09/13/12 kb

HAYS, Kan. -- Dr. Eric Arubayi, Warri, Nigeria, who will receive Fort Hays State University's Presidential Award at Homecoming 2012, has been selected by university President Edward H. Hammond to serve as the grand marshal of the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Arubayi is president and a professor of education administration and planning at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. The university has 35,000 students, 94 academic departments, 800 professors and 3,000 support staff.

The Presidential Award, the university's most distinguished recognition, given by the Office of the President, recognizes substantial contributions to the university through professional and personal achievements.

Arubayi graduated from FHSU with an M.S. in education administration in 1976 and an Education Specialist degree in education administration-superintendent in 1978. His bachelor's degree, a B.S. in biology, was received in 1974 at New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas. He earned his doctorate from Kansas State University in 1979. He was a graduate teaching and research assistant at FHSU and at Kansas State.

"In his life and career, Dr. Arubayi is a wonderful exemplar of a Fort Hays State graduate," said Hammond. "His accomplishments and integrity, his commitment to education and to his students, all have served to advance the profession of education."

He began his career at Delta State in 1992 as a professor and dean of education faculty. He became deputy vice-chancellor in 1993 and was appointed director of external degree programs in 1996.

He has also taught as a secondary school teacher for Urhobo College, Warri, Nigeria; for Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; and for the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Arubayi has written one book, "Toward Efficiency in School Administration," and co-written three others. He has also written chapters for eight others. He has published in national and international journals and has written 19 technical reports.

His resume includes 20 appointments by the national and state governments and 22 national and international consultancies for entities such as the World Bank, UNESCO, Shell Petroleum, and the International Development and Green Resources Institute as well as for state and national bodies in Nigeria. His has served as an external examiner for a dozen universities and colleges and as an editor-in-chief or consulting editor for 16 academic and scholarly journals.

His awards and commendations include a Merit Award from the Delta state government for fighting examination malpractice in Nigeria and a commendation from the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria for his work supervising Ph.D. and master's degree candidates.

His community work includes his church council and membership in the Uvwie Club and Uvwie Improvement Development Union. Uvwie is a local government area, one of the Urhobo tribal kingdoms of southern Nigeria. Arubayi has a Merit Award from the Uvwie Development Union.

He and his wife, Diana, have four children.

The parade begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, on Main Street in downtown Hays.