07/30/12 jgm

NOTE TO EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS: Non-public events are included so that you can schedule any coverage you may wish to conduct.

HAYS, Kan. -- August marks a new beginning -- the start of classes, meeting new people, and finding a new home for many students and faculty.

For much of August and into September, Fort Hays State University will celebrate the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year with Augustfest, a series of events, activities, programs and opportunities designed to welcome and introduce people to campus life.

Students can participate in Tiger Impact Orientation events and student organization meetings and attend a variety of picnics, open houses, comedy and music events sponsored by various groups, student organizations and departments across campus.

The big public event of the 2012 celebration is "Comedy Show with Kyle Cease" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

Cease, after performing at 68 colleges in a row, experienced stage fright and anxiety that forced him to learn more about life. The actions he took caused him to lose weight, regain confidence and renew his career.

Since his memorable appearances as the "slow clapper" in "Not Another Teen Movie" and as Bogey Lowenstein in "10 Things I Hate About You," Cease has had numerous TV, film and radio appearances. He is a frequent guest on the hit syndicated radio show "Bob and Tom" and has appeared on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "The Martin Short Show" and has performed in several national commercials.

His appearance is sponsored by Student Affairs. Admission is free.

The "Bizarre Magician," Brian Brushwood, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, in Beach/Schmidt.

In just one show Brushwood eats fire, breaks a 30-pound concrete brick on his head, performs his signature "human crazy straw," "Mr. Happypants" and "knife roulette" routines, all while keeping the audience laughing. Escapes, dangerous stunts, comedy and magic combine in a most unique, original, outrageous show.

His appearance, sponsored by University Activities Board, is also open to the public. Admission is free.

Other public events of Augustfest include FHSU athletic events, the Back-to-School Picnic in the Quad, the Big Creek Mud Run, and Christian Challenge sand volleyball at Sonic Drive-in.

Freshmen are required to attend four Augusfest events: PlayFair, New Student Orientation, "DO Talk to Strangers" and floor meetings.

PlayFair, sponsored by the University Activities Board and Student Affairs, is at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at Lewis Field Stadium. This event provides students with an entertaining way to make new campus friendships.

New Student Orientation, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, at Beach/Schmidt, is designed to help students adjust to the campus environment and cope with changes they will experience in their first semester at FHSU. Students will learn university policies and procedures and will get familiarized with university resources and services. The program will conclude with academic orientations and lunch in the Memorial Union.

Students will be encouraged to develop their interpersonal skills at "DO Talk to Strangers," from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, in Beach/Schmidt. It is sponsored by Student Affairs and Greek Life.

The schedule of Augustfest events:

Thursday, Aug. 16:

8 a.m.-3 p.m.: Move-in day and Tiger Tags, at the Residence Halls.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Transfer student orientation in the Fort Hays Ballroom of Memorial Union.

11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Family lunch at McMindes Café.

4-5 p.m.: Living group meetings for new residents in the floor lounges of residence halls.

4-5 p.m.: Family orientation Q & A, location to be announced.

8 p.m.: PlayFair, at Lewis Field Stadium.

9:30 p.m.: The PlayFair after-party at Stadium Place Apartments.

Friday, Aug. 17:

8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.: New student orientation in Beach/Schmidt.

5 p.m.: Women's soccer vs. Butler Community College, El Dorado, (exhibition) at Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex.

6 p.m.: Christian Challenge welcome BBQ at the Custer Hall gazebo.

7:30 p.m.: Comedy Show with Kyle Cease at Beach/Schmidt.

Saturday, Aug. 18:

2-5 p.m.: Water games on the lawn at Custer Hall Gazebo.

7 p.m.: Men's Soccer vs. Barton Community College, Great Bend, (exhibition) at Bickle/Schmidt.

8-10 p.m.: Casino night at McMindes Hall, second floor.

Sunday, Aug. 19:

2:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Sorority recruitment: information sessions in the Black and Gold Room, Memorial Union.

3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Class Crawl; meet in Cody Commons, Memorial Union.

5 p.m.: Women's Soccer vs. Hutchinson Community College, Hutchinson, (exhibition) at Bickle/Schmidt.

7-8:30 p.m.: "DO Talk to Strangers," at Beach/Schmidt.

10 p.m.: Floor meetings in the residence halls.

Monday, Aug. 20:

9 a.m.-7 p.m.: Beyond The Wall poster sale on the Memorial Union Patio and the Quad.

4-7 p.m.: Back-to-School Picnic, on the Quad.

5-6:30 p.m.: Dinner in the Quad, on the Quad and the Memorial Union patio.

7:30 p.m.: Sorority recruitment, service night -- in the union's Black and Gold Room.

Tuesday, Aug. 21:

9 a.m.-7 p.m.: Beyond The Wall poster sale, on the union patio and the Quad.

3:30 p.m.: FHSU jazz auditions, Malloy Hall, room 126.

5 p.m.: Fringe Theatre Company back-to-school rally, Malloy Hall, room 100.

3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Delta Zeta open house, 410 W. Sixth Street.

4:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.: Alpha Gamma Delta open house, 409 W. Eighth Street.

8:30 p.m.: Christian Challenge, 13th and Harvest Road.

Wednesday, Aug. 22:

3 p.m.: Senior start-up in the union's Stouffer Lounge.

6-7 p.m.: Tiger Voices Informational Session in the union's Pioneer Room.

7 p.m.: Black and Gold volleyball match, Gross Memorial Coliseum.

9:30 p.m.: Sorority recruitment, bid night, in the union's Cody Commons.

Thursday, Aug. 23:

7 p.m.: Fraternity information night in the union's Trails Room.

7-10 p.m.: Sand volleyball at the Sonic Drive-In, 1708 Vine.

Friday, Aug. 24:

5-8 p.m.: Union UpROAR! at various locations in the Memorial Union.

Sunday, Aug. 26:

1-5 p.m.: Splish 'n' Splash at Webster, Webster Lake.

8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Big Creek Mud Run, east of Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Monday, Aug. 27:

9-11 p.m.: Half-price apps at Applebee's, 4101 Vine Street.

Tuesday, Aug. 28:

5:30-8:30 p.m.: Sand volleyball at the Sonic Drive-In, 1708 Vine.

6:30-8:30 p.m.: Department of Management and Marketing Welcome Social outside of McCartney Hall in the Quad.

7-9 p.m.: Christian Challenge, 13th and Harvest Road.

Wednesday, Aug. 29:

5:30-8:30 p.m.: Sigma Alpha Epsilon BBQ at the SAE house, Seventh and Ash.

7:30 p.m.: "Bizarre Magician" Brian Brushwood, Beach/Schmidt.

Thursday, Aug. 30:

5-7 p.m.: "Flavors of the World" food and music from around the world at Custer Hall Lawn.

6:30 p.m.: Intramurals fantasy football draft (auction style), (location)

9:30 p.m. to Midnight: Capture-the-flag, SAE house, Seventh and Ash.

Monday, Sept. 3:

Labor Day; university closed.

Tuesday, Sept. 4:

4:30 p.m.: Fantasy football draft at Intramurals office, Cunningham Hall, room 128

6:30-7:30 p.m.: Back-to-School pizza party for majors in accounting, finance, international business and economics, Robbins Center

9 p.m.: Fantasy football draft (ladies only) at Intramurals office, Cunningham Hall, room 128

Wednesday, Sept. 5:

5 p.m.: T.I.G.E.R.S. Series "Know Where To Go," in the union's Stouffer Lounge.

7 p.m.: Women's soccer vs. McPherson College, Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex.

Friday, Sept. 7:

6 p.m.: Women's soccer vs. Midland University, Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex.

8 p.m.: Tiger Roar Pep Rally -- McMindes Hall backyard.

8:30 p.m.: Men's Soccer vs. University of Sioux Falls, S.D., Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex.

Saturday, Sept. 8:

7 p.m.: FHSU Football vs. Washburn University, Lewis Field Stadium.

Augustfest events can be found online as well as in a brochure handed out during New Student Orientation and available in residence halls and various campus locations. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free of charge and are provided for all new and returning students, faculty and staff.

For more information or for more details on Augustfest events, go to www.fhsu.edu/fye/augustfest/.

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