FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University, which has seen the number of its graduates nearly triple over the past decade, will divide those graduates into two separate ceremonies this spring.

Students who are receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees from the College of Business and Entrepreneurship and from the College of Health and Life Sciences will participate in Commencement at 6 p.m. Friday, May 15. Students who are receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences and from the College of Education and Technology will participate in Commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16. Both Commencements will take place in Gross Memorial Coliseum, which is immediately adjacent to the U.S. 183 Bypass on the south side of the FHSU campus.

With the second-lowest in-state tuition in the nation and many academic programs of distinction, Fort Hays State has far more than doubled its enrollment since the turn of the century, rising to an official count of 13,825 in the fall semester of the current academic year. In the year 2000, enrollment was about 5,800.

There has been a corresponding explosion in the number of graduates. Although the numbers may change slightly when the degree-checking process concludes, the Registrar’s Office projects there will be 3,570 graduates this year, which includes associate, bachelor and graduate degrees. Degrees will go to students who completed graduation requirements in summer 2014, fall 2014 and spring 2015. This year’s total of 3,570 compares to 3,347 last year. As recently as 10 years ago, in 2005, Fort Hays State had only 1,374 graduates.

Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for Student Affairs, explained that the switch to two separate ceremonies was necessary to avoid overcrowding in Gross Memorial Coliseum. “This new arrangement will allow plenty of space at both ceremonies so that we do not have to limit the number of people who can attend,” he said. The new arrangement also ensures that each ceremony will be completed in less than two hours.

These will be the first Commencement ceremonies presided over by Dr. Mirta M. Martin, who became FHSU president last July 1. She said the option of limiting attendees was rejected out of hand. “Fort Hays State is a family, and the last thing we would do is tell some of the members of our graduates’ families that they cannot attend Commencement,” she said. “This is a day of celebration. We invite everyone to join us in commemorating the success of our students.”

An added convenience at the ceremonies on May 15 and May 16 will be a Commencement application that is accessible on smart phones, computers, tablets, iPads and other devices. It is open to the public. No special access code is needed. The link to download the mobile app, which launched this week, is http://2015fhsucommencement.quickmobile.mobi/. The app is available on the App Store (iTunes). In the App Store, simply search for FHSU or 2015 FHSU Commencement (and a selection of other key words).

Those attending either of the two Commencements will be able to use the app to access several features:
• Schedule will generate a list of sessions and events with detailed overviews;
• What’s On will allow for an instant viewing of listed events in progress and events commencing within the following two hours;
• Attendees will list names, hometowns and degrees of the graduates;
• City Guide will locate hotels, restaurants and attractions using the city of Hays website;
• Info Booth will have important information about the Commencement ceremony;
• Documents will have a campus map, a digital copy of the program and the Commencement DVD order form;
• Facebook will link to the FHSU Commencement Facebook page;
• Twitter will link to a Twitter feed about Commencement; and
• Photos will allow users to upload photos to the mobile app database.

In the case of something unexpected, such as an accident on U.S. 183 Bypass during the ceremony, the Commencement app will provide real-time information about how to avoid traffic problems.

Doors will open at Gross Coliseum for graduates and their guests at 4 p.m. Friday, May 15, and again at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 16. Everyone is encouraged to arrive early.

Both Commencement ceremonies are free and open to families of graduates and to all friends of the university. No tickets are required. Shane Bangerter, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents from Dodge City, will present a short address at the Commencements. Brenda Meder, director of the Hays Arts Council, will announce the names of graduates as they receive their degrees. President Martin also will make brief remarks during the ceremonies.

The Torch, Pilot and Navigator awards will be presented at the Graduate Faculty Lunch at 11 a.m. Friday, May 15, which is open to all members and guests of the Class of 2015. Recipients of the three awards will be seated on the platform and recognized during both Commencements.

For those who want to avoid the crowds at Gross Coliseum, the entire Friday evening and Saturday morning ceremonies will be broadcast live to Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall. With its air conditioning, easy access and comfortable seating, the performing arts center may be the preferred choice as a viewing site for many people. Gates at Gross Coliseum and doors at Beach/Schmidt will open at 4 p.m. on Friday and at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

Both Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live by Tiger Media Network on Eagle Communication cable channels in Hays, Ellis, Russell and WaKeeney, and to dozens of other communities in western and north central Kansas on other cable systems. In addition, the university will make Commencement available both live and for delayed viewing over the Internet so that family and friends can watch the ceremony from distant locations. To watch the online broadcast, go http://www.fhsu.edu/ and click on Commencement. DVDs of the Commencement ceremonies also may be ordered online at the same Web location.

Graduates should park on the main campus and gather in the hallways of adjacent Cunningham Hall by 5:15 p.m. on Friday and by 9:15 a.m. on Saturday; all others are asked to enter Gross Coliseum through Gates 1, 2, 3 or 4. Traffic in the Gross Coliseum area is extremely heavy for Commencement. Parking lots adjacent to Gross Coliseum typically fill up quickly, but ample parking is available on the main campus. In the event of rain, unpaved lots near Gross Coliseum will be closed, making it necessary to park on the main campus.

Shuttle bus service will be provided both Friday and Saturday between the campus and Gross Coliseum. The shuttle buses will stop in parking lots and wherever drivers see people walking to or from Gross Coliseum.

Graduates and faculty will be seated on the main floor of Gross Coliseum. Relatives and friends of the graduates will be seated in the bleachers and the balcony. Seating for the disabled will be available in the bleacher areas on either side in front of the stage. One person may accompany an individual requiring seating in these areas. Drivers will find Gates 2 and 3, at the northwest and southwest corners, most convenient for dropping off passengers with disabilities. This area fills quickly so plan to arrive early at Gross Coliseum or view the ceremony at Beach/Schmidt. Special seating also is available in Beach/Schmidt for people with disabilities. Rebecca Luedders will interpret for the hearing-impaired in Gross Coliseum, and she will be easily visible in an inset on the large screen at Beach/Schmidt.

While Commencement is a time of celebration, FHSU officials ask those who attend to show decorum appropriate to the occasion. Air horns and other noisemakers are not allowed in Gross Coliseum. Please do not applaud individual graduates because loud demonstrations are discourteous, drowning out the names of the graduates who follow. An appropriate time for applause will be announced. The audience is also asked to refrain from moving around, and graduates should remain for the entire ceremony.

FHSU University Relations

Space is still available for Swimming Tiger swimming lessons offered by the Department of Health and Human Performance and Campus Intramural and Recreational Sports at Fort Hays State University.

The lessons will be at the Cunningham Hall pool on the FHSU campus. Four sessions will be offered for children ages 6 months and older, at a cost of $35 per child.

Two sessions will be offered in June: June 1 to June 11, and June 15 to June 25. The July sessions are June 29 to July 9 and July 13 to July 23. All sessions are from Monday through Thursday. Each lesson is 30 to 45 minutes long.

Classes will be closed on July 4.

To sign up, visit www.imleagues.com or contact Kerry Shannon, assistant director of intramurals and director of aquatics, at (785) 628-4373.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

PRATT – Chris Lituma, a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture, had no idea a fleeting trip to Kansas would result in a monumental discovery. Lituma was leading a group of students through a multi-state field study, including a stop in Scott City. Friend, and Kansas-native, Mike Hudson, had recommended Scott State Park just north of Scott City to Lituma as a good place to go birdwatching – a hobby of Lituma’s for the past 11 years. Upon arrival, Lituma began helping students identify the various birds, but one bird in particular was no ordinary migrant.

“The students asked me ‘hey, what’s this bird?’ and I briefly looked at it and assumed it was a black-headed grosbeak,” said Lituma.

Students then looked up the grosbeak in a field guide to find it was not the same bird they were looking at.

“At that point, I took another look at the bird and almost immediately realized this was no grosbeak, this was something very special; something rare.”

Lituma thumbed through one of his field guides but was unable to find the family of birds he thought the bird belonged to. He then grabbed a National Geographic field guide and was able to narrow his identification down to three birds. After a brief discussion with the students, everyone was in agreement that they were looking at a piratic flycatcher.

Hailing from as far as Argentina, piratic flycatchers are tropical birds belonging to the genus Legatus and are the only species to hold this classification. They are strongly migratory birds, and have been known to fly out of range, but rarely as far as North America. According to the American Birding Association (ABA), less than 10 of these birds have been recorded in the U.S. If Lituma’s sighting is accepted by the ABA, it will be the first record for Kansas and the farthest northerly record of the bird, as well.

Scott State park manager, Greg Mills, said the sighting has brought in nearly 75 birders from 13 states, including Virginia.

Although the bird has yet to be seen at the park again since its last sighting at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 10, experts believe the bird could still be in the Sunflower State.

A slow-moving front offered up needed precipitation Wednesday night and Tuesday morning, with reports of up to 0.81 inches of rain just north of Ellis.

Most of Ellis County was the beneficiary of the rainfall, with most of the county, including Hays, receiving about a half-inch of accumulation.

There was an early report of 0.96 inches in eastern Trego and Ness counties, while Russell County also received about three-quarters of an inch of rain.

The clouds are expected to break today, with the mercury rising. A high temperature of 80 is expected, with a light breeze.

Chances for more rain return Friday and Saturday.

Click HERE for the complete forecast.

K-State Research and Extension

Kansas State University and the Ellis County Extension Office are presenting Barbecue 101, a one-day workshop for novice grillers and seasoned (pardon the pun) veterans alike, on Saturday May 30, in Hays at the KSU Ag Research Center Auditorium, 1232 240th, located just south of town.

K-State specialists will cover the basics of grilling, smoking and food safety, plus a unique perspective on the science of barbecuing.

“As a meat scientist, I am always grilling and smoking different meats on the weekends. This program offers a great opportunity to teach consumers interested in learning more about barbecue an insider’s view on meat products and the science of barbecue,” said Travis O’Quinn, an avid griller and meat specialist with K-State Research and Extension. He spends his working days studying such traits as meat tenderness and palatability. “We’ll talk about selecting meat, wood, rubs, spices and sauces to use at your next barbecue.”

Afternoon station rotations will focus on selecting the right smoker; BBQ regionality; meat cuts that stretch the dollar; tasting the difference wood makes; and meat preparation and selection. The day wraps up with a competition BBQ expert roundtable.

The fee to register is $50 per person or $80 per couple due one week before the workshop and includes lunch, an apron, and a Barbecue 101 course book. Space is limited. More information and registration is available online at Barbecue 101 Workshop or email Lois Schreiner at [email protected].

 

Today Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. South southeast wind 7 to 13 mph.

Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Breezy, with a south southeast wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 23 mph.

Saturday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 11am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3am. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Breezy.

Sunday Sunny, with a high near 77.