Tiger Notes

CLASS NOTES

1980s

John Heim ‘84, Alexandria, Va., was chosen as the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Kansas School of Education & Human Services.

Katrina Hess ‘89, Hays, retired from her position as owner and physician with Hess Medical Services on July 15th.

Rebecca “Becky” Kiser ‘80, ‘94, Hays, earned first place in Best Story originating from a Public Notice through the 2022 Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence.

Kendall Krug ‘83, Hays, retired from his position as owner and optometrist with Kendall L. Krug, OD PA at the end of July.

Charles “Charlie” Riedel ‘83, Overland Park, was inducted to the Kansas Press Association Hall of Fame.

Curtis Simons ‘86, ‘90, Emporia, retired from Emporia High School after nine years as athletic director and thirtysix years as a teacher and administrator.

Earlice “Leesa” Switzer-Rupp ‘80, Houston, Texas, had her first book, “A Kansas Sunrise,” published by Dorrance Publishing Co, Inc. in March 2022.

Mitchell “Mitch” Thompson ‘88, McGregor, Texas, was hired as the head baseball coach at Baylor University.

David “Dave” Younger ‘87, Ulysses, retired from USD 214 in Ulysses after serving as superintendent for 10 years.

1990s

Corey Burton ‘94, Ellis, was hired as superintendent of USD 214 in Ulysses effective July 1, 2022.

Eric Depperschmidt ‘99, Hays, was hired as director of development with the Fort Hays State University Foundation.

Lori (Nuss) Hurst ‘96, Hutchinson, was recognized by the Wichita Business Journal as a 2022 Health Care Hero for Nurses.

Scott Kedrowski ‘97, Garden City, joined Garden City Community College as the Dean of Advancement and Alumni Relations.

Monique (Scheck) Koerner ‘95, ‘19, Hays, was hired as the family and community wellness extension agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.

Meagan (Bange) McNiff ‘94, Olathe, joined Burns & McDonnell as a senior project controls specialist.

Scott Newland ‘98, ‘02, Wichita, was promoted to President and CEO of the Sedgwick County Zoo.

Sheri Stone ‘95, ‘97, Hays, was promoted to director of nursing at North Central Kansas Technical College.

Darin Thomas ‘96, Mansfield, Texas, was hired as director of baseball operations with Baylor University.

Mark Wahlmeier ‘95, Colby, was hired as an optometrist to take over Krug Optometry and begin Vision Source of Hays.

2000s

Clifton “C.D.” Clark ‘04, Hays, was presented the Faculty Member of the Year award by FHSU.

Jessica (Ahlquist) Ebert ‘05, Tescott, graduated from the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership (KARL) Class XV.

Michael “Mike” Hammett ‘08, Monroe, La., was named “Voice of the Warhawks” with Warhawk Radio Network.

Nathan Musick ‘07, ‘14, Wichita, was hired as the manager of accounting operations with Foley Equipment.

Nicholas Peters ‘08, Hillsboro, was chosen as a member of the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership (KARL) Class XVI.

Shane Schartz ‘02, ‘03, Hays, was recognized as a Faculty of the Year honoree for the 2021- 22 academic year by the FHSU Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Stacey (Gould) Smith ‘00, ‘00, Hays, was recognized as a Faculty of the Year honoree for the 2021-22 academic year by the FHSU Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

2010s

Rebecca “Becky” (Esau) Bartell ‘13, Hesston, accepted an additional position as director of the Department of Nursing with Bethel College.

Suzann (Thompson) Bouray ‘13, ‘15, Ellinwood, completed a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Matthew “Matt” Cook ‘11, ‘13, Hays, was appointed MIAA Basketball Tournament Committee Chair.

Sean Dreiling ‘12, ‘14, Hays, was named the head boys’ basketball coach at Hays High School.

Matthew “Matt” Guza ‘12, Gibsonia, Pa., was hired as a senior cybersecurity engineer with Bering Straits Native Corporation.

Layton Hickel ‘13, Hays, was hired as defensive line coach with Fort Hays State football.

Kayla Jarvis ‘12, Phillipsburg, graduated from the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership (KARL) Class XV.

Daniel Kelly ‘18, Wichita, was named the head boys’ soccer coach at Hays High School.

Brady Peters ‘10, Hyattsville, Md., was hired as presidential writer at The White House.

Regan (Ochs) Reif ‘13, Great Bend, was chosen as a member of the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership (KARL) Class XVI.

Kaitlin (Fabrizius) Robben ‘16, Hays, joined the HaysMed Pediatric Clinic as an advanced practice registered nurse.

Jeffrey “Jeff” Sekavec ‘13, Monument, Colo. , was the recipient of the 2022 Colby Community College Tangeman Award for Teaching Excellence.

Ashley (Fitzsimmons) Smith ‘17, Pratt, joined the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce as President and Chief Executive Officer effective July 5th.

Jerrod Stanford ‘12, Parsons, was hired as head men’s basketball coach at Colby Community College.

Danielle (Leclair) VonFeldt ‘17, Hays, joined the HaysMed Family Medicine Clinic as an advanced practice registered nurse.

2020s

Thomas “Tommy” Powell ‘20, Hays, was announced director of the Fort Hays State University Robbins Banking Institute and the Kansas Bankers Association.

Drew Young ‘20, Hays, was hired as annual giving coordinator with the FHSU Foundation.

DEATHS

1940s

Elizabeth (Gibson) Baumgardner ‘41, Wake Forest, N.C., April 20, 2019

Maxine Starkey ‘49, ‘49, Brewster, June 6, 2022

1950s

Richard “Dick” Barton ‘59, Scott City, August 8, 2022

James Browne ‘54, Lynden, Wash., June 22, 2022

Donald Burnett ‘57, Arlington, Texas, July 28, 2019

Charles Fankhauser ‘54, Overland Park, May 6, 2021

Merrill Frydendall ‘56, ‘60, Mankato, Minn., July 31, 2022

Dorene (Powers) Jennings ‘57, Denver, Colo., April 2, 2022

Fritz Kramer ‘59, ‘60, Ellis, June 29, 2022

James “Jim” Marshall ‘56, Topeka, June 26, 2022

Leroy “Lee” Munk ‘59, Salina, August 6, 2022

Carlos Murphy ‘59, ‘60, Hutchinson, June 25, 2022

Kay (Hahn) Nord ‘55, Peaks Island, Maine, June 8, 2022

Joseph “Joe” Staab ‘58, Federal Way, Wash., June 2, 2022

Charles Stones ‘55, ‘59, Garden City, May 8, 2022

Orvileta (Gracey) West ‘55, Garden City, June 10, 2022

1960s

Judith (Utz) Birkenbaugh ‘68, Kingman, June 7, 2022

Sharon Daniels ‘67, Ness City, April 30, 2022

Hilary Dreiling ‘65, ‘70, ‘75, Hays, May 20, 2022

Janice (Hallagin) Dunavan ‘65, Pawnee Rock, August 6, 2022

Andy Hanson ‘64, Herndon, July 3, 2022

Duane Harper ‘68, ‘72, ‘77, Waucoma, Iowa, August 17, 2022

Larry Kilian ‘60, Eudora, July 31, 2022

Leland Kincaid ‘62, Dodge City, July 26, 2022

Maurilyn McConnell ‘68, Oklahoma City, Okla., August 5, 2022

Eleanor (Aden) McMindes ‘65, ‘69, ‘74, Salina, April 9, 2022

Marilyn (Stremel) Niernberger ‘60, Midlothian, Va., July 12, 2022

Melvin Pfannenstiel ‘62, Hays, August 8, 2022

Shirley (Wilson) Pfeifer ‘62, Hays, August 12, 2022

Charley Rasp ‘63, Enid, Okla., August 24, 2022

Earl “Rusty” Russell III ‘66, Gainesville, Texas, July 20, 2022

Richard “Dick” Scott ‘66, Overland Park, June 23, 2022

Larry Soice ‘67, ‘68, Wichita, April 28, 2022

John Terry ‘67, ‘72, Atwood, August 12, 2022

Leon Ukens ‘63, Leesburg, Fla., July 23, 2022

Norman Utz ‘61, Houston, Texas, June 9, 2022

Cecil Vonachen ‘65, Kansas City, June 24, 2022

Robert “Bob” Wagner ‘60, ‘65, La Crosse, May 7, 2022

Mary (Ryan) Winter ‘63, ‘64, Great Bend, July 29, 2022

1970s

Mary (Sims) Arnold ‘76, ‘79, Snook, Texas, Feb. 15, 2022

James Bisbee ‘74, Wichita, Dec. 26, 2021

Lester “Les” Burgardt ‘71, ‘77, ‘79, WaKeeney, June 12, 2022

Jeannine (Depperschmidt) Call ‘75, Hays, June 10, 2022

Robert Carlson ‘71, Formoso, August 23, 2022

Marsha (Gillispie) Crook ‘75, Garden City, June 4, 2022

Carol (Shriver) Eubank ‘70, Coats, Dec. 25, 2021

Kathryn “Kathy” (Rohrbough) Gregory ‘74, ‘95, Wichita, June 9, 2022

Hal Hollembeak ‘79, Great Bend, July 10, 2022

Jay Hrabik ‘75, Lyons, July 4, 2022

Thomas Hull ‘72, Downs, June 26, 2022

Sharon (Hoover) Keltner ‘74, Minneola, June 17, 2022

Michael Kilgore ‘74, Wichita, July 31, 2022

Carle Kuhn ‘72, ‘77, Beloit, October 28, 2021

Delma (Marston) Miller ‘71, Great Bend, August 4, 2022

Patricia (Bickel) Percival ‘76, ‘78, Hays, July 15, 2022

Steve Rome ‘75, Hugoton, August 8, 2022

Barbara (Gregwire) Scheck ‘74, Russell, June 18, 2022

Patricia (Searle) Ward ‘71, ‘77, Casper, Wyo., May 20, 2022

Ron Pflughoft ’70, Apple Valley, Calif., Sept. 11, 2022

Cynthia Wittman ‘72, Ulysses, July 19, 2022

1980s

Curtis Bunting ‘81, Olmitz, June 4, 2022

Lucille (Jensen) Herman ‘85, Lawrence, August 2, 2022

Raymond Lee ‘88, Kansas City, Mo., June 16, 2022

David Leikam ‘80, Hays, July 19, 2022

Victoria (Frazier) Rajewski ‘85, Hays, May 11, 2022

Jeannine “Jean” Marie Ross ‘85, Hays, August 24, 2022

Rosalee “Rose” Steimel ‘82, ‘83, Salina, July 25, 2022

Lisa VonFeldt ‘87, Plainville, June 6, 2022

1990s

Ida “Susan” (Chance) Beying ‘98, Easton, June 15, 2022

Barbara (Daniels) Fanshier- Phillips ‘97, The Villages, Fla., July 19, 2022

Diane (Dunavan) Gibson ‘93, La Crosse, July 8, 2022

Kenneth Hanson ‘92, Salina, August 6, 2022

Christiane “Chris” (Wade) Luehrs ‘92, Hays, July 14, 2022

Shannon (Grant) Nichol ‘98, Topeka, July 30, 2022

Curtis Schmidt ‘99, ‘04, Hays, June 16, 2022

MARRIAGES

1990s

John Ludes ‘95 and Claire (Bohm) Mullen ‘15, Sept. 30, 2021

2000s

Daniel Dysinger and Kelly Geist ‘09, May 14, 2022

Rich Risewick and Tara (Towns) Vance ‘04, May 20, 2022

2010s

Andrew Blaylock ‘20 and Amanda Hurla ‘19, ‘20, April 30, 2022

Daniel Honas ‘15 and Olivia Wiesner ‘18, April 30, 2022

Dylan Moore ‘16, ‘18 and Ashley Parrott ‘16, June 4, 2022

Tanner Staab ‘16, ‘20 and Ashten Slater ‘17, ‘20, ‘20, July 23, 2022

Henry Stoltenberg and Maureen Duffy ‘14, ‘17, May 20, 2022

2020s

Jason Armenta and Chantal Solorzano ‘20, May 24, 2022

Stephan Healey and TyLynn Peterson ‘21, June 25, 2022

Ryan Hillman and Taryn Rupp ‘20, May 7, 2022

Clint Rogers and Lauryn Davis ‘21, June 25, 2022

Easton Slipke ‘21 and Morgan Leiker ‘21, June 4, 2022

BIRTHS

1990s

John ‘95 and Claire ‘15 (Bohm) Ludes, Salina, a boy, Boe John, April 2, 2022

2000s

Joshua Dreher ‘09 and Jaclynn Ward, Hays, a boy, James, May 10, 2022

2010s

Chandler and Katelyn ‘16, ‘21 (Hecker) Schmidt, Hays, a boy, Kohen James, March 17, 2022

Taylor and Jessica “Jessie” ‘14, ‘16 (Havice) Hess, Wichita, a girl, Ava Jane, April 5, 2022

ALUMNI NEWS

FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS face daily challenges but possess the tenacity and perseverance to overcome life’s most testing obstacles. Hezekiah Herrera, a 2018 and 2020 FHSU alumnus, embodies the determination and diligence upon which FHSU was founded and built. Herrera, the son of an immigrant father and born into a low-income family, never dreamt of becoming an educator; nonetheless, one currently pursuing a doctorate. After a heartbreaking divorce, Herrera became a single parent to his two children. Determined to ensure a better future for his children, Herrera enrolled at Fort Hays State to pursue both his undergraduate and later graduate degrees in education.

As he began to study, he realized how close his children were to checking many of the boxes educators use to assess early childhood development and social-emotional well-being. Now, as a special education teacher for children with intensive support needs in San Diego, California, he hopes to empower children to change the world through education.

His favorite moment at FHSU? Hearing “we did it!” from his young son at commencement. Herrera views his graduation as a turning point in his life that exchanged pain and struggle for purpose and meaning. More than ever, he left the stage encouraged that he would break the cycle of poverty for his children and others whose lives he touches.

A proud Tiger at heart, Herrera hopes his story encourages first-generation students to explore the possibilities at FHSU. He says, “Fort Hays State University makes a world-class education accessible - and the American Dream attainable for anyone.”