VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Young Professionals Network (YPN) is once again partnering with Valley City State University (VCSU) to host its second annual Speed Networking Event on Monday, April 29, from 2:00–3:30 PM in the Center for the Arts lobby.

The event brings together approximately 60 VCSU students and 20 local community professionals for an engaging afternoon of rapid-fire conversations and career exploration. Designed to strengthen connections between college students and the Valley City professional community, the event also highlights the importance of networking in today’s workforce.

Each professional will be stationed at their own table, while groups of three students rotate every five minutes for brief but impactful conversations. The structured networking portion will last about an hour, with additional time built in afterward for follow-up discussions and continued engagement.

Following a successful debut last year with a single business class, the event is expanding in 2025 to include students majoring in business, communications, and kinesiology & human performance (KHP) reflecting the growing interest in real-world networking experiences across multiple disciplines.

“The students and professionals loved it last year,” said YPN representative, Kara Anderson. “This event showcases the value of networking and helps students develop the skills to do it well. It gives them the chance to build confidence in a supportive environment, while learning directly from local professionals who’ve been where they are now. Valley City is full of people who care deeply about our future workforce, and this event is a great example of that support in action. Last year’s feedback was overwhelmingly positive—from students who felt more confident to professionals who said it reminded them why mentorship matters.”

For more information about the Valley City Young Professional Network or how to get involved, visit www.developvcbc.com/ypn or email valleycityypn@gmail.com.