Sunny, with a high near 74. Windy, with a north northwest wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 44. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 78. West northwest wind 7 to 16 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy.
Wednesday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Very windy.
Thursday
A chance of rain and snow showers before 10am, then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 44. Very windy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Degree programs offered by Fort Hays State University through its FHSU Virtual College received seven top-10 recognitions along with other rankings in February and March for being among the best and most affordable programs offered by U.S. colleges and universities.
The top-10 selections:
Grad School Hub
No. 2, 5 Best Online Master’s Degrees in Art & Art History 2019
Grad School Hub, www.gradschoolhub.com, gave Fort Hays State’s Master of Liberal Studies in art history a No. 2 national ranking, based on affordability, graduate outcomes, and student satisfaction.
FHSU’s art history concentration in the MLS degree prepares students for careers as art critics, art history teachers, gallery managers, and museum curators. Core classes include courses on information literacy, origins and implications of the knowledge society, and “Ways of Knowing in Comparative Practice.” The culminating course is “Graduate Readings in Art History.”
To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2FPCRfV.
Study.com No. 2, Best 50 Marketing Schools
Study.com, https://study.com, cited Fort Hays State for its “hands-on approach to learning in its Department of Applied Business Studies.” The group also noted that concentrations for the Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing are available in general marketing, business development, sales or digital marketing, and certificate programs are also available in general marketing, social media marketing, and tourism and hospitality marketing. Study.com also prized the availability of internships and opportunities to participate in networking opportunities with professionals.
To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2FDKW7k.
MBA Central
No. 3, 20 Best Online Sports Management MBA Degree Programs for 2019 Quality and affordability gave FHSU a top spot on MBA Central’s list for its Master of Business Administration with a concentration in sports management. The program, said MBA Central, www.mbacentral.org, covers all facets of the sports industry including sports marketing, planning, promotion, facilities management, and legal issues.
FHSU’s program earned MBA Central’s top rating for affordability (under $15,000). Programs were also ranked on the basis of support services and quality of classes. MBA Central also noted high rankings for FHSU’s MBA programs from U.S. News and World Report, Best Value MBA, GetEducated.com and OnlineU.
To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2I1GGjo.
NursingSchoolHub.org
No. 3, Top 25 Most Affordable Online Nursing Degree Programs 2019 FHSU’s online RN to BSN program earned a top spot on Nursing School Hub’s list for its convenience and affordability. Not only is the FHSU program one of the least expensive accredited nursing programs in the country, said NursingSchoolHub, www.nursingschoolhub.com, but virtual students can begin during summer, fall or spring, and classes include current topics of high interest in the field such as health care informatics and ethical and legal issues.
The criteria were regional accreditation for the university as a whole, nursing program accreditation and tuition of less than $1,000 per credit hour. FHSU’s current undergraduate online credit-hour rate is $218.67, which includes both tuition and fees. The FHSU Virtual College does not have an in-state-out-of-state differential. The numerical ranking is from least expensive to most expensive.
To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2Wu49Ou.
College Factual
No. 6, Best Colleges and Universities for Non-Traditional Students Non-traditional students – students over the age of 25 – represent the bulk of those going to college today, making it extremely important for colleges to begin to cater to their unique needs. College Factual, www.collegefactual.com, rated Fort Hays State No. 6 out of 1,159 colleges and universities in the nation and, for a second year in a row, No. 1 in Kansas for providing quality education to non-traditional students.
College Factual based its rankings on three categories of criteria: financial factors, degree completion rates, and student body composition and support.
To see this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2yXlbLn.
Great Value Colleges
No. 8, 50 Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs 2019 The same RN to BSN program and the same criteria also landed FHSU a spot on the list from Great Value Colleges, www.greatvaluecolleges.net. Great Value liked the fact that the RN to BSN program is designed to be completed in three semesters, and students can access their coursework anytime that fits their schedules and from anywhere in the world. Students can earn their BSN degrees without leaving their jobs as RNs.
The rating is based on affordability – the lower the tuition, the higher point rating; the institution’s online ranking with U.S. News and World report (This year, for the third year in a row, FHSU’s U.S. News and World Report online ranking was best in Kansas.); and the number of format customizations available.
To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2CFItHH.
TheBestSchools.org
No. 10, The 25 Best Online Master’s in History Programs FHSU’s Master of Arts in history program landed on TheBestSchools’ list for its convenience to distance students. One of the key points cited by TheBestSchools, https://thebestschools.org/, is that FHSU delivers all program coursework asynchronously and never requires online students to visit campus for any reason.
Criteria include academic excellence, strength of faculty scholarship, reputation, available financial aid, the range of degree programs available, and the strength of online instruction methodology.
To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2FwjYNO.
Fort Hays State was also ranked as among the best in the nation in three other categories:
Abound: MBA
Top Degrees MBA 2019 The Master of Business Administration program at FHSU’s W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship is among the first group of top MBA programs in the country as rated by Abound: MBA, a new initiative of Abound from Colleges of Distinction, a college guidance system. The designation covers both the on-campus and online MBA programs.
Abound, abound.college, said that the Robbins College programs lay a “foundation for success no matter the concentration. MBA students can choose the general track or 12 other concentration areas.”
Abound: MBA programs are evaluated on criteria in each of four areas: accessibility, affordability, acceleration, and advancement.
To see this listing, visit https://bit.ly/2CNLLZv.
OnlineMasters.com
No. 16, The Best Online Master’s in Liberal Arts Programs OnlineMasters.com, www.onlinemasters.com, rated FHSU’s online Master of Liberal Studies degree with the liberal arts concentration as No. 16 in the nation and the best in experiential learning, which OnlineMasters noted helps students “develop the necessary skills for career advancement through combined practical application and rigorous coursework.”
OnlineMasters bases its rankings on academic quality (graduation rate, retention rate, enrollment rate and number of graduates); the number of online programs offered; faculty credentials; graduation reputation (polling and surveying current students and alumni); quality of instructor accessibility and responsiveness; student services and technology; and affordability.
To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2WplcB3.
SuccessfulStudent.org
No. 32, The Best Online Psychology Degree Programs Successful Student, successfulstudent.org, ranked two bachelor psychology degree programs as No. 32 in the nation but best in Kansas. The ranking covers the online Bachelor of Arts and the online Bachelor of Science in psychology, and several degree options available in the programs.
The rankings are based on quality of the program, types of courses available, the quality of faculty members involved, other awards and rankings, reputation, and the online education method.
To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2TY1fVn.
About the FHSU Virtual College Education at distance from Fort Hays State began in 1911 when faculty voted to offer courses free by mail so that one-room school teachers across western Kansas could afford to gain the continuing education required to teach. The distance education department created then evolved continuously with changing technology and culture until, in 1997, the Department of Continuing Education and Instructional Technology became the FHSU Virtual College.
The Rooks County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Daniel Robert Reid. On Friday, Reid led Rooks County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed pursuit. Reid was arrested on suspicion of a number of crimes.
Reid later was able to bond out of jail and never reported for his bond supervision. A bench warrant for Reid’s arrest was issued out of Rooks County District Court.
Reid also has a felony warrant out of Shawnee County for theft and criminal damage. Reid is believed to possibly be locally in the area or in Topeka.
Prior to the new charges, Reid had spent time in prison for various charges including aggravated robbery.
Call 911 or your local law enforcement agency if you have any information.
RUSSELL – Russell Community Theater opens its 2019 season with “About Time”, April 30-May 4, 2019 at the RCT Playhouse located at 5th and Kansas in Russell.
RCT volunteer, Bob Roe, steps into the director chair to present a “slice of life” show by Tom Cole. His cast includes RCT veterans Teressa Roe and Ward Craig.
In “About Time”, an elderly married couple is found in the kitchen of their condominium at breakfast, lunch, dinner and finally for a late snack.
The couple talks about everything under the sun, including food, sex, children and aging. She is slowing down some and he can’t get around like he once could. But they are both still sharp as tacks, and the snappy dialogue proves humor is one of the essential factors in survival during the aging process.
Through the four scenes, they grapple with what it means to share – and come to the end of – a life together.
Performances run Tuesday through Saturday, April 30-May 4 at the RCT Playhouse, 5th and Kansas, Russell. Show time is 8:00 p.m. Admission is $12 or by season ticket.
“About Time” is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
Russell Community Theater is a non-profit theater company in Russell, Kansas. The sole purpose of RCT is to produce theater for the community and the surrounding area.
Completely volunteer-driven, RCT is supported financially solely through ticket admissions and gifts from those supportive of community theater. Since its inception in 1986, RCT has presented 95 full-scale theatrical productions.
For more information, call 785-483-4057. Please find us on Facebook.
Members of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity rake the compost pile at Victor E. Garden Wednesday as part of Greek Week activities. From left are: Aaron Satran, Brendon Crum and Braden Draper.
By RANDY GONZALES FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Students in Greek life at Fort Hays State University are more than happy to work for a good cause.
FHSU fraternities and sororities are wrapping up their annual Greek Week activities this week. Amidst the laughter and levity, Greeks take seriously their responsibility in giving back to the community. Whether it was at the Tiger Food Exchange, Victor E. Garden or other locations on campus, fraternity and sorority members donated an hour of their time in service earlier this week.
Aaron Satran, Ogallah senior and chapter president of Alpha Gamma Rho, helped flip the compost pile at Victor E. Garden, the university garden that was started several years ago as a service-learning project to provide students with hands-on experience and knowledge of sustainable, local food production for the university.
Satran said it was meaningful to help out.
“It’s important for our chapter – any organization – to give back,” Satran said. “I think most fraternities and sororities would agree we get a lot of help, not only from campus but the whole community.”
Two of Satran’s fraternity brothers, Ford junior Braden Draper and Holly, Colo. senior Brendon Crum, helped rake the compost pile, giving it the needed oxygen in the decomposition process. Satran admitted he was learning on the job, but willing to do the job was what mattered.
“Just taking an hour out of our day is not a big thing but goes a long way to show our appreciation,” Satran said.
Amelia Teter, an Alpha Gamma Delta sophomore from Topeka, also helped out at Victor E. Garden, ridding the patch of weeds in preparation for the growing season.
“In Greek life, one of the pillars is philanthropy,” Teter said. “It’s one of our main goals, to give back to the community. This is one way we can.”
Teter added that during Greek Week, each organization is assigned a project, but each chapter also has its own philanthropy which it assists throughout the school year.
“It says we want to give back to our community, just help in any way, even if it’s small like weeding a garden,” she said.
Grainfield senior Brett Zordel – coordinator for the Food and Hunger Initiatives program, which runs the food bank at Forsyth Library – said the Greeks’ assistance Tuesday was no small matter. Members of Delta Zeta sorority were one of the Greek organizations that helped organize the pantry’s contents.
“We got probably four or five months’ work done today,” Zordel said.
Greeks cleaned the pantry and sorted through cans of food. Food with old expiration dates went to the compost pile at Victor E. Garden, and food close to the expiration date was scheduled for donation to a local food pantry.
Taylor Cawley, Baldwin City sophomore, was hard at work with a half-dozen of her Delta Zeta sorority sisters. She said all thirty-four members of her sorority would chip in for at least an hour of their time before the day was through.
“We do this to stay involved,” Cawley said. “We enjoy the Greek life community so much, we want to give back to another community. Of course it’s work, but I’m here with six of my friends. You can always make it fun.”
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Friends,
This week in D.C. I continued to fight for the rights of babies across the nation. I am thankful for the pro-life community and the men and women of Congress who are willing to fight alongside those who do not have a voice. Fighting for the unborn, and now with the Democrat legislation on the state level that allows infanticide, those babies born alive from botched abortions, is a fight I will never stop fighting. This is very a personal fight for me as I’ve spent my entire life dedicated to bringing life into the world; I will never back down. I am blessed to represent so many men and woman who have made it consistently clear to me that they support me and support those most innocent and vulnerable, the unborn.
In other news this week, we met with many Kansans in here D.C. we touched on a variety of issues and had solution-based discussions ranging from Kansas water to USMCA updates, Home care and Hospice, to Crop Insurance. Our office also sponsored a two-day health symposium!
Now I am back in Sunflower State, enjoying my weekend with town halls and traveling across this Big First to sit down and check in with you! I hope you are available to join me. Stay tuned to our Facebook page where we are consistently posting our upcoming town halls and events.
Sat. 6th 8:30 A.M. – Hays Chamber Legislative Coffee – Fort Hays State University Memorial Union
Sat. 6th 10:30 A.M. – Ellsworth County Town Hall – Ellsworth Antique Mall
The Fight Continues…
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that when I came to Washington, I’d have to fight harder to save babies lives in Congress than I did in my 25 years as a practicing OB-GYN in the delivery room. It is mind-boggling how far the pro-abortion Democrats have gone when they refuse to advance legislation that would protect infants outside of the womb!
House Republicans have asked Nancy Pelosi 29 times now to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to a vote, every time she has refused. The Born Alive Act would provide protections to babies that survive botched abortions and ensure that they receive the immediate medical care they desperately need.
This week I stood with the Pro-life community, and GOP Members in signing a discharge petition, with enough signatures, this petition would force every representative to go on record as to whether or not they support allowing babies, who survive botched abortions, to live. As a society, we have a moral obligation to stand up for our children. This legislation does just that, and for the life of me, I do not understand how this could be a topic with any room for debate.
Today, sadly only six states report when babies survive abortions, and even in those states it’s severely under-reported by the abortion provider, being that it behooves no abortionist to report this failure on their part (seeing as though their goal was for the baby not to survive the procedure.) Those six states are-Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas. In 2017 alone, at least 25 babies were born alive during abortions in these states. And again, we don’t know the data for 44 states, including California and New York, where the largest number of abortions happen. To me passing this law is common sense- these babies need this immediate care.
I want to thank the many constituents who have called in support of this legislation.
Outside of the Capitol, we discussed why this legislation is so important to the public and reporters with members, abortion survivors, physicians, and pro-life leaders. I addressed the media by telling very unforgettable experience I had while in residency trying to save a woman and her baby after she was rushed to our hospital following an abortion procedure gone wrong at a nearby abortion clinic.
Watch my remarks below: WARNING IT IS GRAPHIC.
Health Symposium Focuses on Care in Low-Income Communities
Earlier this week I sponsored a multi-day Health Care Symposium at the Library of Congress featuring presentations on graduate medical education, prior authorization, direct primary care, and much more!
It included experts from across the country, and even a keynote address by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary, a fellow physician, Ben Carson. Secretary Carson discussed the intersection of housing and health care, and the importance of providing safe and affordable housing. He also shared with us his experience from shifting from serving as a physician to HUD Secretary.
Pastor Stephen Broden
The following day I had the privilege of hosting Pastor Stephen Broden. The Pastor spoke to the group about the importance of having medical professionals place a larger emphasis on talking about policies plaguing low-income communities. He expressed his belief that Americans need full transparency when it comes to their health care and called on physicians to advocate for their patients and access to quality care both in and out of the doctor’s office. I am proud to have Pastor Broden working with our office to find solutions for low-income communities.
A huge thank you to all those who spoke and attended this two-day long event, and I assure you all that I am fighting hard to make some critical fixes to our health care system so that health care is affordable, provides families with patient choice, and offers complete cost transparency.
Kansans Stepping up to Help Flood Victims
Our neighbors in Nebraska are recovering from a fatal record-setting flood that took multiple lives, destroyed farmers land, and caused more than 20 counties to evacuate due to the widespread destruction. In true Kansas fashion, I have seen many Kansans posting and praying for Nebraska’s recovery! Kansans have even banded together with groups like the Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock association making donations to help Nebraska rebuild after this tragedy that has caused more than 4,400 people to evacuate their homes.
The road to rebuilding their state’s infrastructure will be long and difficult, and in response, groups like Inman High School FFA, Bethany Home in Lindsborg, United Way, Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge, and so many more Kansas organizations are collecting household supplies and donations for Nebraska flood victims.
This week, Addy Tritt from Hays, Kansas made national headlines when she went to her local Payless shoe store and purchased more than 200 pairs of shoes to donate to the Nebraskans impacted by the massive flooding.
I am so proud to be a part of the Sunflower State where people band together to help others through difficult times. I love the compassion and love Kansans have, we help our neighbors in need and our communities, and that mentality extends far and wide as you can see in response to this devastating flood! So proud to be a Kansans and represent such wonderful and thoughtful people!
Kansas Leads in National Bio and Agro-Defense
I had the pleasure of meeting with a diverse group of representatives from different companies in the bioscience industry in Kansas. The Big First is well positioned to benefit from the investments being made as a result of the growth of this unique industry.
We spoke at length about the importance of the work being done at K-State to bring the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) online and how it will spur economic development across the entire State of Kansas.
I was also proud to learn of Kansan Erin Smith, a Thiel Fellow at the age of 18, for being recognized in this year’s Forbes 30 under 30 list. As a teenager, she developed a machine learning tool that can detect the early symptoms of Parkinson’s using only a computer and a remote webcam.
With your help, I look forward to further developing the “Silicon Prairie” as a premiere destination for new business, innovation, and growth that will benefit all Kansans.
Addressing the Cost of Funerals for our Nation’s Veterans
This week I was able to meet with the Kansas Funeral Directors Association. We discussed the importance of a bill I co-sponsored earlier this year, HR 497 – the BRAVE Act of 2019.
In 1917 Congress passed a law that authorized a burial allowance fund to cover funeral expenses for certain veterans. In 1973, they updated this law to better define the allowances for veterans based on whether their cause of death was related to their service or not. This law allowed for $2,000 to be issued to the families for the veteran’s funeral if their death was service- related, $780 if the veteran’s cause of death is not service-connected and they passed in a VA facility and $300 if their cause of death was not service-related.
However, back in 1973, the average cost of a funeral was between $1,200- $2,000 today the average funeral cost is between $7,000 and $9,000. That is why Congress introduced this legislation which examines these allowances and updates them so that they reflect the current cost and account for inflation.
Additionally, they brought to my attention HR 1835 – the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act of 2019. As of today, there is a lack of oversight on the donation of human remains. This legislation will be a safeguard and make sure that each remain goes to its respectful place. It will do this by creating a registration and tracking system. I am thankful for this educational meeting with them and their staff!
Addressing America’s Most Expensive Disease
This week I met with the Alzheimer Association and in this meeting I was joined by Glenda Owens from Garden City, Kansas. She shared her story about her father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. In our meeting, the Association asked me to support funding for the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act. Passed last Congress, this law authorizes $37 million over seven years to fund research and centers of excellence specifically for Alzheimer’s. I reassured them that I absolutely was behind them. I had voted yes for this bill and was happy to join my colleagues in sending it to the President’s desk.
Alzheimer’s, America’s most expensive disease, cost our healthcare system $277 billion last year, with Medicare and Medicaid paying for the majority of it. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative neurological disease affecting 5.5 million Americans. And sadly, this figure is expected to triple by 2050. Until a cure is found, we need to ensure patients have access to hospice and palliative care professionals to improve their quality of life.
For this reason, I am a cosponsor of HR 647, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, legislation that will provide funding support for Palliative Care and Hospice Education Centers and promote graduate medical education programs. In addition, it will enhance research in this field to build best practices and develop a more effective workforce.
I have also submitted a request to the Appropriations Committee to fully fund the 21st Century Cures Act BRAIN Initiative at the National Institutes of Health. Funded at the full level, Congress will continue to support health innovation and advancement to one day find a cure for this destructive and cruel disease!
USDA Improves Website for Farmers!
The week, the USDA launched two new features on farmers.gov. These two new features will help farmers with their H2A Applications and managing loans. Farmers across the country have said time and time again that they would like for the USDA to come up with innovative ways to support our farmers. I am glad to see that they have listened to farmers call to action and are making their website easier and more efficient to use!
The Cancer Council of Ellis County has received a $700 grant from the Midwest Energy Community Fund. The funds will be used to purchase a printer/copier that will replace a 14-year-old model.
“We are very excited to be a recipient of these funds. Now we can replace our copier/printer as they can no longer get parts for our model,” said Paula Flesher, CCEC executive director.
The mission of the CCEC is to provide services to individuals and families affected by cancer and to provide education about cancer to the general public. They do this through financial services, nutritional supplements, sunscreen education and equipment loans.
The Midwest Energy Community Fund was created in 2005, and provides funds to activities that focus on youth, arts, education, libraries, community events and similar projects. The Community Fund Committees determine who receives the award from $50 to $1,000.
The Cottonwood Chamber Festival takes places Friday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Hays.
The Cottonwood Music Festival is dedicated to promoting chamber music for strings and piano, and is generously supported by Claire Matthews.
This year is a very special festival that will feature an evening of Baroque chamber music performed on period instruments – re-creations of instruments that would have been used during the 17th and 18th centuries. You’ll be able to travel back in time through the sounds of Baroque violin and cello, Baroque flute, viola da gamba, and harpsichord.
For people who love the music of Bach, Vivaldi, and other Baroque master pieces, this will be a unique concert. These kind of specialized historical musical performances most often happen only in large metropolitan areas, so be sure to catch this performance.
Guest artists include Ingrid Matthews, Baroque violin, Frank Nowell, harpsichord, Jim Fittz, Baroque cello, and FSHU faculty members Hilary Shepard, Baroque flute, and Benjamin Cline, Baroque cello and viola da gamba.
Free tickets are available online at www.hayssymphony.org, at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, or at the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.
Two workshops focusing on accountability and technology tips in business will be offered by Fort Hays State University’s Management Development Center in April.
The first workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 11, and the second workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 17. Both workshops will be held in the Memorial Union’s Stouffer Lounge.
“Building Powerful Teams with Accountability” will address how to hold others on a team accountable to achieve desired results, the importance of setting clear expectations, delivering in a shorter timeframe and more.
While many companies are utilizing massive and complex project management, customer relationship and inventory management systems, there are an abundance of other cost-effective ways companies can use technology to increase productivity and efficiency in businesses of all sizes.
“Tech Tips for Business” will provide individuals with a better understanding of tools, systems and topics such as responsive and progressive websites and applications, chatbots, blockchain, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and more. Interactive examples and tutorials will demonstrate applications for businesses of any type, size and sector.
At the end of the workshop, you will be able to quickly adopt and implement cost-effective solutions that can help improve productivity, business performance and customer engagement regardless of your current technical proficiency.
A completion certificate and 3.0 continuing education units will be given to each workshop participant.
The accountability workshop will be facilitated by Gina Riedel, owner of Gina Riedel Results, and Tech Tips will be facilitated by Dr. Nicholas Caporusso, assistant professor of informatics. The workshops will cost $119 each. A 15-percent discount applies for all Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Members for a single session. Contact the MDC Department to receive the discount.
Registration is available online through the Registration link in the sidebar on the page at www.fhsu.edu/mdc. To learn more about this workshop or additional upcoming trainings, contact Hilker by phone at 785-628-4121 or by email at [email protected].
A 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. South wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tonight
A 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. South southeast wind 5 to 13 mph becoming west southwest after midnight.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 46. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 77. West northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 78.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy.
SALINA — Jacob Wood has been named the city of Salina’s new deputy city manager.
City Manager Mike Schrage announced Friday that he has appointed Jacob Wood as the new deputy city manager. Wood was selected from a pool of 60 candidates from across the country.
Wood will begin his new role at the end of April.
“We received a terrific number of applicants for the deputy city manager position which is certainly beneficial, but also makes selection of a finalist much more difficult,” Schrage said.
Wood has served as assistant city manager for the City of Hays, Kan., since 2015. Prior to Hays, he was the city administrator in Oakley, Kan.
A native of Bennington, Wood is returning to the City of Salina where he previously held positions as a city management intern and interim manager of the Bicentennial Center.
Along with his public administration experience, Wood has served for 15 years in the United States Army Reserve, including deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq. Wood currently holds the rank of major and serves as the Detachment Commander for the 863rd Quartermaster Detachment in Great Bend, Kan.
Wood holds a bachelor’s degree in social and political science, and a master’s degree in public administration from Kansas State University.
“Jacob’s past experience, skill sets and professional interests made him an outstanding fit for the Salina Deputy City Manager role going forward. Having worked directly with him for the two years that he was previously employed by the city was also very beneficial since it gave me firsthand knowledge of Jacob’s skills, style and fit for our organization,” Schrage said. “I am pleased that he was interested in returning to Salina and look forward to him taking on the deputy city manager role in our community.”
Wood succeeds Schrage in the deputy city manager role, which has been vacant since June 2018, when Schrage began serving as interim city manager before being promoted to city manager in January 2019.
FHSU took a chance by giving an injured football player a scholarship to continue his education. For that student, Tré Giles, the opportunity was life-changing.
Giles, 25, has traveled across the world and affected scores of lives, but the college education that made all that possible almost evaporated before he had settled in as a freshman.
FHSU grad Tre´Giles is the youth minister for the CrossCurrent ministry at Celebrations Community Church in Hays.
Giles came to FHSU on a football scholarship. During football camp, he jumped up and his knee snapped. He tore three major ligaments in his knee, had reconstructive surgery and lost a lot of his muscle mass.
Football was no longer going to be an option.
Giles, a first-generation college student, grew up in Colorado Springs. It was just he and his mom, who worked 12-hour shifts at a local manufacturing plant to make ends meet. He described himself as a “knucklehead” in high school. It was about sports and meeting friends and that was it.
Stuck in Hays
“It honestly felt like I was stuck at Fort Hays out here at Hays,” he said. “I had one friend here that we came to Fort Hays together, but that was about it. It was a fresh new start in a place where everyone looked different than me. They talked different than me. That was the biggest culture shock I ever had in my life.”
Giles said the pace in Hays was a lot slower than back home. To fight boredom, he dug into his studies and looked for outlets to be involved on campus. He joined Black Student Union, the Management and Marketing Association, and Collegiate DECA.
However, without a football scholarship, Giles knew he did not have the money to continue his education.
“I was in the dorms and I remember getting a couple of letters in my mailbox saying I owed some absurd amount of money by this date otherwise you can’t continue your education. In my mind, my mom can’t come up with that kind of money and neither can I, so this was a cool run. I had an injury. I had fun while I was here and did good things and got good grades and got plugged in, but it’s not going to work. I pretty much had given it up.”
A second chance
When then Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tisa Mason found out Giles might have to leave school because of finances, she approached then-President Edward Hammond about finding scholarship money for Giles to stay.
“Our core values really get down to our personality characteristics of grit and determination, and that’s Tré. He works hard. He is determined. He’s positive. Not only did he come into a caring environment, but you know by his joy, he helps radiate that caring environment for every student faculty and staff that he meets,” Mason said.
She said she knew Giles was going to continue to make an impact on the world.
“I wanted him to enter that world with a Fort Hays degree,” she said.
Giles was working at the FHSU Union when Mason and Hammond approached him.
Giles during a study abroad experience in China.
“They pretty much just looked at me and said ‘We want you to know we have seen your investment in the campus and the groups, so just know you have a Presidential Scholarship. Your financial stuff is taken care of for this year,’ ” he said.
Giles said he broke down and cried.
“That is what kept me in Hays because in that moment, they empowered me to do things while I was here and stay here,” he said. “I developed a sense of loyalty to the community because of that moment.”
A turning point
Although Giles acknowledges there is a valid conversation ongoing in the U.S. about the necessity of students attending college, for him, college was a turning point in his life.
“College was not necessarily about the classes always or the piece of paper you get at the end,” he said. “To me, it was an opportunity to network and meet people. To me, it was an opportunity to get involved in organizations and other countries. Those opportunities would not have been in front of me if I wasn’t in college.
“I got to develop at a rapid pace and I was exposed to things that people from where I am from don’t really get exposed to because of this opportunity,” he said. “That taught me so much. It taught me how to lead people. It also taught me how to follow good leaders. It taught me how to empower others and to be empowered. It gave me a voice, and I realized that my voice means something and, in certain spheres, it is actually worth something. I don’t think I would have learned any of that if I had just gone back home or if I won’t have come to college.”
He said sticking it out in college changed everything.
Giles during a service trip as an undergrad to Guatemala.
Giles was a member of the Student Government Association and Global Leadership Project. He served on the board of Jana’s Campaign and worked with the United Nation’s Commission on the Status on Women during his tenure on that board.
During the Trayvon Martin trial, Giles organized a civil rights protest. He said the event was intense. A truck full of men attended the protest and broadcast racial slurs from a megaphone. Despite the tension, the protest was conducted peacefully.
Giles had opportunity to travel to major cities across the United States and complete an internship with the Cancer Society in Kansas City. He spent time in China in an exchange program and volunteered at an orphanage in Guatemala. After graduation, he served in the Peace Corps in Africa.
Mason said if students lives are not changed during their time at FHSU, there has been a failure in the partnership between the student and the university. Helping students build confidence so they interact professionally and socially is important.
“It is more about learning who you are,” Mason said. “You are unlocking that untapped potential, gaining that sense of clarity and confidence about how you interact with other business professionals. …
“When we talk about wanting to have an impact on the world, it is really a broad impact, not only being good but bringing more social capital to our communities and economic prosperity and making Kansans and our families much, much stronger.”
A change for his family
Giles attributed much of his success to his professors who empowered him to use his voice and be a leader, but also to his mom.
She told him, “Tré, we struggled when you were young and I was younger, but we did everything we could to put you in a position so you wouldn’t have to struggle and you could change the narrative for our family.”
“My mom put in all the groundwork and all the foundation to where all I had to do was step into it and be consistent and show up,” he said.
“We have this saying with me and my mom. We call it, ‘Keep it pushin’. That just means no matter what shows up — the obstacles, the crap and even the triumph and success — no matter what’s in your way — you keep moving forward, you ‘Keep it pushin’.’ ”
Giles with his mother at graduation.
When Giles graduated, they both realized the significance of the moment.
“There was that moment that this might change us forever — our whole family dynamic. It is amazing that my kids — her grandkids — will have an even better life than I have because we are taking steps in that direction hopefully for generations to come. I get to be the first catalyst, because of my mom, to change our family.”
Finding faith
Giles also experienced a pivotal change in his spiritual life during college. Giles is now the youth pastor for the CrossCurrernt Ministry at Celebration Community Church in Hays, but he was not a Christian when he entered college.
He began talking to instructor LeeAnn Brown about her Christian faith. Giles’ father was not part of his life growing up, and Braun realized Giles had never had a father figure other than coaches.
At the end of his sophomore year, she introduced him to Dr. Jeffrey Burnett, health and human performance professor and leader of the college Encounter ministry. Giles was skeptical at first. He thought Burnett just wanted to use his influence on campus to bring more students into the ministry.
“For so long, I had seen Christianity as this cookie-cutter, boring thing where people were fake and pathetic, but that was the first time I met a Christian who was real,” Giles said. “He said, ‘Yo, it ain’t no cookie-cutter thing. This is about love. This is about sacrifice. This is about a decision and choice you make every day, and I want to challenge you with that.'”
Burnett described Giles when they first met.
“Tré always had that huge personality that attracted so many to his presence. Now he came from a home which was full of love from a very caring mother but also came with some hurts and instability from others,” Burnett said. “So even though Tré had his huge personality, he was a young man that was searching for a place to belong and really didn’t have a clear direction.”
Giles started going to the Encounter meetings on Wednesday nights.
“After a while, the narrative of Jesus became something I couldn’t live without anymore, and I really believed in it,” Giles said. “It healed me of so much hurt and pain and enabled me to be such a better leader, just leading how I believe Christ leads. I don’t have to say I’m doing it like Christ does. I just demonstrate it.”
Giles speaking at Celebration Community Church.
Giles continued, “Seeing something real and genuine, it was like ‘I will sacrifice for you and I will love you and I will stop and I will see you and I will support you and I will take your hand and I will walk you through the mud and I will celebrate you when you do good.’ That was Christianity for me, and that is what it is now for me. I cling to it.”
Alone in my hut
Giles said his experience in the Peace Corps solidified his faith. He was posted in Gambia in West Africa in a predominantly Muslim culture. The country is one of the poorest in the world.
He was sent to a village of 2,000 people — the only foreigner and the only Christian in the village.
“It was that time when I sat in my hut every day with no electricity and no running water and I would open my Bible and I would pray and my faith became mine because no one else around me could help me,” he said.
The connection he felt to his Christian faith was enhanced by the beauty he saw in the Muslim faith, he said.
“They sacrificed for each other. They all prayed together. There was so much family. The little they had they would give. There was not a single person who was starving in this village. Everyone took care of everyone,” he said.
Even if he does not move people to Christ, he said he hopes he instills self-dignity in them.
“I take all of these experiences and mash them all together for one thing you hope becomes a message that you hope people want to join and support,” he said. “I am learning now how to use all of these stories and experiences I have had in my short life to impact people.”
Self doubt
Despite being a regular motivational speaker, Giles said his greatest struggle is self-doubt.
“My biggest challenge has always been to be gracious with myself and to believe in myself,” he said. “That is what I care about is encouraging others and teaching them how to believe in themselves. I think that is why it is such a burden on my heart to help other people care for themselves and believe in themselves and to do things because that is my own struggle. I think the thing that burdens [people] the most is the thing that they can impact the best. …
“There is something about seeing someone figure out they are really worth something that helps me understand that I am really worth something.”
Giles with his fiancé.
Giles is recently engaged and is looking forward to his wedding and someday being a dad. He said his No. 1 goal is to be the “dopest dad ever and coolest, most supportive and loving husband.”
He said he is happy with his job working with students at Celebration Community Church, but he wants to keep expanding his reach to more people.
He said even at CrossCurrent, he knows he can’t reach every young person, but he can equip other leaders, so the ministry can reach every child.
“Someday, I want to get involved with taking so many micro-influencers — people who don’t have a million followers, but they have a thousand or a hundred really solid good people with them — and equipping those type of people to make big change.
“That is my dream. Do I know what that is going to look like yet? No. I know I will have a solid marriage and a solid family. I will be plugged into a solid church forever regardless of where I live, and I know I will always be involved in my community, trying to make those dreams a reality. I think if I do these things, the way it will happen will figure itself out.”
He added, “If we do well enough today, and another today and another today, I just feel the future will take care of itself, because we cared about today.”
Today
Today
