A Hays man got to celebrate Father’s Day twice this year.

Dr. Jian Sun is one of ten men selected as a “Strong Dad of the Year” by the Kansas Early Head Start Strong Dads program.  The awards were presented the week of Father’s Day at the Strong Dads Summit in Wichita.

Sun is the father of two young girls and an Assistant Professor of Public Administration in the Fort Hays State University Political Science Department.

“I love being a dad,” he said, and “my wife and I treasure our family time.”

DCF initiated the Strong Dads program to engage fathers and father figures in the lives of their children through playing, reading, talking and caring.

Strong Dads training sessions for about 1,000 men were held throughout the state beginning in April and wrapped up June 20.

Strong Dads curriculum was designed to encourage children’s physical, social, emotional and mental development.