A ribbon cutting was held Wednesday for the new FHSU Center for Applied Technology and Sculpture building.
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing
A university program is only as good as its curriculum — and the faculty who teach it.
Fort Hays State University is combining the best of both worlds with its newest academic building.
Adding a new state-of-the-art facility to an already strong foundation of curriculum and faculty promises to enhance several programs at FHSU.
The Center for Applied Technology and Sculpture will be the new home to all of the industrial technology programs, technology and engineering education and a sculpture/art studio.
Kim Stewart, in his 20th year of teaching at Fort Hays State, gushes with enthusiasm when talking about the new CATS.
“We’re building,” was a phrase that Stewart used over and over at Wednesday’s construction preview of the 58,000 square-foot structure set for completion in fall 2017 on the corner of north College Drive and Eighth Street.
A large crowd of about 100 people gathered in the circle drive of the Memorial Union and watched first-hand construction in progress across the street.
“Today, no one can deny the need for a technologically skilled workforce,” said Dr. Mirta M. Martin, president of Fort Hays State. “From manufacturing, to construction, to energy, education and agriculture — the increasing applications of technology in the workplace are essential to economic growth and sustainability.
“The new Applied Technology and Sculpture Building will allow us to educate our students in a state-of-the-art environment that incorporates best practices and that allows our students hands-on experience using state-of-the-art equipment.”
Stewart, chair of the Department of Applied Technology — which is now part of the new Science, Technology and Mathematics College — agreed.
“The vision for the future is about opportunities for students,” he stressed.
Stewart talked about a lot of those opportunities in his speech and ended each example with “Translation, ‘We’re Building.’ ”
“STeM is a diverse college,” said Greg Farley, dean of STeM. “But we are fundamentally a skills-based group, and Applied Tech exemplifies this. This building represents the scaffold within which new learning spaces will be developed, allowing faculty and students to work together on technology, innovation and applications. ”
“This is a celebration of new beginnings,” said Stewart, whose association with the department spans parts of five decades, all in Davis Hall, which was built 65 years ago.
After graduating from Smith Center High School in 1977 and attending a community college for one year, Stewart transferred to FHSU and graduated in 1981 with a degree in industrial education. After teaching in Ulysses for 15 years, he returned to his alma mater in 1996.
“Davis Hall served us well for 65 years,” Stewart said. “This is going be our home for the next 65 years or more.”
Misa Banderas is an FHSU student who will not get to enjoy the benefits of the new building but is still excited for future FHSU students.
“When I found the building was coming together, I was kind of sad because this is the homerun stretch for me,” said Banderas, a senior construction management major from Holcomb who will graduate in December. “But I came to Fort Hays State based on relationships and professors and found a great program, and it taught me to work with my hands and to work with my mind. So I’m proud to tell you that there’s no place I feel more proud of belonging to than that Fort Hays State unit, and future students will find their home here.
“I can only imagine what it’s going to be like now, with the best professors and amazing facilities. When you have a state-of-the-art facility, it just enhances the teaching,” Banderas continued. “We already have professors who go above and beyond. Adding this facility to that is going to make that department so much better.”
“We don’t think that it’s a situation where we are going to be old school or have to go all new technology,” Stewart said. “It’s not either-or; it’s going to be more.”
The CATS will not only provide more space for students, but it will be quality space. It will feature laboratories for computer aided design, instruction and graphics, woodworking, metalworking, plastics, power and energy, robotics and construction management. There will be studios for sculpture, blacksmithing and metal foundry.
The facility will feature an iron and millwork covered entryway and other classic industrial characteristics. At one end of a two-story, glassed-in atrium area near the front entrance will be a small social café nook. Completing the center of the atrium will be two seminar classrooms and an area that will be used for symposiums, technology days and student recruitment.
“Quality of space matters, especially creative and functional workspace,” Farley said. “The new building defines what is great about Fort Hays State University: outstanding facilities, outstanding faculty.
“This efficient, safe and creative space will allow us to do what we do best: enrich student experiences, develop outstanding technology and sculpture majors, who after graduation join the workforce, and make FHSU proud.”
“We will have integrated and collaborative work spaces to spur entrepreneurial thinking and innovation. We will have the capability and flexibility to meet the current and future needs of our industry partners,” Martin said. “This facility will allow us to continue to attract bright minds and produce graduates right here at Fort Hays State University who are industry-ready and in great demand.”
Sculpture students, who currently work out of an area on the northwest corner of Rarick Hall, will also benefit from additional work space in the new CATS.
“The addition of metal sculpture, which is housed in a different college (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences), represents our current administration’s approach to looking past traditional boundaries and creating new opportunities, where art and design majors work alongside education and technology majors,” Farley said.
Ben Cornwell, a junior sculpture major from Bison, is looking forward to reaping the benefits of the new facilities.
“It’s a nice little shop, pretty impressive some of the things we make,” he said of FHSU’s current metal works area. “But this new building, with all the space and equipment — it’s going to be amazing. The new metal pouring pit alone is going to be four times as big as it is now.
“This will be one of the best sculpture/blacksmith/metal foundry areas west of the Mississippi,” he added.
Stewart talked about how the CATS will also help his department continue to partner with other departments on campus and other institutions around the state, as well as industries and companies both locally and regionally.
“Partnerships with businesses so we can have internships available is a significant part of what we do for our students,” Stewart said. “Partnering is the way of the world right now. That’s what is exciting being in the new STeM College. We get to partner with other professors we normally wouldn’t get to do things with.”
Proposed legislation goes through an extensive process before becoming a law in Kansas. But one could argue that the true test of a bill’s enforcement is when someone utilizes the new legislation, probing its scope and definition. Through this process, the precedent is set for future interpretation of the bill by the legal system.
Why do I bring up this process? In 2014 the Kansas Energy Efficiency Investment Act (KEEIA) was passed. Through KEEIA, energy efficiency in Kansas can now be treated as a resources, similar to wind, coal, solar, hydro, nuclear, and natural gas. The utilities can now design cost recovery methods for energy efficiency investments. This year, Kansas City Power & Light is trailblazing the application of the act through a docket at the Kansas Corporation Commission. (Wait, why does the commission need to approve an existing law?- quick summary of KCC’s role in KS energy regulation).
This docket has significant implications for the future of energy efficiency in Kansas and your voice can help shape that future. If you want to have a “say” in how your energy is produced and utilized, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE to make sure KS gets a shot at energy efficiency benefits our neighboring states are already enjoying.
If you followed Climate + Energy Project for a while, you know that we are fueled by common ground solutions. In some cases it takes a lot of work to find the middle ground and mutual benefits, this is not one of those cases. Energy efficiency is the bridge between diverse and often opposing perspectives in the energy sector. No matter where and how the energy is produced – no one likes waste.
This docket is more than just a docket, it’s a chance for us to set precedent for valuing energy efficiency and incentivising our utilities to invest in this untapped and underutilized resource in Kansas.
What you can do
Sign up for CEP’s newsletter to receive updates on the docket.
Attend and/or host an Energy Efficiency Roundtable. (sign up here)
Send a letter or email, or call the commissioners directly to tell them that you support energy efficiency as the lowest cost resource for energy generation.
Comments received by September 7th will have the greatest impact. We strongly encourage you to submit by that point. However, the commission will accept your comments through November 1, 2016.
Let us help you:
Complete this form (www.tinyurl.com/KCPLEE) to submit comments through CEP
Or
Email: [email protected].
Mail: Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, 1500 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, KS 66604
Call: 1-800-662-0027.
Comments should reference Docket No. 16-KCPE-446-TAR.
The Climate + Energy Project (CEP) is a non-partisan 501c(3) organization working to reduce emissions through greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Located in Hutchinson, CEP collaborates with diverse partners across the nation to find practical solutions for a clean energy future that provides jobs, prosperity and energy security.
DETROIT (AP) — Mazda is recalling more than 759,000 cars and SUVs in the U.S. and Canada because the rear hatches can fall on people and injure them.
The recall covers certain 2010 through 2013 Mazda 3 compact cars, as well as 2012 through 2015 Mazda 5 vans. Also included are certain 2013 to 2016 CX-5 and 2016 CX-3 SUVs.
Mazda says the corrosion protection coating applied to the hatch lift supports at the factory wasn’t sufficient. Over time, water containing road salt can get into the supports, causing them to corrode and break. Mazda says it has no reports of accidents or injuries caused by the problem.
Dealers will replace both lift supports. Customers will be notified in September or October about when to bring their vehicles in for repairs.
Also on Thursday, Ford announced they are adding about 1.5 million cars, SUVs and vans to a recall for doors that can pop open while the vehicles are moving.
The company says it’s adding the vehicles at the request of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The recall expansion includes the 2012 through 2015 Ford Focus, the 2013 to 2015 Ford Escape and C-Max, the 2015 Ford Mustang and Lincoln MKC and the 2014 through 2016 Ford Transit Connect small van.
Ford says a spring tab in the door latches can break, and the doors either won’t close or could pop open. Dealers will replace the latches for free.
The expansion brings the total number of vehicles recalled for the problem to nearly 2.4 million, including just over 2 million in the U.S.
MANHATTAN – Author, world-renowned autism spokesperson Temple Grandin will deliver a Landon lecture on November 29, according Kansas State University.
Grandin, who showed signs of autism at an early age and self describes her unique thought process as thinking in pictures, is an accomplished livestock equipment designer and a successful animal welfare advocate.
She has published several books — including New York Times best-seller “Animals in Translation” — and given many talks about animal welfare and the autistic brain.
Grandin is a consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior and professor of animal science at Colorado State University
In addition, three higher education leaders are participating in a special Landon Lecture panel discussion at Kansas State University on September 26,
The panel participants are Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr., superintendent of West Point Military Academy; David Hall, president of the University of the Virgin Islands; and Bud Peterson, president of Georgia Institute of Technology.
The lecture series is named for former Kansas Gov. Alf Landon, who was the 1936 Republican nominee for president. The series was established in 1966 to bring in speakers to discuss issues facing business, politics and international relations.
The Wild West Festival planning committee is seeking YOUR input on performers for the 2017 edition of the annual event. The 23rd annual Wild West Festival will be Independence Day weekend in Hays.
Below is a list of performers being considered by the committee in rock, newer country and older country categories. Check a performer if you would like to see them on the Wild West Festival stage June 29 to July 1. (You can cast up to three votes.)
[polldaddy poll=9515843]
—————-
[polldaddy poll=9515846]
——————
[polldaddy poll=9515847]
——————
[polldaddy poll=9516287]
If yes, answer WHO in comments
——————
[polldaddy poll=9516289]
If yes, answer WHO in comments
Team Sinner is bringing its annual Light the Night fundraiser to Hays for the first time Saturday, from 6 p.m. to midnight, at TK’s Smokehaus, 114 E. 12th, in Hays.
Gun and prize raffles start at 6 p.m., and the Flat Spin Band will perform starting at 8 p.m.
Kristina Beck, team captain for Team Sinner, said LLS is a wonderful organization and that it’s an invaluable support system for leukemia and lymphoma patients.
“The people of LLS are wonderfully supporting, and 60 percent of their total donations go toward patient support and research,” Beck said. “Forty percent of the donations go to research and 20 percent to their support services.”
Beck also said she’s extremely proud of the work her team has done.
“I can’t express how proud I am of our team,” she said.
In their first year of operation, they only had two members — herself and Danny Sinner, the Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor the team is named after. By the end of their first year, they raised $547.
In 2015, their membership was up to 19 people, and the team raised $5,202.
This year, they have reached a new high of 21 members.
Team Sinner is a part of the Mid-America Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding research, finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for blood cancer patients in the United States.
In 2015, the LLS invested $57.2 million in blood cancer research, and an additional $41.8 million in patient assistance, which includes a copay assistance program.
Sinner, 59, is a native of Russell. He was diagnosed in June 2013 and has since gone into remission.
Sinner receives relief for his travel expenses from the LLS, but refuses the money from the LLS copay assistance program, insisting on paying for his copay himself.
In an Honored Hero interview done by the LLS for their newsletter, Sinner says he is not a hero, but simply that he is lucky.
“My dad taught me nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. You have to work for it — So I’m a worker,” Sinner said in the interview. “I don’t consider myself a hero. I consider myself lucky, very lucky to have survived this disease and, if I can help someone else do that, well, that’s what I want to do.”
To become involved in Team Sinner or for more information on the LLS Light the Night fundraiser, contact Beck at (913) 638-0381.
“We want to do our part in our little part of the world,” Beck said. “Only by raising our voices can progress be made.”
Ellis County Public Works crews are working overtime to fix roads damaged by the heavy rains over the weekend.
Director of Public Works Bill Ring told the county commission Tuesday night some areas in the northeast corner of the county received more than 7 inches of rain Saturday night and into Sunday.
He said crews are working quickly to fix the many bridges and roads that sustained damaged and said it is “all hands on deck.” Ring said they have all of their employees and equipment working to fix the roads.
But he said it is going to take a while because there are a number of roads that are heavily damaged. There were several culvert tubes washed out by the water.
Even the new bridge on Yocemento was affected, according to Ring. He said the approached was washed out by the floodwaters.
Currently crews are working to get all roads back to passable two lanes.
“We have a lot of one-lane roads open right now, which is not a good situation,” said Ring. “If we can get the roads in that condition to start, the really bad ones, then we will slowly go back and then rebuild the shoulders and the ditches.”
Ring said his office is still asking the public to avoid traveling on county roads if at all possible and, if people must travel in the county, drivers need to “take their time and use caution.”
The commission also gave Ring the go-ahead to send out requests for bids for the bi-annual bridge inspections and annual road striping project.
In other business Tuesday, the commission tabled a discussion on a resolution accepting the final plat of the Blue Sky Acres Addition. The Hays City Commission has already approved the rezone and the final plat. Because the property falls in the 3-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction area, the county will also have to approve the zone change and the flat.
The commission tabled the resolution because a group of residents submitted a petition to vacate Randal Road in the area of the purposed housing subdivision. The proposed road is in the Vonfeldt Addition and is one of the roads that would connect the Blue Sky Acres Addition to 250th Avenue.
In order to move forward with the vacation process, the commission must appoint members of the community to examine the road, public the proposal in the county paper of record, have a surveyor look at the area and submit the results. A public hearing will then be held. The hearing is expected to be held in October.
Commissioner Barb Wasinger recused herself from the discussion because of financial involvement in the Blue Sky Addition. Counselor Bill Jeter also recused himself because his administrative assistant has a connection to the Vonfeldt Addition.
The commission also voted to once again appoint Sheriff Ed Harbin to the KCAMP Board of Trustees. He currently serves as the vice president of the board.
Love’s Travel Stop locations in Hays and Ellis are raising money for Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital affiliate, through Sept. 30. On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Hays store will host a family event to raise money in front of Big Creek Crossing Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be games, snow cones, hamburgers, cotton candy, face painting and more. All donations go to the hospital.
The event is part of Love’s Travel Stops annual companywide campaign to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. All the money raised in Hays and Ellis goes to Via Christi. From Aug. 26 through Sept. 30, more than 390 locations are raising money for local CMN hospitals by selling paper balloons for $1, $5 or $20, and hosting various events. For 18 years, Love’s and its customers have raised more than $15 million to help sick and injured children.
CMN Hospitals raises money for 170 partner hospitals across North America. For more, click HERE.
On Saturday, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History will be hosting Star Wars Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Science fiction is often a gateway to science. Join us as we celebrate one of the greatest modern works of science fiction with this special event. This will be your chance to meet and take photos with characters from a galaxy far, far away with costumed members of the 501st and Rebel Legions. You will also get a chance to learn about the fictional planets, animals, and environments of Star Wars and compare them to some of the amazing animals from our own planet. Star Wars-themed activities and props will be located throughout the museum, as well.
All Star Wars Day activities will be included in the price of regular admission.
WAUBAUNSEE COUNTY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 9 a.m. on Thursday in Wabaunsee County.
Love’s Travel Stop locations in Hays and Ellis are raising money for Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital affiliate, through Sept. 30. On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Hays store will host a family event to raise money in front of Big Creek Crossing Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
