By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Friday morning’s dedication of the new Fort Hays State University Center for Applied Technology started with a nod to the old.
Master of Ceremonies Jon Armstrong, FHSU Foundation director of development, asked the audience to “shade your eyes and look to the east across the street” at the former Davis Hall. The building is being razed after the programs and classes held there for many years moved into the new CAT building just in time for the start of the fall semester.
“I want you all to remember that the past sets us up and allows us to embrace the future,” said Armstrong. “One of the most important times in Tiger history is today.”
“Welcome to the journey,” said Kim Stewart, chairman of the Department of Applied Technology as he began his remarks. “For me, this has been a personal journey.”
Stewart recalled his conversation years ago with Dr. Fred Ruda, then chairman of the Technology Studies Department in Davis Hall.
“I walked in, sat down and asked Fred if he thought Applied Technology would ever have a new building. He looked at me and said, ‘it’s up to us.’
“He went on to tell me that if we update our program of study, if we add new curriculum, if we create new partnerships, and if we recruit more students, we will have a Technology Center. Little did I know that day just what and who was included in ‘it’s up to us.'”
Ruda was killed in a traffic accident in 2012.
“Since that first conversation that I had with Fred Ruda, our faculty have added a STEM curriculum, they’ve updated course work, they’ve added programs of study, we’ve added a second-year welding program and we’ve increased the student population,” Stewart said. “In 2012, we had 105 students. Today we have 181 students. I think that’s pretty awesome and I think you’re going to be impressed with what’s inside this building, our home.”
The department is nearing an outside accreditation process, according to Stewart.
“We had a site visit from the Association of Technology Management and Applied Engineering. That site visit went awesome. We have a thumbs-up from the site visit. Our faculty are headed to the national conference where we’ll get to sit in front of the national board. We are pretty positive about the outlook for having outside accreditation for our industrial programs.”
Stewart listed and thanked the many groups, businesses, and individuals “who are among our partnerships and supporters.”
“Jeff and Marla Copper have asked to be the lead sponsor on naming the atrium,” Stewart announced. After a long pause, he resumed, with a slight catch in his voice. “We’re going to name the atrium ‘The Fred Ruda Gateway to Technology Education.'” Ruda was chairman of the Industrial Technology department at Fort Hays State University for 33 years.
In the absence of sculpture professor Toby Flores who was out on an iron pour with students, Karrie Simpson Voth, chair of the Department of Art and Design, talked about the impact of the new 12,000 sq. ft. sculpture facility.
“Of all the art and design media, sculpture is the broadest in terms of scale, materials and processes,” Voth explained. “The program has a long history and is a rich learning environment where students find their own voice and are now able to do so without limitations of space and resources thanks to this amazing partnership.”
Jose Vital, a student from Garden City, told the crowd “Davis Hall was my home. Now this is my brand new home, our home.”
“The Kansas Board Regents have focused out higher education system on achieving results that benefit our students, business and industry, and the future of our state,” said interim FHSU President Dr. Andy Tompkins. “This Center for Applied Technology has been designed to meet that vision.”
The Center for Applied Technology is a 58,000-square-foot, two-story facility housing the Department of Applied Technology and the Department of Art and Design’s Sculpture program.
Construction of the $16.5 million building began in the spring of 2016 and the project was complete in August 2017.
The exterior incorporates the traditional limestone of other campus buildings along with classic industrial elements. Inside there are labs for CAD, instruction and graphics, STEM, woodworking, metalworking, plastics, power and energy, robotics and construction management; studios for sculpture and metal foundry; seminar rooms; and departmental and faculty offices. A large atrium area and a cafe nook offer an inviting space for students to gather.
As part of FHSU homecoming activities, Applied Technology students and others will offer guided tours of the CAT building Saturday afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.