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 9:00 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 us in celebrating these outstanding Tigers. The press conference will also be live-streamed on the FHSU Alumni Office Facebook page for those who want to watch at home.
Twenty-three seniors have been nominated for the 2024 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. Nominees listed completed all requested information by the deadline specified by the Alumni Office.
Nominees for the Torch and Lighthouse Awards are listed alphabetically by state and hometown. Pilot Award nominees are listed alphabetically by last name.
* Denotes finalists for each award.
TORCH AWARD NOMINEES
Nominees are listed alphabetically by last name.
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 last name.
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