5/23/24

By Boyce Durr

HAYS, Kan. – Hayden Albright, a standout sprinter on the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) men’s track and field team, recently crossed the commencement stage, donning his cap and gown. Albright earned his bachelor's degree in Information Networking and Telecommunications, with a concentration in Cybersecurity. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in Albright’s academic journey.

While many of his peers are venturing into the workforce, Albright has chosen a different path. He will return to FHSU after graduation to pursue a Masters of Professional Studies in Information Assurance Management while also completing his final year of eligibility for both the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

Hailing from Kingman, Kan., Albright’s college experience has included many challenges and triumphs. Despite the demands of his rigorous academic program, he maintained an impressive GPA of 3.78.

Beyond the classroom, Albright has achieved much success on the FHSU track team. His accolades include being a 4-time All-American, earning honors in the indoor 400 meters in 2023, as well as being a member of the indoor distance medley relay team in 2024 and the outdoor 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams in 2021. Albright is also a 2-time MIAA Champion and a 7-time All-MIAA athlete.

“Hayden’s story is uniquely inspirational, one I’ll share with high school and college athletes in the future,” said Kelly Meyer, FHSU Online Admissions Advisor and Assistant Track and Field Sprints Coach. “Hayden joined our team as a walk-on, but consistently gave his best every day. Because of his hard work and dedication, he continued to develop.”

“Of course, now, he's a 4x All-American and a key leader on our team,” Meyer said. “I'm so proud of the student, athlete, and person he has become.”  

Albright credits much of his growth and success as an athlete to the FHSU athletics department and the great coaches he has worked with.

“My sprints coach, Kelly Meyer, has been a huge part of my life in Hays,” Albright said. “She was like having a second mom here at FHSU.”

Albright’s academic achievements include the CSC Academic All-District distinction in 2023. Additionally, he received the USTFCCCA All-Academic Award three times, the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award five times, was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll on five occasions, and received the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award twice. His commitment to both athletics and academics exemplifies the well-rounded student-athlete.

Albright also credits his professors and instructors in the Informatics Department as key to his academic success.

“Kevin Shaffer (Associate Professor and Interim Chair of Informatics) was always willing to help; he has helped me out a lot,” Albright said. “He has helped me both in class and with choosing classes to make sure I got everything I needed.”

As Albright embarks on his post-graduation journey, he recognizes that hard work is the key to success.

“Sometimes, the only way to be successful was to put my head down, work hard, and make sacrifices,” Albright said. “This meant not hanging out with friends sometimes so that I could achieve my desired grade or put more work into track. However, I still had plenty of chances to have fun with friends and enjoy college.”

Hayden Albright’s story serves as an inspiration to all aspiring graduates. To paraphrase his own beliefs, dedication and perseverance pave the way to achievement, whether on the track or in the classroom.