02/25/15
Hairware and Co., 2703 Hall Street in Hays, was declared the winner of the Tiger Gold On Friday community contest grand prize drawing. Salon staff received 30 tickets to the Fort Hays State University vs. Washburn basketball game as well as a buffet dinner in Victor E. Lounge for the final home game of the season.

"We were so excited to see Victor E. Tiger entering Hairware and Co," said Jeri Stewart, who co-owns the salon with Dee Wellbrock.

"This made Tiger Gold On Friday extra special for us and our clientele. TGOF is a great way for businesses to show support for FHSU," said Wellbrock.

FHSU's Tiger Gold on Friday (TGOF) Committee sponsored the first Chamber Chat of the year and announced that its members would begin a weekly prize patrol in search of businesses whose employees wear "Tiger Gold On Friday."

The committee, a subcommittee of FHSU's BrandIT! Committee, is a partnership between FHSU Athletics, the FHSU Alumni Association, the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce and Eagle Communications. The committee strives to promote school spirit by encouraging the campus and Hays community to wear Tiger Gold every Friday.

Committee co-chairs Marcia Tacha and Melissa Dixon, accompanied by Victor E. Tiger, recognized a total of eight local businesses throughout the course of four weeks. Employees wearing gold were surprised with refreshments, and each business was entered into the grand prize drawing sponsored by the Office of the President.

"All eight business partners we visited were greatly supportive," said Tacha, who is an administrative associate in the Office of University Relations. "And, as all can imagine, it was a blast to escort Victor E. Tiger around town to spread gold spirit."

"We received warm welcomes every place we visited. Even if someone was in line to pay their taxes, they grinned when Victor walked up to greet them," said Dixon, who is the social media coordinator for the university.

Other weekly prize winners were Bank of Hays, Eagle Communications, Ellis County Treasurer's Office, Golden Belt Bank, Hays City Office, Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce, and Rejuvenations Spa.

Photos from the TGOF prize patrol visits can be found on FHSU social media accounts: www.facebook.com/forthays, @forthaysstate on Twitter and "forthaysstate" on Instagram.