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By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

As a high school teacher and coach in South Carolina, Charles Assey has to be efficient with his time while studying to become a K-12 administrator.

So, too, does Shannon Addes, a math teacher in New York City who operates her own educational consulting business.

Flexibility and the opportunity of completing a course in a short amount of time are two of the main reasons those two students — although thousands of miles away from north central Kansas — chose Fort Hays State University’s Virtual College as the avenue to take to earn their master’s degrees.

There are several benefits for utilizing FHSU’s distance learning program to earn a degree, including the option of enrolling in eight-week courses.

Eight-week courses are gaining popularity at Fort Hays State and are available in a broad range of programs through the university’s Department of Advanced Education Programs, which offer core courses across several programs.

Instead of enrolling in a traditional 16-week course in time for the fall and spring semester start dates, online students can now choose from several other dates to enroll in the same course that is completed in half the time.

“These offerings are being developed to meet the needs of the adult students who are looking for both an expedited timeline to complete their degree and/or have decided to go to school after one of the three traditional start dates,” said Dennis King, assistant vice president for student affairs. “The idea is to offer something for the adult student who presses to move through their program at a little faster pace.”

One of those is Addes, who said she enjoys working at a faster pace.

“It allows them to get in and get a lot done in a short amount of time,” King said.

Addes was searching for an online opportunity to obtain her New York State educational administration certification. She was intrigued with what she saw on FHSU’s website and was even more impressed after speaking to Dr. Robert Moody, associate professor of advanced education programs at FHSU.

“I researched every online graduate program that would be acceptable for New York State certification,” Addes said. “After talking to Dr. Moody, I learned that I could incorporate my internship throughout the entire program. I believe that’s instrumental because it permits the student to apply theory to practice starting from Day One.”

Moody is adamant about making every effort to meet students’ needs.

“We are very present; I’m available as long as I’m awake,” Moody said. “Teachers like having someone they can communicate with. That’s a philosophy in our department, to be available, accessible to the students.”

Addes said she was pleased with the intensity of the eight-week program.

“I was ecstatic about the program components and expectations,” she said. “My biggest fear going into this program was whether taking an online program in another state would translate for New York State building leadership certification.”

It didn’t take long to quell those fears, Addes said.

“I can state without hesitation that I feel incredibly prepared to serve as a building leader, and I thank Fort Hays State for that,” said Addes, who graduated in December with a master of science in educational administration. “With a foundation like no other, I passed all my New York State certification exams at the highest level of mastery.”

Assey said it was FHSU’s personal touch that attracted him to FHSU.

“If I had some question, I would send an email and hear back within the day, usually within a couple of hours,” said Assey, a social studies teacher and baseball coach at a high school in Columbia City, S.C. “Dr. Moody gave me his cell phone number so I didn’t have to go through an automated machine to give me generic answers. He was a real person.”

“That definitely sold me on Fort Hays State,” he added. “I would encourage anybody out there to go the Fort Hays State route.”

Classes are set up through videoconferences where students anywhere can participate. Addes also liked the personal interaction with other classmates.

“Most of the courses require virtual communication with fellow classmates,” Addes said. “This permits students to connect beyond a classroom and provides a dimension for authentic application and consideration at every grade level. Not only are you following a curriculum, you are exposed to leadership issues and concerns throughout the world — a wide range of classmates and a plethora of professions. It was fantastic to learn that way.”

“We try to say the only thing that prevents us from having a normal in class room conversation is the computer screen,” Moody said. “There’s constant communication with one another.”

Assey said the ability to take a class eight weeks at a time, then have the option to take some time off — for instance, during baseball season — was especially attractive to him.

“Any time you can provide greater flexibility for your students, it’s going to be a good thing for them,” said Dr. James Barrett, AEP chair, who added that “we’ve had tremendous growth in these programs.”

“We’ve been very innovative in several things,” he added, “and we’ve received multiple awards for our online programs. All of that ties into our growth.”

Other departments at FHSU are beginning to add eight-week courses to their online curriculum.

One of those is the Department of Applied Business Studies, which offers the shorter classes in tourism and hospitality management, one of the fastest growing career fields in the nation.

“We’re meeting the needs of different types of learners,” said Dr. Stacey Smith, chair of the Department of Applied Business Studies and director of the tourism and hospitality management program. “And I think FHSU has been very creative and innovative with how to understand the global economy and how to keep people connected.”

To learn more about the eight-week courses, and Fort Hays State’s Advanced Education Programs in general, visit www.fhsu.edu/aep/academic-programs. The next session of eight-week classes begins June 5.

HFD

Members of the City of Hays Fire Department will be conducting training on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 1, 2 & 3, on the work needed to attack a large fire in a building.

This training will be conducted from 9 AM to 12 PM each day in Aubel-Bickle Park in the area of 27th Street Terrace and Sherman Avenue. The street in this area will be blocked to traffic. The public is invited to observe.

During this training, firefighters will practice the teamwork and skills needed for the five on-duty firefighters to quickly get two large fire attack streams in operation to stop a large fire from spreading to other buildings.

To prevent any unreasonable response delays to emergency calls, one extra fire crew will be on-duty during this training. This crew will be ready for immediate response.

GSKH

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland has more than 120 summer camps and activities planned across the state, and all K-12 girls are invited to attend and experience leading the way like a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader).

Registration for Girl Scout summer camps and activities is now open. Girls and their families can find upcoming camps and activities, including a link to register, by going to kansasgirlscouts.org/events. Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is committed to providing camp opportunities for every girl, regardless of her financial situation. Camp scholarships are available, thanks to the generosity of donors.

At camp, girls develop a sense of responsibility, become more independent, and most importantly, have fun. Camping, a Girl Scout tradition since 1912, gives girls the opportunity to develop leadership and outdoor skills, lifelong friendships, and a deep appreciation for nature. From day camps to weeklong adventures in a cabin or under the stars, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland offers a variety of activities to fit the interests of every girl.

Here are examples of upcoming Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland camps and activities in northwest Kansas:

· Enriching the Animals, Enriching You – 1 to 3:30 p.m. June 25 at Brit Spaugh Zoo, 2123 Main St., Great Bend. K-3 girls will help make enrichment tools for the animals, learn about animal habitats, and discover how to be a friend to wildlife. $3 per girl member/$18 per girl non-member. Register by June 12.

· What Kind of Citizen Are YOU? – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 1 at First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th St., Hays. K-12 girls will learn what it means to be a good citizen, including the importance of the American flag. They will earn a patch, play games, make flag friendship pins, and have a patriotic tea party with lunch provided. $10 per girl member/$25 per girl non-member. Register by June 19.

· Spirit of Nature Camp – 10 a.m. July 10 to 3 p.m. July 13 at Camp Lakeside, 300 E. Scott Lake Dr., Scott City. Bring your friends for a three-night adventure at camp! Girls in grades 2-10 will enjoy hiking, canoeing, swimming and other traditional camp activities as they make memories to last a lifetime. All meals provided. $162 per girl member/$146 per adult member; $177 per girl non-member/$161 per adult non-member. Register by May 26.

· Wild About Water! – 9 a.m. to noon July 22 at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Hwy, Great Bend. Girls in grades 6-12 will explore the world of water, which is a vital part of our planet. Girls will earn a Water Fun patch as they discover Cheyenne Bottoms! $3 per girl or adult member/$18 per girl or adult non-member. Register by July 10.

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s camp season is June 1 through July 31. Other fun summer events planned include programs with the Hays Public Library, the Hays Academy of Hair Design, Pasta Jay’s, and Sternberg Museum.

Regional busing will also be provided from the Girl Scout office in Hays to select overnight camps at Camp Starwoods, 7800 S. 103rd St. W., Clearwater, and Camp Four Winds, 9236 SE Quivera Rd., Leon; at least six campers must be registered.

For additional information and a complete list of summer activities, go to kansasgirlscouts.org, email [email protected], or call toll-free (888) 686-6468.

About Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland serves more than 14,500 girls and adults in 80 Kansas counties through its operational headquarters in Wichita, Kan., and regional offices in Salina, Hays, Emporia and Garden City.

CITY OF HAYS

Beginning Monday, May 1, 2017, Riley Street will be closed just south of 8th Street for waterline work in advance of the project to reconstruct 8th Street from Milner to Vine Street. Traffic control devices will be in place to direct the traveling public.

Various construction phases related to this project will take place throughout the summer and into the fall of 2017.

The city of Hays appreciates the public’s patience and understanding during the course of this work. If there are any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (785)628-7350 or the contractor, Morgan Brothers Construction, at (785)222-9977.

Submitted

GRINNELL — The public is invited to a Grand Opening of Grinnell’s Hometown Grocery Deli on May 4th-6th, and a Seafood Dinner Fundraiser on May 5th, 6 P.M. in the Cow Paddy Clubhouse at the Grinnell Golf Course. Hometown Grocery is undergoing a major transformation bringing the 100-year-old business into a 21st-century grocery store, deli plus a quick-serve menu available until closing. For customers’ convenience, a Wi-Fi hotspot, compliments of S & T Communications, has also been added.

Recognizing the changing needs of their community, Hometown Grocery now stocks numerous specialty items such as gluten-free, sugar-free and low salt products. Since November, when new managers Jana and Shawn Huse stepped in, many new items and brands have been added, including the Best Choice store brand. Realizing some patrons no longer need the larger sizes, Hometown Grocery now features smaller product sizes. As Jana and Shawn Huse describe it, “Large variety, just not huge quantities.”

With community need and desire at the heart of Hometown Grocery, the recently added deli counter provides customers with many options for deli sandwiches as well as an expanded quick service menu complete with fried chicken, made to order pizza, a full grill for burgers and a Freal shake machine, offering quick shakes made with real ice cream. Soon take and bake pizzas will also be available.

As one of a growing number of nonprofit food outlets, Hometown Grocery relies on community participation. Upcoming events include a Volunteer Work Day scheduled for April 29-30th to do some painting and clean-up of chairs and tables. The Seafood Dinner Fundraiser with freewill donation will be held on May 5th at 6 P.M. in the Cow Paddy Clubhouse at the Grinnell Golf Course. Featured items will be lobster tails, crab legs, salmon, fish sticks, hushpuppies, coleslaw, brownies and beer. At 8:30 P.M. there will be an Adult After Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Grinnell Activities Program.

With only one paid employee in the store the majority of the time, community involvement is vital to the store’s success, which is why it is often known as Your Hometown Grocery. Having witnessed declining businesses in other rural communities, the Huses are very aware “that without community participation, we (Grinnell) won’t have a grocery store.” Averaging 100 sales per day reflects the community’s positive response to this new venture.

Part of the renovation process has been the installation of a new produce cooler. This allows Hometown Grocery to stock more variety, restock throughout the week and provide an ongoing supply of fresh produce. The computerized inventory system tracks the products at the point of sale making sure those desired products are on the shelf when needed. To better serve their patrons, Hometown Grocery has computerized the system of tracking for descending accounts. By putting money into their store account, the customer can pay out of that account simplifying the day to day transactions. Hometown Grocery is now accepting debit and credit cards for purchases. A soon to be added convenience is an app to order from the food counter ahead of time and have it ready when you want to pick it up.

Managers Jana and Shawn Huse also own the Grinnell Farm and Home Center across the street from the Your Hometown Grocery. They see this opportunity with Hometown Grocery as a good fit for them and a good solution for the community. A grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and one from VIP Pride have been key to the store’s remodeling.

Hometown Grocery is open from 7:30-6 Monday through Friday, 8-12 on Saturday and is closed on Sundays. Special offers and events are posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=hometown%20groceryman or email at [email protected].

Hays Medical Center

Elizabeth Rupp, Document Control Coordinator at HaysMed, was recently awarded the Rising Star Award from the Kansas Health Information Management Association at the joint meeting of the Kansas and Missouri Health Information Management Associate meeting held in Overland Park, Kansas on April 20.

This award is given to a promising newcomer to the Health Information Management field who demonstrates exceptional motivation, capability and leadership potential.

Rupp works in the HIM department and has been a HaysMed associate since 2015.