CAMPUS NEWS NASA grant brings Kansas teachers to FHSU With funding from the Kansas NASA Space Grant, Fort Hays State University’s Science and Mathematics Education Institute (SMEI) organized and hosted a four-day summer workshop. Kansas middle school science educators spent the week at FHSU, learning to incorporate engineering activities into their classrooms. Under the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Kansas teachers are expected to incorporate more hands-on learning and engineering into their lessons. One of the main objectives of the NASA grant is to expand opportunities in science and engineering education, which aligns closely with the NGSS. “We have an amazing venue for these teachers to explore and learn,” said Dr. Paul Adams, dean of the College of Education and Anschutz Professor of Education and professor of physics. “The Science and Mathematics Education Institute Makerspace, housed here in the Forsyth Library and mostly funded through alumni donations, offers a space unique to Fort Hays State and is well suited for these activities.” Dr. Adams also recruited exceptional teachers with significant expertise in incorporating STEM learning in the classroom to lead the workshop – high school teachers Andrew Taylor and Matt Peterie. The attending educators experienced what it is like to be students once again at the workshop. An example of a classroom activity they experienced included teams of teachers creating parachutes and protective landing vehicles for eggs that were to be dropped from the top of Tomanek Hall.
Dr. Hendratta Ali named President’s Distinguished Scholar Dr. Hendratta Ali, associate professor of geosciences, was named the 2021 President’s Distinguished Scholar at Fort Hays State University. “She has 15 peer-reviewed publications, over 50 refereed abstracts, and presented both nationally and internationally. Recently, she has secured two National Science Foundation grants that total near $400,000,” said Dr. Jill Arensdorf, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs and emcee of ceremonies at the 2021 FHSU fall convocation. The President’s Distinguished Scholar Award was first conferred in 1989. Nominees for this honor are evaluated by analysis of their performance in the categories of research and creative activities, service, and instruction. Superior levels of performance must be demonstrated in service and instruction, with the primary focus of this award on research and creative activities. Several other awards were also presented at the convocation. Dr. April Park, associate professor
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of psychology, was named Faculty Member of the Year. The Faculty Member of the Year is selected from the past year’s recipients of faculty awards for teaching, for research and scholarly activity, and for service. Park, and Dr. Jonathan Sumrall, associate professor of geosciences, were the winners of last year’s awards for research and scholarly activity. The 2020-2021 awards for service were awarded to Dr. Sarah Broman Miller, assistant professor of teacher education, and Jacque Jacobs, program specialist in communication sciences and disorders.
