Astrup to speak at VCSU commencement

Ken Astrup, the general manager of the Dakota Plains Cooperative in Valley City, N.D., will deliver the keynote address at Valley City State University’s 120th Commencement exercises, scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday in W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse on VCSU campus.

Astrup is a recognized expert in the establishment, development and operation of cooperative businesses. He has spoken at numerous meetings nationally and internationally, and has traveled internationally to Hungary, Ethiopia, Macedonia and Moldova consulting and conducting seminars on leadership and the development of cooperatives. He is the chairman of the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association, and is very active in community, state and regional associations, especially state and local school boards and task forces. He is currently a member of the VCSU Foundation Board of Directors and was elected as a recipient of the VCSU Distinguished Alumni Award by the VCSU Alumni Association. He is married to Linda (Anderson) Astrup, and has three children.

Jennifer Crom, the first student to complete VCSU’s Master of Education with a concentration in teaching English language learners, will present the graduate student address. Crom is a teacher at a Global Studies Elementary School in Sioux Falls, S.D., where about one third of her class consists of language learners.

The undergraduate student address will be presented by Nick Faure, Valley City. Faure majored in chemistry, biology and health science and is graduating summa cum laude. While a student, Faure served in the Student Senate and the Viking Ambassadors, was in the Pre-Professional Club and Spanish Club and he was named the 2011 Student Employee of the Year. He testified on VCSU’s behalf at the North Dakota Legislature and participated in study abroad in China and Peru. He has been accepted to dental school at Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Ore.

The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education will be represented by Janice Hoffarth, staff adviser to the board.

Approximately 248 graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to participate. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and a reception that will immediately follow.

Tags: community, education