Happy holidays from the FHSU Alumni Association! We are completing our daily activities in a very festive atmosphere these days and enjoying every minute of it.  As we work our way to winter break, all of us at the Alumni Association wish you a happy and SAFE holiday season.

The beginning of a new year always brings a new line-up of activities and events hosted by the association. Representative of FHSU and the Alumni Association will be hosting a Tiger party in Kansas City on January 24 - please join us!

Also in January, the association will launch the annual round of no less than 13 Student Recognition Programs beginning with a stop in Denver, Colo., on January 25, and Phillipsburg, Kans., on January 29.

We would be delighted if you would look us up when we are in your area and let us know what is new in your world.

Do you have that special someone in life who
has everything? Not sure what to give him/her this year since you’ve tried clothing, trips, automotive and/or electronic gadgets? Then try one of a number of gifts the Alumni Association has available that is sure to please both young and old Tigers alike.

For as little as $5, you can receive three sheets of Tiger return mailing labels, or for $30 annually contributed to the Alumni Association (and other applicable state vehicle fees), your Tiger supporter can receive an official state of Kansas Tiger tag for the back of their vehicle. For the outdoor enthusiast, the valuable Pasture and Range Plants handbook, offering 176 pages of four-color illustrations and descriptions of the plants of the prairie, is available for $25 (includes postage and handling).For those more interested in history books we offer a hardback version of Lighthouse on the Plains: FHSU, 1902-2002, for $15 or a softbound version for $10.

Alumni membership has its privileges, and so should your FHSU supporter. Choose from one of three membership plans, ranging from $25 to $350, which includes incentive gifts, such as Tiger t-shirt, membership card, marble paperweight, pen set, and full array of benefits (join on-line and qualify for an additional 10% discount).

To order, go to http://www.fhsu.edu/alumni and click on the specific link located in the left column or call the Alumni Office toll-free at 1-888-351-3591.

The FHSU Alumni Association has partnered with INTRUST Bank by offering members of the Tiger community a new full service Platinum Visa® credit card program. Known for its long tradition of strength and stability in the Midwest, INTRUST Bank allows members of the Tiger community to meet their credit card needs while receiving quality service. Featuring a great new design and outstanding cardholder benefits, this no-annual-fee card, allows you a full range of exclusive benefits and services including the Getaway Miles Air Travel & Vacation Rewards program. Every purchase you make takes you one step closer to a wide choice of exceptional rewards including air travel, exclusive travel packages, and the opportunity to redeem for hotel or car rental certificates. PLUS, it allows you to provide financial support for the Association’s programs and services worldwide, at no cost to you.

As a key member of the Tiger community, you may have received a special offer by mail.  Be sure to respond by Dec. 15 to receive your special savings.  If you didn’t receive the mailing, call 800-222-7458 to apply and begin saving with a great low 10.9% APR -- significantly below the average national rate for rewards credit cards. Remember, don’t be fooled by other cards….the FHSU/INTRUST Platinum Visa® is the only Tiger credit card the Association supports.

Every year the FHSU Alumni Association
honors both alumni and friends with recognition during homecoming festivities. Awards are granted for outstanding, unselfish contributions in service to community, state or nation, both as citizens or in their chosen careers. The time to nominate your honoree is now.  Nomination deadline: Feb. 27, 2009.

The award categories are as follows: Alumni Achievement Award, established in 1959, honors graduates who have made outstanding and unselfish contributions in service to their community, state, or nation as citizens, or in chosen career fields. It is the university's highest recognition of its graduates. (Previous Recipients). Distinguished Service Award, established in 1974, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a continuing concern for humanity on a universal, national, state or community level; who support spiritual, cultural and educational objectives; and who endorse and exemplify the highest standards of character and personal attributes. It is reserved for alumni or friends of the university. (Previous Recipient). Nita M. Landrum Award, established in 1994, recognizes alumni or friends who have provided sustained volunteer service for the betterment of the Alumni Association and/or FHSU, especially in their home communities or at any local level. (Previous Recipient). Young Alumni Award, established in 1977, is designed to recognize those early in their career who have had outstanding achievements and recent accomplishments. The award is based upon professional and educational achievements, community activities, honors and awards received and other noteworthy items of merit since graduation. Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from FHSU, be members of the 10-15 year reunion classes, and be under age 40 as of Jan. 1 of the year the awards are presented. (Previous Recipients).

Pictured are the 2008 Award Recipients: (back L to R) Dr. Earl Meckel ’53, Rick Smalley ’71, and Dr. Ed Stehno (front L to R) Dr. Steven Scheck ’75, Simin Marefat ’95, and Dr. Rick Kellerman ’75.

To nominate, go to http://www.fhsu.edu/alumni/nomform.shtml. Questions, contact the Alumni Office toll free at 1-888-351-3591.

In existence since 1916, the FHSU Alumni Association was created to develop life-long relationships between the university and members of the Tiger community and is constantly seeking qualified candidates to serve on its Board.

Each year, as positions become available, the Alumni Board of Directors (ABOD) Executive Committee selects from a pool of potential candidates, and new members are inducted onto the Board in conjunction with the annual Board meeting.  Qualifications to be a successful Board member include a commitment and the ability to attend an annual two-day meeting over a four-year period and other virtual meetings as requested; the willingness to represent Fort Hays State University; membership in the Alumni Association; and dedication to the support and advancement of FHSU.

If you or someone you know is interested in being considered as a candidate, contact the FHSU Alumni Office toll free at 1-888-351-3591 to receive a nomination packet. Information will be compiled and submitted to the ABOD Executive Committee for review. Successful candidates will be notified in the spring of each year, prior to the summer meeting.

Fort Hays State University is doing its part to support the state's $5.6 billion tourism industry, and a tourism association that spans Kansas from Goodland to Kansas City is showing its appreciation with the creation of a $1,000 scholarship.

The Kansas I-70 Association is a confederation of 14 communities that work together to promote tourism across the state from Colorado to Missouri along Interstate 70, which they describe as "America's Main Street." The communities are Abilene, Bonner Springs, Colby, Goodland, Hays, Junction City, Kansas City, Lawrence, Lecompton, Oakley, Russell, Salina, Topeka and WaKeeney.

To be eligible for the Kansas I-70 Association scholarship, a student must be enrolled in the FHSU program and must be willing to perform internship projects within the state of Kansas. Students who hail from one of the 14 communities in the association will be given higher consideration for the scholarship.

Dr. Stacey Smith ‘00, director of the newly established Tourism and Hospitality Program, said the program is housed in the College of Business and Leadership and also offered fully online through the Virtual College.

For more information call (785) 628-4696.

Emily Griess, an agriculture student at FHSU, has received "honorable mention" as a candidate for the Bette Worley NSE Student Achievement Award.  The award recognizes up to three students annually who demonstrate the best use of their participation in the National Student Exchange exemplifying the high standards by which Bette Worley, NSE’s president, has developed and managed the National Student Exchange.

Nominated by either the home or host campus coordinator, students are evaluated by the NSE Council.

Emily's accomplishment will be announced at the annual NSE conference in March, and a summary of her accomplishments, along with her photo, will be posted on the NSE website.  Wendel Wickland, Vice President of National Student Exchange, stated "After reading Emily's statement and those of Emily's FHSU and Iowa State University coordinators, I am sure she is on her way to a brilliant future."

Additional information about NSE can be found at www.nse.org.

Fort Hays State University's Bill Smriga,
director of Memorial Union, Andy Smriga, Hays senior, and Tosha Lyon, Norton senior, received honors and awards at the Association of College Unions International Regional Conference at Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo.

Bill Smriga accepted the William H. Smith Distinguished Service Award. The award honors and recognizes long-time student union or student activities professionals who have made exceptional contributions and demonstrated a long-term commitment to the student union and student activities profession on their campuses and within Region 11.

Smriga's son, Andy, accepted the Outstanding Student Achievement Award. The award recognizes an outstanding student from a member institution. He is majoring in organizational leadership.  Andy Smriga has served as a member of the University Activities Board for three years and as its president for two years. He has also served two years as a student senator with the Student Government Association. 

Lyon, the union's student graphic designer, received first place both in the "Logo and Brand Identity" and "Best of Show" categories of the Graphics Display Competition. She is majoring in graphic design. Competing universities included the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri, the University of Nebraska, Pittsburg State University and Oklahoma State University.

The Kansas Youth Leadership Academy hosted the Leadership On and Off the Field conference for high school student athletes on November 11, 2008. The conference took place at the Topeka Capitol Plaza, and approximately 90 students from 13 schools across the state attended the event.

Students attended training sessions that focused on various leadership topics, including goal setting, sportsmanship, and character education. Keynote speakers included Candace Whitaker, the Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Candace spoke about the importance of making good choices and staying positive even when times get tough. Richard Dedor, President and CEO of Richard Dedor Communications in Kansas City, encouraged students to live their dreams, and focused on the importance of civic engagement and social responsibility that every student athlete has in his or her community. Both speakers addressed the important role and responsibility these young athletes have been given. The call for leadership within their classroom environment and community in which they live is a charge they can step up and fill!

On November 14, a group of 40
students from Fort Hays State University and Derby High School visited some of Wichita's leading Information Technology employers.  The tour was designed to provide insight into information technology jobs and career options.  It was organized by Dr. Mark Bannister ’85, and also accompanied by Dr. Robert Meier ’62, and Gary Hoffman ’95, of the INT Department.  The tour visited the Kansas Air National Guard which has a unique CyberWarfare mission, Cargill which has more than 100 information technology employees in Wichita, and Integrated Media Group (IMG), a digital creative studio that among its work, creates video and websites and other innovative tools.  It is best known for creating effects for major motion pictures such as "Spiderman3," "Transformers,"  "Get Smart," and the upcoming "G.I. Joe.".  Involving the Derby High School students was a means of exposing the students to IT career options and to Fort Hays State University.  FHSU alumni work at each of the locations visited.

George Jackson III, Kokomo, Ind., is the new diversity affairs coordinator at Fort Hays State University. After graduating from high school, Jackson toured with the international music group "Up With People." After that, he sang back-up vocals for Stevie Wonder.

He finished his undergraduate degree at Taylor University, Upland, Ind. and went to work in residence life at Messiah College, Grantham, Pa., as a residence hall director. After three years, he was promoted to director of multicultural programs. Eight years later, Jackson went to work for Butler University, Indianapolis, Ind., as assistant director of admissions.

Deciding to take a break from work in higher education to accomplish other passions, Jackson moved to Denver, Colo., and took a position as director of Christian education at the Word of Life Christian Center. Jackson later decided to pursue his love of theatre. He performed in musical theatre, TV commercials and print ads in Denver.

He toured with regional and off-Broadway productions until 2004, when his acting career was put to an end when he fell off the stage during a live performance and was severely injured. While recovering, Jackson decided to return to higher education. He completed a master's degree in student affairs in higher education at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo., before joining FHSU.

Jackson can be reached at the Center for Student Involvement (785) 628-4661.

Creative Differences, a film company from
North Hollywood, Calif., was in Hays on November 16 and 17 to shoot video for an upcoming series on the Discovery Channel tentatively called “MegaMonsters.” The director, Bill Evashwick, will focus the episode on giant marine reptiles called mosasaurs from the Age of Dinosaurs. Since the Smoky Hill Chalk of western Kansas has produced more mosasaur specimens in the last 140 years than anywhere else on earth, he decided that Kansas would be the best place to shoot a major portion of the video.

Mike Everhart, Adjunct Curator at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Jennifer O’Neill, FHSU graduate student assisted the film crew. The first day of shooting took place at two localities in the Smoky Hill Chalk of Gove County, and the second day the crew worked inside the Sternberg Museum.

The following day was spent videotaping many of the unique fossil specimens in the Sternberg Museum collection, including the famous “Fish-Within-A-Fish” specimen, and discussing what can be determined about mosasaur behavior from the pathological evidence preserved in their fossilized remains. Several of the specimens in the museum exhibit bite marks and broken bones that could have only been the result of fighting with another mosasaur.

Everhart will also serve as a technical adviser for the animation of the various sea creatures in the episode. The series is expected to be shown on the Discovery Channel starting in the Fall of 2009. 

Department of Health and Human Performance Instructor Jacilyn Olson ’06, and Graduate Assistant Casey Jo Wanger represented the department at the Gove County Health Fair on Saturday, October 18. There were approximately 40 organizations represented at the fair covering a wide range of topics. Many of the booths focused on medical diagnostic and treatment methods; however the HHP booth was one of the few to focus on preventative intervention, such as physical activity and its connection to cardiovascular health.

The HHP booth presented information about Body Composition, Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health. Those who visited the HHP booth were able to have their Body Composition read through Bioelectric Impedance Analysis and Cardiovascular Endurance assessed through the 3-minute Step Test. Olson and Wanger enjoyed interacting with the people of Gove County and sharing the importance of physical activity and cardiovascular health.

Elmer Finck, professor and chair of the
Department of Biological Sciences at Fort Hays State University, was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Society of Mammalogists, the world’s largest organization devoted to mammals.

Finck was elected at the society's 88th annual meeting this past summer. He will serve a three-year term. Finck earned an A.S. degree at the College of Lake County, Grayslake, Ill., a B.S. and M.S. at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D. and a Ph.D. at Kansas State University, Manhattan.

Finck is also a Patron member. He has served on the ASM’s Membership Committee, as a member and business manager of the Mammal Images Library Committee, and as a member of the Education and Graduate Student Committee. Including other activities, his organization and management of the evaluation of student presentations at annual meetings and has been a major contribution to the society over the years.

The American Society of Mammalogists was established in 1919 to help promote the interest in the study of mammals. It has more than 4,500 members, many of whom are professional scientists.