By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

It has been less than a week since Fort Hays State University President Dr. Mirta M. Martin was officially inaugurated as the ninth president of the university in what she describes as a “surreal” ceremony.

Martin said she just remembers bits and pieces of Friday’s event, but needed to watch a video of the whole ceremony to truly relive the day.

However, there was one part during the ceremony she remembers most vividly and one she said she will never forget — the inaugural tradition of the passing of the university mace to Martin from her predecessor Dr. Edward Hammond.

“The one thing that was very real and became very real was when Dr. Hammond placed in my hands the academic mace. As an academic that was … and people in the audience said my face changed … that was very real,” she said. “As an academic, to hold the mace, to understand the power of education that it symbolizes … the power of wisdom … and to understand I have been entrusted with the care of this phenomenal university was very real, very humbling.”

Martin thanked the thousands who attended the event including the Board of Regents, Gov. Sam Brownback, Sen. Jerry Moran, and FHSU faculty and staff.

She said she was especially touched by the number of students who chose to attend the event, despite the fact fall break had just started.

Martin added after living in a whirlwind for the last few months, she was looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with her family — perhaps even just lying around “all day in my pajamas,” she laughed.