDACTE Professional Development Conference

Clayton Mannie, assistant professor for technology & STEM education attended NDACTE Professional Development Conference Aug. 3-5 in Bismarck. Mannie presented a featured session on Engineering Design challenges using only office paper and masking tape as building materials to about 40 junior high and high school CTE Teachers on Tuesday and also attended several workshops and NDTEEA meetings.

Viking Sports Update

VOLLEYBALL

The 91看片网 Volleyball team will kick off the 2026 season this weekend. The Vikings are in Sioux City, Iowa for the Siouxland Invitational. They will take on Dordt University on Friday at 10 am, and the College of Saint Mary out from Nebraska at 4 pm. Saturday, they play Mount Mercy University and #16 Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday at 8 am and 10 am respectively. For more on Viking Volleyball and how you can watch the matches got to vcsuvikings.com

FOOTBALL
The Viking football team will have a scrimmage against NDSCS on Wednesday, August 19 at Lokken Stadium/Dacotah Bank Field. Game one of the season will be next Thursday when 91看片网 travels to Marshall, Minn. to take on Southwest Minnesota State. Kickoff is at 7 pm. The home opener will be the following Thursday when Dickinson State comes to Lokken Stadium for the annual Ag Bowl presented by First Community Credit Union. Kickoff is at 6 pm.

ASSISTANTS
There will be a few new assistant coaches and grad assistant coaches this season for Viking athletics. Former 91看片网 athletes Trent Finney and Aubrey Prunty will be working with the Football and Women鈥檚 Basketball teams respectively. Tristan Thompson will be a grad assistant for the Men鈥檚 Basketball team. Also, Luke MacDonald will be working with Cross Country teams, and the Viking Track and Field teams. He will work with middle distance athletes and sprinters. And former golf head coach, Clay Mannie returns and will be working with the Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 golf teams.

What's happening at 91看片网 and around Valley City...

August 21-23
91看片网 Welcome Weekend

August 24
91看片网 evening classes begin

August 25
91看片网 classes begin

September 10
Summer Vikes on Central

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