Assistant Professor Clayton Mannie
VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University has been named a 2025-26 STEM School of Excellence, and assistant professor Clayton Mannie was recognized as an Emerging Leader by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).
This is the second consecutive year that VCSU has received the ITEEA recognition, which honors outstanding schools that have demonstrated a commitment to providing a robust integrative STEM education program.
Schools receiving the award have undergone a rigorous application process, showcasing their exemplary STEM programs and best practices. VCSU was one of just seven universities nationwide to receive the STEM School of Excellence designation.
“This recognition reflects the commitment, innovation, and collaborative efforts of our faculty, staff, and students in advancing STEM education at VCSU,” said Peder Gjovik, Chair of the Department of Technology and STEM Education. “Being named a STEM School of Excellence by ITEEA is a tremendous honor and underscores our dedication to meeting the highest standards in technology and engineering education.”
VCSU offers a Bachelor of Science in technology education and has STEM certificates for both elementary and secondary educators. VCSU is also home to the Great Plains STEM Education Center and the INSTEM (Indians into STEM) program, which annually brings Native American students to campus for week-long STEM academies in the summer. Other STEM-related initiatives on campus include use of the VCSU Planetarium for K-12 classes and community presentations, and VCSU’s annual Marketplace for Kids event, where elementary and middle school students explore a wide variety of careers through fun experiments and presentations.
Clayton Mannie, assistant professor for technology and STEM Education, is one of seven outstanding teachers nationwide to receive the Emerging Leader recognition.
Mannie earned a VCSU bachelor’s degree in technology education in 2006 and then finished a VCSU master’s degree in technology education in 2016. He returned to campus in 2020 as an assistant professor in the technology department.
VCSU and Mannie will officially receive the awards in March at the ITEEA 88th annual conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia.