Fort Hays State University recently celebrated National Distance Learning Week and all our online students near and far who are reaching their goals and learning in the Virtual College. FHSU is a visionary leader in distance education, with 6,924 students enrolled online. This growth is a testament to Fort Hays State’s commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable, and distinctly unique online learning experiences that meet the needs of our FHSU Tigers wherever they are.
SARAH HILLE Kansas
I chose FHSU because it was an online, affordable option to pursue my Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. I have goals to continue working in rural Kansas and, hopefully, someday teach at the college level! (maybe even as an FHSU instructor!) I can keep my full-time work as a nurse practitioner, my “part-time” job as a flight nurse, and still receive an education that can open more doors for me in the future. I am also the mother of two young children, so the flexibility of the online college has been an enormous benefit to allowing me to have family time and still reach my educational goals.
PHILIP RAITHEL Pennsylvania
Being a part-time student, a full-time manager, and a father of two, keeps me on my toes. But, with assistance and support from all those around me and the tremendous online program at FHSU (paired up with just a little sleep and lots of caffeine), I’m doing it. I plan to start my sophomore year Intersession 2020, only 18 months after starting college! Thank you to all of those supporting me through my journey!
JAIME GIGSTEAD Kansas
I can take all of my classes online while teaching full time. Not only am I gaining fantastic work experience, but I’m also gaining knowledge for my field from highly experienced and dedicated instructors. They are always ready to answer questions and allow us to become critical thinkers who integrate new information into practice. My students love hearing about my classes and learning about alternative education programs. Without FHSU, I wouldn’t be a business teacher. I would still be trying to find the perfect fit.
JOHN BARDINELLI Colorado
Before going back to school, I spent weeks researching dozens of universities. I needed a program that was flexible and affordable, and there were specific areas of philosophy I wanted to study to further my writing career. Just when I was getting discouraged, I stumbled across FHSU’s Virtual College. It had everything I needed to get the degree I wanted, and I didn’t have to rearrange my life to start learning again.
FEE ROCHA Wyoming
Currently, I homeschool my three children and do my schoolwork right alongside with them. Years ago, I went back to school, but when we started our family, I chose to focus on my children and set it aside. Now that they are older and are watching, I decided to chase my dreams of getting my degree! One of my favorite memories is seeing their faces when I received my associate degree from a local community college! I love knowing that I am modeling for them what it means to not give up on a dream!
DONALD RAY Louisiana
After researching FHSU, I was excited to find that they offered a degree in technology leadership that would build upon the AAS I already had. As a full-time employee, father of three, and husband, I was worried about going back to school. After reading great reviews about FHSU, I enrolled and have loved it ever since. I even wear my Tiger gear and catch FHSU sports online. After being an off-and-on student for several years, I will make the walk across the commencement stage in December 2020 finally.
KATRINA LaLUNA Virginia
The technology leadership B.S. program through FHSU’s Virtual College is giving me the pathway I need to bridge that knowledge into a well-rounded education. I love that I have been able to start working in my career while taking classes at my own pace, all without having to backtrack and take credits not previously earned in my AAS program. I feel that the technical education from my AAS degree paired with the leadership courses at FHSU will make me especially well prepared to one day become a construction project manager.
