04/24/24

By: FHSU Alumni Office

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State University Alumni Office has announced nominees for its three honorary commencement awards. Recipients of each award will be announced at a press conference on Tuesday, April 30, at 9 a.m. in the Memorial Union’s Peter Werth Black and Gold Room, with refreshments to follow. The public is welcome to attend and join in celebrating these outstanding Tigers. A video recording of the press conference will be posted on the FHSU Alumni Office Facebook page after the event for those who are unable to attend in person.

Twenty-three FHSU seniors were nominated for the Torch Award, which acknowledges classroom excellence, leadership, participation in professional organizations, and student, civic, or research activities.

Six graduate students from the 2023-2024 academic year received Lighthouse Award nominations, honoring exceptional students completing graduate studies.

The graduating class of 2024 nominated eight faculty members for the Pilot Award, recognizing classroom excellence, ongoing research, and service activities.

The Torch and Pilot Awards, created in 1974, and the Lighthouse Award, established in 2018, are presented annually. The nominees listed completed all requested information by the deadline specified by the Alumni Office.

* Denotes finalists for each award.

2024 TORCH AWARD NOMINEES

Nominees are listed alphabetically by state and hometown.

Kansas

BELOIT

     Trista Boeve, Radiologic Technology and Medical Diagnostic Imaging

CLAY CENTER

     Rhett Koppes, Health and Human Performance (Sport and Exercise Therapy)

CLIFTON

     Ashton Kahrs, Radiologic Technology and Medical Diagnostic Imaging

DODGE CITY

     Jasmin Alvarado-Martinez, Business Administration (Human Resources)

ELLSWORTH

     Logan Erichsen*, Geosciences (Geology)

GYPSUM

     Rebecca Gahn, Radiologic Technology and Medical Diagnostic Imaging

HALSTEAD

     David Schulte*, Finance (Economics)

HANSTON

     Austin Ruff, Political Science

HOLCOMB

     Derek Mesa, Fitness Programming and Health Promotion

PAWNEE ROCK

     Cole "CJ" Gibson*, English (Writing) and Psychology

PHILLIPSBURG

     Jenna Hoover, Communication Sciences and Disorders

RUSSELL

     Jaelynn Sutter, Sociology

SALINA

     Taygen McBurney, English (Writing)

SMITH CENTER

     Jessalyn Kirchoff, Business Administration (Accounting and Finance)

ST. GEORGE

     Karen Thew, Criminal Justice

ST. JOHN

     Kenneth Hacker, Studio Arts and Ceramics

TOPEKA

     Callyn Anderson, Tourism and Hospitality Management

WICHITA

     Nathaniel Egan, Finance

     Lauren Stallbaumer*, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Colorado

WELLINGTON

     Sarah Keiss, History

International

SAN FELIPE, YARACUY, VENUZUELA

     Diana Angarita Santos, Marketing

North Carolina

RALEIGH

     Chelsea Kiefer*, History

Oklahoma

DURANT

     Cody Hicks, Communication (General Communication)

LIGHTHOUSE AWARD NOMINEES
Nominees are listed alphabetically by state and hometown

Kansas

ELLINWOOD

     Mark Freeman*, Master of Fine Arts (Ceramics)

OVERLAND PARK

     Alexa Summers*, Education Specialist, Digital Leadership

Colorado

LAMAR

     Jordan Parker*, Master of Science, Speech Language-Pathology

Missouri

KNOB NOSTER

     Sonja Brandt*, Master of Science, Biology

Nebraska

OMAHA

     Olivia Stinson*, Master of Fine Arts (Ceramics)

Washington

BUCKLEY

     Kelsie Arch*, Education Specialist, School Psychology

PILOT AWARD NOMINEES

Nominees are listed alphabetically by last name.

Linda Ganstrom*, professor, Art and Design

Brenda Hoopingarner*, professor, Allied Health

Dr. Iryna McDonald*, assistant professor, Agriculture

Dr. April Park*, professor, Psychology

Dr. Jessica Phelan, assistant professor, Health and Human Performance

Jeremy Ryan, lecturer, Agriculture

Dr. Jonathan Sumrall*, associate professor, Geosciences

Dr. David Tarailo, instructor, Biological Sciences