Submitted

Each semester NCK TECH awards an employee who has gone beyond expectations in their job responsibilities.

The premise of the 212 Award is that water is hot at 211 degrees, but that one degree more causes water to boil. Thus, the 212 Award recognizes those who go that extra degree to make a difference in their job with students and co-workers.

Employees are nominated by their peers and chosen by a panel of past 212 Award winners.

Jayme Owen, student services coordinator for the Beloit Campus, received the award from President Eric Burks at the recent college in-service.

“We have so many dedicated and talented employees at NCK Tech, and Jayme Owen is certainly one of them,” Burks said. “This award demonstrates that her peers recognize that as well. As the student services coordinator for the Beloit Campus, she is often one of the first people visitors encounter, as well as someone our current students rely on for guidance and assistance.  In all of her duties, she goes beyond with a positive attitude to make sure people are served in a caring and respectful manner.  We are blessed to have Jayme as part of the NCK Tech family.”

Owen also recently received her five-year service award from the college.

For information and to learn more about NCK TECH, visit www.ncktc.edu.

FHSU University Relations

In 2019, for a third year in a row, online bachelor’s degree programs at Fort Hays State University have been ranked best in Kansas by U.S. News & World Report.

“Recognition by U.S. News & World Report is just the latest testament to the high quality of the online programs offered at Fort Hays State University,” said Dr. Jeff Briggs, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs.

“Our bachelor’s and graduate programs make the top tiers of the major rankings – like U.S. News and Washington Monthly – and the numerous other organizations that evaluate online education.”

Fort Hays State offers a total of 137 degree programs through the FHSU Virtual College – 58 undergraduate, 58 master’s, one doctorate, four education specialist and 16 associate degrees. Sixty-one certificate programs, graduate and undergraduate, are also available.

The Virtual College has enjoyed 20 continuous years of record enrollments in both the fall and spring semesters.
“Rankings like these, and the fact that our Virtual College enrollment has grown constantly over the last 20 years, demonstrate the value we have for students in Kansas and around the world,” said Mike Michaelis, director of the FHSU Virtual College.

“This is especially so for students who have to work full time, or as close to full time as they can, and who want and need to get an education at the same time,” he said.

U.S. News bases its ratings for online bachelor’s programs on four general categories of criteria:

• Engagement, which attempts to measure opportunities for student engagement in courses and interaction with instructors and classmates.
• Services and technologies, which considers diverse technologies available for coursework at a distance as well as the availability of support for learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid “commensurate with quality campus-based programs.”
• Faculty credentials and training, which is an indication of how closely the academic credentials of online faculty match those of on-campus faculty.
• Expert opinion, which is based on a survey of academic officials and employers.

Student engagement was given the most weight, at 35 percent. Student services and technology were weighted at 25 percent, and the remaining two were given 20 percent.

For the complete U.S. News & World Report rankings, go to www.usnews.com/online.

TMP-M

The State of Our Catholic Schools Address will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.

All parents of TMP-Marian and Holy Family Elementary students are required to attend this important event. Information covered includes funding, projects, new courses, any and all updates and projections for the future.

In addition to inviting you to join us at the State of Our Catholic Schools Address, we need your pictures… all pictures of your students attending TMP-M or HFE. These are the photos that will greet you on February 4, at 6:30 p.m., as you enter the event. Please upload all the serious, interesting and funny pictures you have captured this year HERE.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

An activity update from Clay Craft of Retail Strategies will be presented Thursday night during the Hays city commission work session.

“About a year ago, the city contracted with Retail Strategies, [Birmingham, Alabama,] to provide a retail recruitment and retention program for the city,” said Jacob Wood, assistant city manager.

“They’ll provide an update of what they’ve done the past year, the representation they’ve had for the city of Hays at national conferences, and some of the contacts that they’ve had with retailers.”

In other business, commissioners will hear details of a rezoning request for vacant property located at the southeast corner of 22nd and Wheatland Streets from Neighborhood Conservation District NC.3 to Commercial General District C-2.

The property is currently zoned to allow multi-family housing. “I believe the property owners are interested in putting in some kind of childcare/daycare facility on the property,” said Wood.

The rezoning request had already been approved by the Planning Commission.

Other agenda items include the annual report of the NCK Tech Big Creek Technical Training Center and the city commission rules of procedure review.

The complete Jan. 17 agenda is available here.

The work session starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Sarah Annis, a senior at Bethel University in St. Paul, has been named to the Dean’s List for academic excellence for the fall 2018 semester. She is the daughter of Douglas and Denise Annis from Oakley.

The Dean’s List honors students who achieve an outstanding scholastic record during a semester with a grade point average of 3.6 or greater.

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with nearly 5,500 students from 48 states and 42 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, with an additional seminary location in San Diego, California, Bethel offers bachelor’s and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields through classroom-based and online programs.

For further information on Bethel University, go to www.bethel.edu.

Today Patchy fog before 8am. Patchy freezing fog before 8am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 41. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. South wind 7 to 15 mph.

FridayRain likely, possibly mixed with snow, becoming all snow after 4pm. Cloudy, with a temperature rising to near 41 by 10am, then falling to around 32 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday NightA 50 percent chance of snow before midnight. Patchy blowing snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values as low as -2. Windy, with a north wind 23 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 26. Blustery, with a north wind 17 to 22 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 14.