The Valley City State University athletic department held its annual Viking Awards on Monday night, recognizing senior student-athletes and announcing its major student-athlete awards.
 
JayCee Richter (women's basketball/volleyball) and Connor Martin (baseball) were named the 2025-26 VCSU Athletes of the Year. Richter was an All-Conference selection in volleyball this season and was named Defender of the Year in the Frontier Conference. Richter led the Frontier Conference in Digs per Set. She led the team with 623 digs this season, giving her 2,084 for her career, a new VCSU school record. On the basketball court, Richter was second in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game. She had 130 rebounds good for third on the team. Martin broke the school record with 134 strikeouts this season. He was first team All-Conference and was named Pitcher of the Year in the Frontier Conference. At one point this season, Martin went 34 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
 Rosie Anderson (volleyball) and Sam Kobbervig (men's basketball) received the Viking Champions of Character Award. This award goes to standout upper classmen student-athletes who have made a major impact on the VCSU campus and community during their time at VCSU. The Champions of Character five core values go well beyond the playing field to the daily decisions made by a student-athlete. These character values help student-athletes and those associated with their development make good choices in all aspects of their life and reflect the true spirit of competition. They demonstrate the five core values which are Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership.
 
Frida Barrera (Cross-Country/Track and Field) and Joel Nelson (men's basketball/track and field) were named the VCSU Newcomers of the Year. Barrera rewrote the Vikings record book in her freshman season. In the fall, she finished 73^rd at the National Cross Country Championships, which was the best finish in a 6K Race in school history. In the winter, she set the Indoor school records in the mile, 800m, and 3000 Meters. In the Spring, she set the school records in the 800m and the 1500. As a freshman, Nelson showed great promise on the basketball court. He played and started every game for the Vikings. He averaged 8.8 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game. In track and field, Nelson was a multi-event athlete. On the track he competed in the 100m, 400m, 1500m, and 110m Hurdles. In the field events, he competed in the Shot Put, Discus, Javelin, High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, and the Decathlon. In the Decathlon, an event he had never tried, he scored 5600 points which is third best in school history. 
The Iron Viking Award went to Ellie Powell (women's basketball) and Gavin Gerhardt (Football). This award is presented by the VCSU Strength and Conditioning staff to standout student-athletes in the weight room.
 
Danielle Hagler (volleyball) received the Golden Crutch Award, which is presented by the VCSU athletic training staff. This award goes to a student-athlete who has been a model patient for VCSU's athletic trainers, encourages others in the training room, and continually works hard at making their health a priority.
 
VCSU also introduced its inaugural class of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society including 27 student-athletes. Chi Alpha Sigma recognizes undergraduate college student-athletes who participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing or higher after their fourth full time semester, and earn a 3.5 and higher cumulative grade point average.
 
The VCSU athletic department also recognized its senior student-athletes, along with school record breakers and milestone setters at the event.