By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
Many university presidents don’t have the honor of having a building named in honor of their works until long after they’ve retired. Longtime Fort Hays State University President Edward Hammond didn’t have to wait that long.
Earlier this spring, Hammond, in his last year as president, said got a call from Sias International University President Li Haijun regarding their intentions to name one of the campus buildings after Hammond. Sias International University is one of several international partnerships that were created during Hammond’s tenure.
“What do you say when somebody calls and says they want to name a building after you,” Hammond said.
The building being named for Hammond — formerly known only as No. 15 — is the structure where FHSU’s academic programs are housed at SIU. According to Hammond, most universities in China number their buildings as opposed to naming them after individuals.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized in any form, but to have a building named after you is very humbling and amazing especially in that culture because they don’t name buildings for people in that culture,” Hammond said.
SIU held a dedication ceremony last Friday while Hammond and other members of FHSU were visiting China for some of the graduation ceremonies at the partnership universities. Several Chinese governmental and university official were present for the dedication, which also recognized the 15-year anniversary of the FHSI-SIU partnership.
The building features a lobby painting of Hammond shaking hands with past president and current chairman of SIU Shawn Chen. FHSU also gave SIU a sculpture that was placed in the lawn of the hall titled “Friendship Through Education,” created by FHSU art professor Tobias Flores.
According to Hammond, the 15-year anniversary is a “major event” in the Chinese culture. The plaque for the sculpture reads: ” ‘Friendship Through Education’ shows the lasting relationship between Sias International University and FHSU as the two institutions, oceans apart, but educationally joined, have worked to provide quality educational opportunities for Chinese students.”
According to Hammond, Sias University is FHSU’s largest international partnership. FHSU serves approximately 2,200 students through the Sias University partnership. Sias has a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 undergraduates.