FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University freshman Jessica Schmidt and sophomore Cheney Rutherford, both of Elizabeth, Colo., sophomore, organized a kitten-kissing competition from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 27 in the FHSU Quad.

Students and faculty paid 50 cents to either kiss one of the cats or give a Hershey kiss to sophomore Felix Albl, Amberg, Germany. Albl is president of the Marketing and Management Association. The kittens won 53-32.

The competition was a fundraiser for the Marketing and Management Association’s annual trip to Washington for the DECA International Career Development Conference April 23 through April 26.

“Jessica and I volunteer regularly at the Western Plains Animal Refuge due to our inability to have animals in the dorms on campus,” Rutherford said. “It has become a large part of our college lives and brought us closer together as friends.”

Chester and Emily, the two kittens, were part of a litter born at the Ellis refuge after their pregnant mother was brought in.

Overall, the event raised almost $50 for the trip.