By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

Patriot soldiers and George Washington joined Jackie Robinson and Orville Wright in the gymnasium at O’Loughlin Elementary School this morning.

About 70 fourth-grade students portrayed famous figures during the school’s Wax Museum. The event is the culmination of the Reading and Writing Workshop during which the students learn history, research and write both fiction and non-fiction on their chosen characters.

Teacher Amy Haskell said the students wrote books about their characters. The first two chapters were informational pieces about their characters, the third chapter was a story about their character, and their fourth chapter was a an essay trying to persuade readers their characters were important.

Parents and members of the school board were invited to watch the students perform in costume.

Presenting their characters to their peers and parents helps the students build confidence.

“It teaches them public speaking, to stand in front of adults and peers, and eye contact …” Haskell said.

The children said they learned new aspects of the characters they portrayed.

Mason Schleicher, fourth grader, explained why he wanted to portray a patriot soldier from the Revolutionary War.

“I just wanted to defend my country and help all the people who are suffering right now,” he said.

In his presentation, Schleicher described the conditions at the patriot camps.

“I learned how hard it was. I learned they risked their lives to just help other people and how they worked and did practices at their camps and stuff,” he said.

John Weisenborn, fourth grader, portrayed Orville Wright.

“I thought it was cool that he and his brother were the first people to build a plane,” he said. “If he hadn’t built a plane, where would we be now? Would we be able to fly?”

He said he also learned about the evolution of planes.

“They didn’t used to be made out of metal,” he said. “They were made out of wood with one or two engines.”

Weisenborn said he is interested in following in Wright’s footsteps and becoming an engineer and maybe even work on planes.

“My family is big into engineering. My father is some kind of engineer, and my sister wants to be an architectural engineer,” he said.

 

 

DHDC

Downtown Hays Development Corporation will celebrate the groundbreaking of the Downtown Pavilion during a ceremony at 2 p.m. Friday, May 19 at the pavilion site, 10th and Main streets in Hays.

There will be speakers, and refreshments will be served.

Many local organizations, government leaders and contractors played a role in developing this project.  Partners in the project include: Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation, Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Fort Hays State University, City of Hays and Commercial Builders Inc.

 “A pavilion and public restroom has been a long-sought-after addition to Downtown Hays, and we are excited to finally see the vision become a reality,” Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director, said. “It’s taken a lot of persistence and the right partnerships to bring it to fruition and now it’s time to celebrate!”

For more information on the pavilion project, click here.

For additional information, contact Bloom at 785-621-4171.

The Fort Hays Shuttle Bus Service will end at 1 p.m. on Friday and will resume next fall.  An exact date will be sent in an email closer to the start of the semester.

 The motor pool will have three 12-passenger vans and both shuttle busses available during FHSU Commencement exercises on at 4:30 p.m. Friday and  8 a.m. Saturday to transport guests to the coliseum.

TMP

Thomas More Prep-Marian’s prom was Saturday in the Cody Commons room of Fort Hays State University’s Memorial Union. The theme this year was Paris.

A dance followed the promenade, and Patrick Mugisha was crowned king and Gabrielle Chittenden was crowned queen. Patrick is the son of Nkurikiye Thomas and Muiza Antoinette and Gabrielle is the daughter of John and Michelle Chittenden.

Melissa Schoepf was the prom sponsor.

Hays Post

Mike Briney, Sunflower Bank regional president, presented a check to USD 489 for the 2016-2017 ABC program at its meeting Monday.

The ABC program gives back to local schools and students. For every account dedicated to the program, the bank gives $50 to the school of the account holder’s choice. For every credit transaction on a debit card on a dedicated account, the bank also gives 5 cents.

The bank allows students to enter a drawing. If their name is drawn, the students receive $10 for each A on their report card, and their school receives a matching amount.

The local branch donated $8,229 to Ellis County schools this year, $4,721 of which went to USD 489 schools.

Over 16 years, Sunflower Bank has donated $1.1 million to schools in Kansas, Colorado and Missouri.

 

USD 489

Fort Hays State University hosted its 12th-annual Western Kansas Lego Robotics Competition on April 28 in the Memorial Union Ballroom.

Eighty-one teams from Western Kansas brought 245 students for the competition.

Lincoln’s Principal Elaine Rohleder said it has been a goal at Lincoln to encourage students to be more involved in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Fifth grade teacher Monica Dreiling and technology assistant Regina Hammerschmidt each wrote grants to help pay

For the Dash and Dot robots, Dreiling received a $1,500 grant from the Heartland Community Foundation, and Hammerschmidt received a $1,750 grant through the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

Lincoln students programmed their robots in their regular classrooms, as well as the computer lab.

Hays Middle School exploratory and industrial technology teacher Brad Moritz sponsors the Robotics Club for the middle school.

Hays Middle School students placed first overall and received a traveling trophy to display at HMS until next year’s competition. Hays Middle School also earned the most overall points out of all of the participating teams with 18.

HMS students competed against 15 other schools, which included 34 teams. HMS took one team with five robots.

Hays Post

If your baby and family are in need, First Call for Help wants to help fill the gap with the Diaper Stash.

Call now. Participation starts this month and is limited.

Distributions will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays and Thursdays of the month. This Thursday will be a distribution date.

Twenty diapers are allotted per child per month.

Diapers are available for families with babies and/or toddlers 0-3 years who reside in Ellis County and can provide required documents for each of the following:

 Proof of residency –Utility bill and one of the following: insurance bill or checking account statement, or pay stub (these items must be dated 30 days or less and have your name and address printed on document)

 Proof of income eligibility—pay stub or SNAP card or WIC voucher or SSI or SSDI letter

 Photo ID or Driver’s License for yourself

 Identification for children—must have child’s name and date of birth—Birth certificate or medical card or immunization record

 Social Security cards for all household members

For more information call 785-623-2800 or go to firstcallelliscounty.com. First Call is located at 205 E. Seventh, Suite 205, Hays, KS 67601.

By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

The USD 489 school board discussed the purchase of a new bus for the Early Childhood Connections program at its meeting Monday night.

Although the bus would be used to transport students for the preschool and Head Start programs, it also would be used at other times for busing small numbers of students in cases that a van would be too small and a large bus would be too large, John Thissen, superintendent, said.

The estimated cost of the bus would be $58,381. The school district was under budget with its other bus purchases this year by $35,000, and it would use that money toward the purchase of this bus.

An additional $15,000 would come from the early childhood program. The remaining funds would come from capital outlay.

The bus needs to be replaced because of engine problems.

Russ Henningsen, transportation director, said the bus is 15 years old and parts are difficult to find, so it would not be cost effective to try to fix the bus.

Early Childhood Connections normally has two buses, but has been using one while the bus in question is not running.

The board is scheduled to vote on the bus purchase at its May 22 meeting.

Henningsen said the bus will need to be ordered soon if the school district hopes to have it back in time for the start of the next school year.

 

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hay Post

Starting in fall people attending Hays High School football games will be able to conceal carry if the school board approves a lease agreement with Fort Hays State University.

The board took up the issue of the 2017 lease of FHSU’s Lewis Field at its meeting Monday night.

The agreement states the district will pay FHSU $2,400 per game to lease the field for football.

Under that agreement, the school district and all the game’s attendees fall under FHSU rules, which will include concealed carry starting July 1. Read more by  clicking here about the concealed carry debate on Kansas college campuses.

Superintendent John Thissen said he was surprised the Kansas Legislature did not take any action on the issue during its regular session this spring.

Board member Paul Adams suggested those concerned about the change should contact their legislators.

Board president Lance Bickle asked why the district was not using the field at Hays High School.

Board member Josh Waddell said the HHS field is not in good condition.

“It is not something you would want to showcase to other communities,” he said.

The track is very close to the field, which could lead to injuries, and seating is not adequate for varsity games, Waddell added. However, JV games are played there.

The field issue was discussed in the facilities debate, Thissen said. However, it would be costly to upgrade or replace the field.

The district has five home games and a scrimmage schedule at Lewis field during the 2017 season.

The board is scheduled to vote on the lease agreement at its next meeting on May 22.

The board also approved the school calendar for the 2017-18 school year. School will start Aug. 16 and end May 18.

 

Hays Post

The NCK Tech Hays campus will graduate 157 students at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, 600 Park St. on the Fort Hays State University campus.

Melissa Dixon, Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, will be the featured speaker for the event.

The graduation will be preceded by a nurses’ pinning ceremony at 1:30 p.m. at the performing arts center.

During the ceremony NCK’s 63 graduating nursing students will receive their official nursing pins from one of their nursing instructors.

They will then recite the Florence Nightingale pledge, and they will be welcomed to the sisterhood of nursing.

Sandy Gottschalk, dean of the NCK Tech Hays campus, urged graduation attendees to leave plenty of time for parking. There will be not reserved parking except for handicap spots.

Doors for the graduation will open at 2:30 p.m.

A list of all graduates are as follows:

NCKTC 2017 Certificate Program Graduates

Certificate of Business Management

Valeria Janeth Carrillo    

Jacob David Combs

Alana Dawn Hindman        

Dallas L Holz

John Hubschman II      

Jamie Jo Marcotte

Taylor Rae Shipley

Certificate of Business Technology          

Bryce L Ficken    

Grant Blair Gellatly

Hollie Ann Herbel      

Larisa B Smith

Sandra Towns      

Certificate of Carpentry and Cabinetmaking

Logan Adam Dahlke  

Justin Michael Flax

Gage Roger Hardiek    

Maverick Wayne LeRock

Certificate of Culinary Arts

Dalton Randall Eugene Ballentine      

William Jordan Dietze

Ian Zackery Finger      

Nicolas Dean Gardner

Brianna Hake          

Nicolas Michael Jasper

Joseph Tucker Mies

MaKayla Nicodemus

TJ Schumacher        

Certificate of Pharmacy Technician

Hannah Annette Renae Engling        

Amanda Marie Grant

Megan Renee Grieve      

Stacey Lynn Hettinger

Abbey Homburg            

Karissa Nicole Pena

Shayna Delayne Rogge    

Holly Ann Sieving

Ashten M Stimpert        

Danae A West

Certificate of Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning

Ryan Alexander Allen II    

Matthew A Leiker

Ty W O’Neill            

Omar Portillo

Christopher James Pounds        

Shayne Renken

Kian Sage Stegmaier  

Taylor Ray Stramel

Nelson Edwin Taylor Jr.

Trenton D Welsh

Robert Lane Yost

Certificate of Practical Nursing

Kristen Atchison          

Nicole Leigh Betts

Alexandra Nicole Chapman          

Erin Crable

Taylor Elise Cross        

Morgan J Dick

April Easterberg        

Brandon Gottschalk

Kaitlyn Hafliger        

Whitney Ann Herman

Trever Houser        

Sara Hughes

Alicia Marie Johnson      

Felicia Gayle Johnson

Courtney Killip              

Maci Jo Knipp

Regan Lynn Krause

Miranda Lynn Krohn

Shannon Kay Manka    

Lindsay Marie Mattison

Alondra Meraz      

Christopher Millam

Lea Miller                

Jeffrey Mueller

Brittany Lyn Murdock    

Allison Murphy

Kalene Paul          

Neesha Elizabeth Pohlman

Katie Elizabeth Reed      

Carly Schmidt

Reesa Danielle Stoll      

Stephanie A Strathman

Omelia Jane Thomas

Certificate of Welding

Kyle Henry Colburn    

Cristian Garcia

Dustin Hamel        

Collin Ray Herold

Cole Kershner                  

William A Leake

Jacob Adam Meis          

Bryson K Parson

Cody Pieper                

Nathan James Rohr

Braden J Schmidt        

Sergia Trejo

Connar Matthew Younkman        

NCKTC 2017 Associate of Applied Science Degree Graduates

Associate of Applied Science Degree Nursing

Elizabeth Josephine Acker    

Kathy D Bracken

Cara J Brunswig      

Ma Corazon Nerezemia Burgos

Bailey Lynn Conway    

Ashleigh N Deatherage

Sara Lee Favinger          

Jessica L Gabel

Danelle Fay Glines        

Dylan J Gottschalk

Kendra Lavon Harp  

Andrew F Heimann

Marie Eloise Jarvis        

Shelby Lynne Jones

Kristen Elaine Jones        

Ashley B Kamphaus

Kelsey Ann Keith      

Amythus Rose Lewis

Jori Lynn McAdoo    

Taylor Elizabeth Morgan

Kathleen T Oder      

Lauren Elise Pallister

Sydni Nicole Pfannenstiel            

Kimberly Reel

Amanda L Rudman    

Shanan L Ryan

Deidra Adriane Smith        

Makena Lynn Unruh

Clarissa Lorraine Werth        

Caitlin Wessel

Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology

Steven T Ammon      

Trayce J Dinkel

Jordan Lee Fischer

Jesus Orlando Gil

Brock Richard Lawrence

Zachary Taylor Newacheck

Kale L Schlochtermeier        

Dylan Lane Schmitt

Christian M Wright

Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Technology        

Ryan L Becker    

Edward L Creek

Clayton W Ingham      

Brandon Scott Kingsley

Carson R Kirmer              

Ryan M Pritchett

Austin K Scheideman

Associate of Applied Science in General Business

Dorothy Lynn Becker    

Alexa Renee Brull

Cathryn Elizabeth Doty

Mandy Ann Ehrlich

Theresa A Ehrlich              

Courtney Rae Kaler

Regina D Sipplegrimes

Associate of Applied Science in Technical Studies         

Matthew Birdsong    

Coulter Lee Boyd

Michele Nichole Dehnel-Snavely    

Richard Ruffus

Ivory Nichelle Walker          

Cody Wyckoff

Associate of Applied Science in Welding Engineering Technology/Technician

Hailey Abbott    

Danae Dawn Buschkoetter

Matthew Allen Demel    

Kelly E Koerner

Troy Koon          

Colin Seacat

NCKTC 2017 Veteran’s Honorary Associates Degree

National Guard

Leon Grizzle, Private First Class*     

Medals & Ribbons:

Army Occupation Medal (Japan); Combat Infantry Badge; Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars; United Nations Service Medal

Navy                                                   

James “Jim” Marcotte, Machinist’s Mate Petty Officer 3^rd*

Medals & Ribbons:

National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal w/3 Bronze Stars; Armed Force Expeditionary Medal [Korea]; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Combat Action Ribbon; Good Conduct Medal

Marines

George Cardinal, Sergeant

*Posthumous Degree

 

By AMIYAH GONZALEZ

The Guidon Online

Journalism students came up just short in winning their third-straight team championship at state competition on May 6.

Hays ended up with 33 points to finish in second in Class 4A behind Bonner Springs with 36. Chanute was also in the mix with 30 points. Overall, 17 Class 4A schools scored at least one point or better at the competition, which is sponsored by the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.

Individually, Hays had several students place in the top six spots with some students placing in multiple events. The competition awards first, second and third places along with three honorable mentions.

It was sophomore Jacob Maska’s first year participating in state competition, competing in Sports Writing. Maska said that while he didn’t do as well as he originally hoped, he was still proud of his work.

“I felt I put a solid effort in and so did the rest of the team,” Maska said. “I think the whole team wanted to win the sweepstakes but I am looking forward to competing next year.”

Junior Lacey Gregory also said she had hoped for the team to receive the sweepstakes award.

“Second place isn’t anything to be upset about,” Gregory said. “Qualifying for state is an accomplishment in and of itself.”

Senior Hannah Thomasson participated in her second year of state. Thomasson competed in Yearbook Theme and Development and Cutline Writing.

“My strongest event was probably Cutline Writing,” Thomasson said. “It’s always been easy for me to write captions and I think they’re fun to write.”

Maska said that even though the results weren’t what he expected, he still had a good time competing.

“I am a very competitive person and I compete all the time,” Maska said. “I just liked to go against the best writers in the state.”

Hays individual results are as follows:

Senior Sierra Eichman

Academic Photo, 2^nd

Online Photo Gallery, 3^rd

Cutline Writing, HM

Yearbook Copy Writing, HM

Yearbook Theme & Development (with Tiana Lawson) 1st

 

Senior Tiana Lawson

Infographic, Honorable Mention (HM)

Online Photo Gallery, HM

Photo Illustration, 3^rd

Yearbook Theme & Development (with Sierra Eichman), 1st

 

Seniors Kara Brooks, Madison Crees and Anniston Weber

Multimedia, 2nd

 

Senior Peyton Augustine

Sports Writing, HM

 

Junior Lacey Gregory

Headline Writing, HM

Newspaper Page Design, 3^rd

 

 Junior Elizabeth Lee

Editorial Cartoon, HM

 

Sophomore Hannah Harman

Academic Photo, HM

 

Sophomore Isabelle Braun

Copy Editing, 3rd

Hays High School will graduate 176 seniors at 1:30 p.m. Sunday  at Gross Memorial Coliseum, 600 Park St.

The speaker will be Matt Brooks, a social studies teacher at HHS. The senior class votes on their speaker for graduation.

The following denotes senior class honors.

# 4.0 Cumulative GPA

Summa Cum Laude:  3.90-4.00 (Gold Cords)

* National Honor Society Membership

Magna Cum Laude:  3.80-3.89 (Silver Cords)

Cum Laude:  3.60-3.79 (White Cords)

The graduating seniors are as follows:

Colton Adams

Jacob Alexander

Salvador Alvarez

*Jace Armstrong

Alayna Arnhold

*Ragan Arnold

Ethan Asuncion

*Peyton Augustine

Shawn Ballinger

#*Jeanie Balzer

Tigist Bannister

*Raina Basso

*Isys Bearley

Tressa Becker

Shane Berens

*Kinley Boys

#*Brianna Brin

*Emily Brinley

*Kara Brooks

Mikhail Brown

Sierra Brown

Chantz Brungardt

*Katie Brungardt

*Alyssa Bryant

*Angeline Bryant

Joshua Bryant

Leeah Buchholz

Morgan Budig

Quinn Buffington

Hannah Burns

#*Tanner Callis

Mitchell Campbell

Daniel Cano

*Keegan Chapman

Jeremy Claude

*Grant Coffman

*Madison Crees

#*Sam Crowley

Caden Cunningham

Morgan Custine

*Jordyn Dake

Bryce Davidson

Alexander Davis

Anissia Day

Jake Dechant

Jett Dillon

Braden Dinkel

*Joslyn Dinkel

*Marissa Dinkel

*Lakin Ditter

Brayden Dorzweiler

Brayden Dreher

Nicholas Dreiling

Brandi Ecker

#*Sierra Eichman

Adam Emerson

Joseph Factor

*Alex Feyerherm

Caitlyn Fisher

Dylan Flegler

Cooper Flores

*Ryan Fort

*Katelyn Fross

*Veranika Fuller

*MaKenzie Giess

Ana Goodlett

Janelle Grammon

Austin Gray

Guadalupe Gutierrez Vargas

Itzel Guzman

*Karen Guzman

Kevin Guzman

*Marla Guzman

Freddy Haines

*Alanna Hansen

Thomas Harman

Jacob Hecker

Daisy Herrera

Treyveion Hill

*Zachary Hopp

Magdalen Housman

Tanner Hunsicker

Leah Huxman

Cassandra Jackson

Tristan Jay

Cameron Jensen

Ethan Jensen

Nicholas Johnson-Cox

LaShawn Jones

Alex Karlin

*Madisyn Keller

Riley Kenton

*Talyn Kleweno

Brent Koenigsman

Collyn Kreutzer

Walker Kummer

Claiborne Kyles

Aidan Lawson

Tiana Lawson

John Legleiter

*Ashlen Lemon

Dan Lopez

Davida Lopez

Jose Lopez

*John Lowry

*Rachelle Lumpkins

Sally Lushbough

Shane Mallon

*Payton Markley

Sage Markley

Justin McCullick

Kaely McKinney

Gabrielle McLoughlin

Isidro Meixueiro

Rachel Mewhinney

#*Kohlton Meyers

Kayla Miller

Trenton Miller

*Courtney Molleker

*Laura Montgomery

Karlie Murphy

*Kristen Nease

C.J. Norris

*Hannah Norris

Simon North

Sage Nuss

Adam O’Connor

MKilar Otte

Jacqueline Paredes Camal

*Breanna Park

Hannah Pfannenstiel

*Lane Pfannenstiel

Mason Potter

*Cassandra Quinby

*Marie Reveles

Michael Reyes

#Diana Rubio

*Caitlyn Scheck

Dylan Scheibler

*Ethen Schmidt

Lanie Schmidt

Tyler Schmidt

Cole Schmitt

Megan Scott

#*Ethan Shippy

Hayden Sillmon

Taylor Simms

Cecil Smith

Jacob Smith

Megan Smith

Julian Snyder

Jonathan Springer

Conner Staab

Justyn Staab

Sydney Sulzman

*Xander Swayne

Taylor Tabor

Michael Tam

#*Rachel Taylor

*Hannah Thomasson

Alex Tinkel

Paola Tinoco Hernandez

*Kambri Tomanek

Hannah Unrein

Savannah Unsworth

#*Conrad Vajnar

*Jodi Veach

*Anniston Weber

Karic Weese

Savannah Weilert

Mason Wellbrock

Alyssa Werth

Nicholas Wing

Karolynn Wolfe

*Tyrone Wynn

*Brandi Zimmerman

Isaac Zimmerman

Taden Zimmerman

Victoria High School will graduate 16 seniors at 1 p.m. Sunday at the VHS Auditorium.

There will be no speakers, and the valedictorian and salutatorian will be announced at graduation,

The graduating seniors are as follows:

Devyn Dorzweiler

Wil Drew

Tyler Drew

Madisyn Gerhardt

Ashlyn Hammerschmidt

Sienna Hockersmith

Isaac Housley

Cheyenne Jones

Bryant Karlin

Olivia Knoles

Julia Nowak

Karly Oberle

Hollie Reinhardt

Konnyr SweatTanner Rome

Hanna VonLintel