At 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;Street, Hays. The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground. 

Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving, officers from the Hays Police Department contacted the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.

The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury. The gunshot victim was 63-year-old Larry D. Braun, Ellis County resident.

The shooter, 40-year-old Keith A. Ostrom of Hays, was arrested at the scene for second-degree murder. Ostrom is currently being held in the Ellis County jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

At 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;St., Hays.

The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground.

Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.

The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury and died.

The decedent’s name is not being released at this time.

The Hays Police Department has one person in custody and there are no other suspects involved.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team is assisting the Hays Police Department with the investigation. &nbsp;

Hays Police DepartmentAt 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;Street, Hays. The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground. Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving, officers from the Hays Police Department contacted the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury. The gunshot victim was 63-year-old Larry D. Braun, Ellis County resident.The shooter, 40-year-old Keith A. Ostrom of Hays, was arrested at the scene for second-degree murder. Ostrom is currently being held in the Ellis County jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.-----Hays Police DepartmentAt 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;St., Hays.The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground.Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care.The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury and died.The decedent’s name is not being released at this time.The Hays Police Department has one person in custody and there are no other suspects involved.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team is assisting the Hays Police Department with the investigation. &nbsp;

Police release names of victim, suspect in Sunday Hays shooting

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b71b406b-5c71-44d8-aab5-1d3ed1b63ee1">In response to Ms. Meier’s editorial that appeared on June 15.</a> The need to have greater building efficiency for USD 112 is at the heart of closing a building for the district.

Much has been stated about transporting students, older buildings, utility costs and other factors, but at the end of the day, there are simply not enough students at Wilson Junior Senior High School to continue to support fully staffing a building with certified and classified personnel. 

Last year, Wilson Junior Senior High School had only 63 students for six grade levels. This averages to 10 students per grade level. Those students brought in roughly 305,298 in BASE state aid funding.

However, to educate these students with certified teachers and an administrator, and provide coaches and sponsors for activities the district spent 528,491 in payroll. These payroll figures were obtained from an open record request for district payroll figures for all USD 112 employees.

Rural 1A districts can not afford to financially operate two high schools when payroll expenses are a district’s largest expenditure. For every hundred dollars a public school district brings in for revenue, $90 of that goes back out to pay personnel. This is common to all Kansas school districts large or small, rural or urban. That is why payroll efficiency is important for district financial health and long-term sustainability. 

Moreover, there comes a time when small is too small for students' achievement and growth. The state of Kansas commissioned a study on school size and consolidation from the independent firm of Augenblick and Myers which concluded that the minimum enrollment for a high school to achieve the ideal range of academic programs for students as well as extracurricular offerings was 260.

USD 112 by merging into one high school would come close to achieving this number and being able to offer the highest quality academic and extracurricular offerings for students.

Ms. Meier asked why Covid federal ESSR monies were not used to keep Wilson Junior Senior High School open. These monies can only be used by districts for certain categories such as loss of learning due to the pandemic, improved air quality or school safety. They can not be used to pay salaries of general employees for day-to-day expenses. Moreover, this would only be a band-aid solution as it would do nothing to fix the real problem at Wilson Junior Senior High School of low enrollment that continues to decline.

All Covid monies have to be used in 2024 or they must be returned. Using these funds does not fix the problem after 2024 and would only temporarily keep a building open. Also, Ms. Meier stated the district website and social media sites favor Central Plains over Wilson. Actually, those sites take both Oiler and Dragon mascots and merge them together to show unity as a district. This has been used as the graphic on these pages for several years.

Most egregiously, Ms. Meier stated there are pay inequities for teaching staff in buildings which unfairly target Wilson teachers. Certified teachers are placed on a district salary schedule, which is negotiated by one Wilson teacher and one Central Plains teacher and the Board of Education each year. This negotiated agreement and salary schedule is a legally binding contract. To imply the Board of Education is not following this legally binding contract without offering any proof, is grossly unfair to all parties involved, and borders on libelous content.

Accurate data and factual information are important, please visit unitedusd112.com or Facebook United USD 112. 

RELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ca616ba-d515-45ec-a6db-ff83cd076127">Petition to disorganize USD 112 filed Tuesday morning</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/650866ad-be2b-4d84-8a28-bf21f90d331c">Wilson High School supporters not going down without a fight</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b71b406b-5c71-44d8-aab5-1d3ed1b63ee1">In response to Ms. Meier’s editorial that appeared on June 15.</a> The need to have greater building efficiency for USD 112 is at the heart of closing a building for the district.Much has been stated about transporting students, older buildings, utility costs and other factors, but at the end of the day, there are simply not enough students at Wilson Junior Senior High School to continue to support fully staffing a building with certified and classified personnel. Last year, Wilson Junior Senior High School had only 63 students for six grade levels. This averages to 10 students per grade level. Those students brought in roughly 305,298 in BASE state aid funding.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>However, to educate these students with certified teachers and an administrator, and provide coaches and sponsors for activities the district spent 528,491 in payroll. These payroll figures were obtained from an open record request for district payroll figures for all USD 112 employees.Rural 1A districts can not afford to financially operate two high schools when payroll expenses are a district’s largest expenditure. For every hundred dollars a public school district brings in for revenue, $90 of that goes back out to pay personnel. This is common to all Kansas school districts large or small, rural or urban. That is why payroll efficiency is important for district financial health and long-term sustainability. Moreover, there comes a time when small is too small for students' achievement and growth. The state of Kansas commissioned a study on school size and consolidation from the independent firm of Augenblick and Myers which concluded that the minimum enrollment for a high school to achieve the ideal range of academic programs for students as well as extracurricular offerings was 260.USD 112 by merging into one high school would come close to achieving this number and being able to offer the highest quality academic and extracurricular offerings for students.Ms. Meier asked why Covid federal ESSR monies were not used to keep Wilson Junior Senior High School open. These monies can only be used by districts for certain categories such as loss of learning due to the pandemic, improved air quality or school safety. They can not be used to pay salaries of general employees for day-to-day expenses. Moreover, this would only be a band-aid solution as it would do nothing to fix the real problem at Wilson Junior Senior High School of low enrollment that continues to decline.All Covid monies have to be used in 2024 or they must be returned. Using these funds does not fix the problem after 2024 and would only temporarily keep a building open. Also, Ms. Meier stated the district website and social media sites favor Central Plains over Wilson. Actually, those sites take both Oiler and Dragon mascots and merge them together to show unity as a district. This has been used as the graphic on these pages for several years.Most egregiously, Ms. Meier stated there are pay inequities for teaching staff in buildings which unfairly target Wilson teachers. Certified teachers are placed on a district salary schedule, which is negotiated by one Wilson teacher and one Central Plains teacher and the Board of Education each year. This negotiated agreement and salary schedule is a legally binding contract. To imply the Board of Education is not following this legally binding contract without offering any proof, is grossly unfair to all parties involved, and borders on libelous content.Accurate data and factual information are important, please visit unitedusd112.com or Facebook United USD 112. — Denise Schmidt, ClaflinRELATED STORIES: <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/1ca616ba-d515-45ec-a6db-ff83cd076127">Petition to disorganize USD 112 filed Tuesday morning</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/650866ad-be2b-4d84-8a28-bf21f90d331c">Wilson High School supporters not going down without a fight</a>

Letter to Editor: Writer offers reasons for Wilson school closing

Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care. 

Hays Police DepartmentAt 1:47 a.m. Sunday, the Hays Police Department received a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of East Eighth&nbsp;St., Hays.The caller went on to report that a male had been shot in the neck and was on the ground.Emergency responders were dispatched and upon arriving officers from the Hays Police Department made contact with the gunshot victim and began giving medical care until Ellis County Emergency Services personnel arrived and took over the medical care. The gunshot victim was taken by ambulance to the Hays Medical Center where he succumbed to his injury and died.The decedent’s name is not being released at this time.The Hays Police Department has one person in custody and there are no other suspects involved.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Scene Response Team is assisting the Hays Police Department with the investigation. &nbsp;

Shooting outside Hays bar leaves person dead

You may leave northwest
Kansas, but northwest Kansas can’t leave you.

Nashville-based
singer/songwriter and Ellis County native Blaine Younger has recently explored
his time growing up in the area with his latest song Heartland.

“I grew up right there in
Victoria, Kansas, went to school there,” Younger said. 

Being involved with music his
entire life, he explored the region, taking the stage at “every bar and county
fair and festival,” including Wild West Fest and Country Stampede.

But much like the person
longed for in Heartland, Younger felt compelled to follow his dreams and
pursue opportunities elsewhere.

“We are out here. And it is a
big deal to be out here,” Younger said. “And I'm learning and surrounded by the
greatest musicians and songwriters in the world every day. And it's pretty
cool.”

While his focus has been on
songwriting, he took to performing Heartland himself, marking his
first release in 13 years.

“People ask me, ‘Why are you
releasing music now?’” Younger said. “I think deep down every songwriter is
still an artist, and they want to say things and say things their way and the
way they would portray it and emote it. So that still is more exciting to me.”

But while he still performs and
writes music, he continues chasing the goal of one day having a song he wrote rise
to the top of the hit county charts.

“We're getting there and
meeting a lot of people that I would never thought and playing a lot of places
that I've never thought I'd play in my life,” Younger said.

“They're both equally great,
but I just had more success so far on the artist side, and that is fun.”

While there may be more opportunities
in Nashville, he retains a life similar to the one he knew growing up, living
in a quiet city suburb.

“I still
crave small-town livin’ and simple life,” Younger said. “It's different, but
they both have their perks. Being out here, you're so plugged into the industry,
and you really do feel like you're three minutes, or a song away, from maybe a change
in your life. You've got those connections, and you're showing your face and
networking in the clubs.”

“But as
far as personal living, I have a family now. And we're lucky to be out in a
cool suburb of Nashville, and we love it out here. But I still do prefer the
small-town simple living over the city life for sure.”

He reflects
on that small-town life with Heartland.

“I just
thought of the kind of play on words, ‘When are you going to let your heart
land,’ and it started there. And then I just started strumming,” Younger said. “The
first line is ‘When you coming back to the hometown?’ 

“It
comes off as a love song and this guy in the middle of Kansas wondering, you
know his love ran off to chase her dreams and it's like, ‘When are you going to
come back because I do think we belong together.’ And he's very hopeful that
one day she'll come back.”

But the
song also has a deeper message for those like him that have left their hometown
to achieve their goals.

“I think
the inspiration was more like ‘Man, go chase your dream and do all you can,’”
Younger said. “It's tough out here. There are highs and lows. But no matter
what happens, you're inspiring somebody. You're making somebody smile. And if
it doesn't work out, there's always a place back home where people love you,
family and friends. And there's always another place to land.”

Musically
the song is a mix of Mellencamp, Steve Earle and Red Dirt Country.

It “rocks
pretty good, but it's still got a country lyric too, and a good story,” Younger
said.

He hopes his story helps
inspire others to take the leap.

For him,
Nashville connections may help build a songwriting career, but for those
looking to perform, artists now have an avenue to “hit it” anywhere, he said.

“These
days, everybody's doing it on their own,” Younger said. “Especially with social
media, and just about getting out and promoting yourself and playing and getting
in front of people and writing great music and pushing your song. So, I almost
think it can be done no matter where you are these days.”

“If
there's any songwriters or musicians back home, it's all possible. You just got
to go get it,” Younger said.

To hear Heartland visit <a href="https://onerpm.link/934622213335">onerpm.link/934622213335</a>.

Younger can also be found on social media, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Instagram.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660754177628.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687548235682.jpeg" alt="Blaine Younger (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Blaine Younger (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostYou may leave northwest
Kansas, but northwest Kansas can’t leave you.Nashville-based
singer/songwriter and Ellis County native Blaine Younger has recently explored
his time growing up in the area with his latest song Heartland.“I grew up right there in
Victoria, Kansas, went to school there,” Younger said. Being involved with music his
entire life, he explored the region, taking the stage at “every bar and county
fair and festival,” including Wild West Fest and Country Stampede.<div><iframe title="Ellis Co. native brings heartland sound to Nashville" allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=tayb8-143e6e3-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>But much like the person
longed for in Heartland, Younger felt compelled to follow his dreams and
pursue opportunities elsewhere.“We are out here. And it is a
big deal to be out here,” Younger said. “And I'm learning and surrounded by the
greatest musicians and songwriters in the world every day. And it's pretty
cool.”While his focus has been on
songwriting, he took to performing Heartland himself, marking his
first release in 13 years. “People ask me, ‘Why are you
releasing music now?’” Younger said. “I think deep down every songwriter is
still an artist, and they want to say things and say things their way and the
way they would portray it and emote it. So that still is more exciting to me.”But while he still performs and
writes music, he continues chasing the goal of one day having a song he wrote rise
to the top of the hit county charts.“We're getting there and
meeting a lot of people that I would never thought and playing a lot of places
that I've never thought I'd play in my life,” Younger said.“They're both equally great,
but I just had more success so far on the artist side, and that is fun.”While there may be more opportunities
in Nashville, he retains a life similar to the one he knew growing up, living
in a quiet city suburb.“I still
crave small-town livin’ and simple life,” Younger said. “It's different, but
they both have their perks. Being out here, you're so plugged into the industry,
and you really do feel like you're three minutes, or a song away, from maybe a change
in your life. You've got those connections, and you're showing your face and
networking in the clubs.”“But as
far as personal living, I have a family now. And we're lucky to be out in a
cool suburb of Nashville, and we love it out here. But I still do prefer the
small-town simple living over the city life for sure.”He reflects
on that small-town life with Heartland. <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q443XlGVlVM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“I just
thought of the kind of play on words, ‘When are you going to let your heart
land,’ and it started there. And then I just started strumming,” Younger said. “The
first line is ‘When you coming back to the hometown?’ “It
comes off as a love song and this guy in the middle of Kansas wondering, you
know his love ran off to chase her dreams and it's like, ‘When are you going to
come back because I do think we belong together.’ And he's very hopeful that
one day she'll come back.”But the
song also has a deeper message for those like him that have left their hometown
to achieve their goals.“I think
the inspiration was more like ‘Man, go chase your dream and do all you can,’”
Younger said. “It's tough out here. There are highs and lows. But no matter
what happens, you're inspiring somebody. You're making somebody smile. And if
it doesn't work out, there's always a place back home where people love you,
family and friends. And there's always another place to land.”Musically
the song is a mix of Mellencamp, Steve Earle and Red Dirt Country.It “rocks
pretty good, but it's still got a country lyric too, and a good story,” Younger
said.He hopes his story helps
inspire others to take the leap.For him,
Nashville connections may help build a songwriting career, but for those
looking to perform, artists now have an avenue to “hit it” anywhere, he said.“These
days, everybody's doing it on their own,” Younger said. “Especially with social
media, and just about getting out and promoting yourself and playing and getting
in front of people and writing great music and pushing your song. So, I almost
think it can be done no matter where you are these days.”“If
there's any songwriters or musicians back home, it's all possible. You just got
to go get it,” Younger said.To hear Heartland visit <a href="https://onerpm.link/934622213335">onerpm.link/934622213335</a>. Younger can also be found on social media, including <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blaineyoungermusic/">Instagram.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687548221445.jpeg" alt="Blaine Younger&nbsp; (Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>Blaine Younger&nbsp; (Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎙 NWester: Ellis County native brings 'Heartland' sound to Nashville

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

It was an agenda of routine items for the Hays city commission last week.

Commissioners approved an ordinance and resolution for the sale and delivery of $455,000 in general obligation bonds series 2023-A for&nbsp;creating the King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. 

King’s Gate 2nd Addition is more commonly referred to as Royal Court and is in the northwest corner of the city, directly across the street from the new fire station. 

The project was structured for the city to construct the improvements, and then levy special assessments against the property in the benefit district. The special assessment revenue received by the city would then be used to repay general obligation bonds issued by the city to fund the cost of the projects.

Given the small size and term of 20 years, the&nbsp;issue will be a private placement with several local banks interested.&nbsp;

Final versions of the ordinance and resolution, as well as final payment terms on the bonds, will be made available by Stifel, Nicolaus &amp; Company, the city's financial adviser, and Gilmore Bell, the city's bond counsel, after the sale of the bonds.&nbsp;

Also approved was annual renewal of the city's property and liability insurance coverage with Midwest Public Risk a cost of $349,930. The amount is a 20 percent increase from the last period.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Insurance Planning, Hays, provides oversight for the city as the insurance broker.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Commissioners also voted to purchase a new compost turner and water tank for $78,830 from&nbsp;Midwest Bio-Systems, Inc., Tampico, Ill. The equipment is used for turning grass and other yard waste during the composting process at the city's compost site.

Mayoral appointment recommendations were approved.&nbsp;

Audrey Mercer will serve a three-year term on the&nbsp;Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau&nbsp;Advisory Committee while&nbsp;Gracemary Melvin will serve a four-year term on the Hays Housing Authority Board.&nbsp;

Commissioner Reese Barrick was absent from the meeting.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687792780497.jpeg" alt="Hays city commissioners listen Thursday to information about a bond issue for King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays city commissioners listen Thursday to information about a bond issue for King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostIt was an agenda of routine items for the Hays city commission last week.Commissioners approved an ordinance and resolution for the sale and delivery of $455,000 in general obligation bonds series 2023-A for&nbsp;creating the King’s Gate 2nd Addition Special Assessment District. King’s Gate 2nd Addition is more commonly referred to as Royal Court and is in the northwest corner of the city, directly across the street from the new fire station. The project was structured for the city to construct the improvements, and then levy special assessments against the property in the benefit district. The special assessment revenue received by the city would then be used to repay general obligation bonds issued by the city to fund the cost of the projects.Given the small size and term of 20 years, the&nbsp;issue will be a private placement with several local banks interested.&nbsp;Final versions of the ordinance and resolution, as well as final payment terms on the bonds, will be made available by Stifel, Nicolaus &amp; Company, the city's financial adviser, and Gilmore Bell, the city's bond counsel, after the sale of the bonds.&nbsp;Also approved was annual renewal of the city's property and liability insurance coverage with Midwest Public Risk a cost of $349,930. The amount is a 20 percent increase from the last period.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Insurance Planning, Hays, provides oversight for the city as the insurance broker.&nbsp;&nbsp;Commissioners also voted to purchase a new compost turner and water tank for $78,830 from&nbsp;Midwest Bio-Systems, Inc., Tampico, Ill. The equipment is used for turning grass and other yard waste during the composting process at the city's compost site.Mayoral appointment recommendations were approved.&nbsp; Audrey Mercer will serve a three-year term on the&nbsp;Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau&nbsp;Advisory Committee while&nbsp;Gracemary Melvin will serve a four-year term on the Hays Housing Authority Board.&nbsp;Commissioner Reese Barrick was absent from the meeting.&nbsp;

Commission approves bond issue sale, insurance renewal for city of Hays

Some officials have called Emporia State, reeling from layoffs and program upheaval, a test case for approach

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The state Board of Regents unveiled a plan to identify and potentially chop academic programs they deem underperforming at all six of the state’s public universities, in what some warn could be a repeat of the contentious layoffs at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

Starting this summer, Regents staff will make a list of undergraduate academic programs that are more than five years old and fall short of two or more of the board’s chosen metrics for the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6490bbfa-d4d8-4d7b-b490-2ffad4c755ce">RELATED STORY: FHSU provost: No faculty cuts planned in light of college reorganization</a>

Daniel Archer, vice president of student affairs with KBOR, said the focus on undergraduate programs was partly due to declining enrollment in a June 14 presentation.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d1305d2-d547-4286-b892-d233575130d9">RELATED STORY: FHSU enrollment down 8%; NCK-Tech enrollment at five-year high</a>

“We’re diving into really a deep dive here into the undergraduate programs here,” Archer said. “Part of that’s because that’s where we lost youth. If you look at our enrollment declines, there’s been a greater impact on the undergraduate population.”

But Michael DeCesare, a senior program officer for American Association of University Professors, said “it would be a travesty” for the process used at Emporia State “to spread across the entire system.”

Program performance standards will include having 25 or more students enrolled in the program, producing more than 10 graduates from the program, having 51 percent or more of graduates working in the region after graduation and student return on investment. That return will be evaluated by having a salary of $38,050 or higher, a number determined by the five-year post graduation median salary for 2022.&nbsp;

In September, the Board of Academic Affairs Standing Committee will review the list of programs before turning the program list over to universities. The schools will have three options: axing the underperforming program, merging the undergraduate program with another program in a cost-effective way or to making an action plan for the program, buying it three years.

By March of 2024, all state universities will give their decisions to the committee, which will make the final call on whether the undergraduate program in question should be phased out, merged or put on an action plan. Over the following years, the universities will give reviews on the program’s progress and effectiveness.&nbsp;

Regents spokesman Matt Keith said the board used input from academic affairs leaders across the state universities in making the revised process.&nbsp;

“The Regents and state university leaders recognized that the process needed strengthening and began a thorough academic portfolio review last year,” Keith said. “Following the completion of that review earlier this year, the Board Academic Affairs Standing Committee worked with the state university provosts to revise the academic program review process and better align it with the Board’s strategic plan.”&nbsp;

Tanya Gonzalez, interim associate provost for institutional effectiveness at Kansas State University, said the review process was aligned well with the university’s pre-existing internal review process.&nbsp;

“Some advantages to KBOR’s updated program review process is that it asks institutions to develop meaningful processes for their internal review; make data-driven decisions; share those processes and outcomes with the Regents; and use program review success stories to external stakeholders,” Gonzalez said.&nbsp;

But others point to Emporia State’s realignment plan as an example of what could happen when the Regents are involved with program decisions.&nbsp;The university fired nearly three dozen faculty members,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/13/emporia-state-university-is-about-to-suspend-tenure-heres-why-you-should-care/">including those with tenure</a>, and eliminated English, journalism and other programs in 2022 due to programs not meeting certain metrics.&nbsp;

ESU also recently announced plans to merge several departments and programs, including merging the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences into their new School of Science &amp; Mathematics.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3998b4da-514c-41d4-8ae5-33aa6416fe49">Students and faculty raised concerns about consolidation at FHSU within the College of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences in spring 2022. However, that consolidation was completed as scheduled the following fall.</a>

The American Association of University Professors&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/aaup_EmporiaState_Final.pdf">investigation</a>&nbsp;found&nbsp; the actions taken by ESU president Ken Hush with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/14/emporia-state-receives-green-light-to-move-rapidly-with-faculty-program-realignment/">the KBOR support</a>&nbsp;were little more than an attack on academic freedom. The investigation concluded university administrators and Kansas Board of Regents members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/05/01/emporia-state-university-kansas-board-of-regents-members-unfit-to-lead-investigation-finds/">are “unfit to lead.</a>”

Former ESU English professor Rachelle Smith, who worked at ESU for 28 years before her job was eliminated, said she and her colleagues saw the Regents’ actions at ESU as a test case.&nbsp;

“I’m not surprised that KBOR has come out with this decision,”&nbsp; Smith said. “We wondered and suspected that ESU was just the beginning of what would happen with the other regional schools in the state.”&nbsp;

Smith, who taught courses in indigenous literature and science fiction during her last semester at ESU, believed the firings and department dissolving were the result of political pressures due to a significant faction within the GOP-controlled state Legislature that disapproves of diversity and multicultural teaching.&nbsp;

She said the review process could be a convenient way for institutions to get rid of any curriculum they didn’t want taught.&nbsp;

“The individual institutions themselves can use that as an opportunity to get rid of people that they don’t want and to get rid of programs that they don’t want and to ensure that research goes in directions that they want,” Smith said.&nbsp;

DeCesare, who served as one of the ESU investigators for AAUPP, said it was difficult to trust the Regents’ intentions with other public universities. DeCesare said a board that had already “abused power in the recent past” shouldn’t be judging other academic programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It was the board, as the report says, that initiated the process that assaulted tenure and imperiled academic freedom at ESU,” DeCesare said.

He warned that the bipartisan nine-person board, all of whom were appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly, could be prone to political pressures.&nbsp;

“When educators don’t make decisions anymore about what education looks like, and when those decisions are in the hands of presidents and provosts and governing board members instead, it just kind of begs for to create a system that is ripe for political interference, political pressure, ideological interference, and all kinds of things that have no place in an institution of higher education,” Decesare said.

For Smith, the timing of the review process is suspicious.&nbsp;

“I don’t think it is innocuous,” Smith said. “I think that the current board is working hand in hand with the state Legislature to enact political goals of a conservative nature.”

<h2>Some officials have called Emporia State, reeling from layoffs and program upheaval, a test case for approach</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687538649089.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;The Kansas Board of Regents unveiled an academic review process in June for all the public universities in the state. Some worry this could lead to situations such as the Emporia State University firings, where tenured staff and long-standing programs were cut abruptly. (Mason Hart for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The Kansas Board of Regents unveiled an academic review process in June for all the public universities in the state. Some worry this could lead to situations such as the Emporia State University firings, where tenured staff and long-standing programs were cut abruptly. (Mason Hart for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The state Board of Regents unveiled a plan to identify and potentially chop academic programs they deem underperforming at all six of the state’s public universities, in what some warn could be a repeat of the contentious layoffs at Emporia State University.&nbsp;Starting this summer, Regents staff will make a list of undergraduate academic programs that are more than five years old and fall short of two or more of the board’s chosen metrics for the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6490bbfa-d4d8-4d7b-b490-2ffad4c755ce">RELATED STORY: FHSU provost: No faculty cuts planned in light of college reorganization</a>Daniel Archer, vice president of student affairs with KBOR, said the focus on undergraduate programs was partly due to declining enrollment in a June 14 presentation.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4d1305d2-d547-4286-b892-d233575130d9">RELATED STORY: FHSU enrollment down 8%; NCK-Tech enrollment at five-year high</a>“We’re diving into really a deep dive here into the undergraduate programs here,” Archer said. “Part of that’s because that’s where we lost youth. If you look at our enrollment declines, there’s been a greater impact on the undergraduate population.”But Michael DeCesare, a senior program officer for American Association of University Professors, said “it would be a travesty” for the process used at Emporia State “to spread across the entire system.”Program performance standards will include having 25 or more students enrolled in the program, producing more than 10 graduates from the program, having 51 percent or more of graduates working in the region after graduation and student return on investment. That return will be evaluated by having a salary of $38,050 or higher, a number determined by the five-year post graduation median salary for 2022.&nbsp;In September, the Board of Academic Affairs Standing Committee will review the list of programs before turning the program list over to universities. The schools will have three options: axing the underperforming program, merging the undergraduate program with another program in a cost-effective way or to making an action plan for the program, buying it three years.By March of 2024, all state universities will give their decisions to the committee, which will make the final call on whether the undergraduate program in question should be phased out, merged or put on an action plan. Over the following years, the universities will give reviews on the program’s progress and effectiveness.&nbsp;Regents spokesman Matt Keith said the board used input from academic affairs leaders across the state universities in making the revised process.&nbsp;“The Regents and state university leaders recognized that the process needed strengthening and began a thorough academic portfolio review last year,” Keith said. “Following the completion of that review earlier this year, the Board Academic Affairs Standing Committee worked with the state university provosts to revise the academic program review process and better align it with the Board’s strategic plan.”&nbsp;Tanya Gonzalez, interim associate provost for institutional effectiveness at Kansas State University, said the review process was aligned well with the university’s pre-existing internal review process.&nbsp;“Some advantages to KBOR’s updated program review process is that it asks institutions to develop meaningful processes for their internal review; make data-driven decisions; share those processes and outcomes with the Regents; and use program review success stories to external stakeholders,” Gonzalez said.&nbsp;But others point to Emporia State’s realignment plan as an example of what could happen when the Regents are involved with program decisions.&nbsp;The university fired nearly three dozen faculty members,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/13/emporia-state-university-is-about-to-suspend-tenure-heres-why-you-should-care/">including those with tenure</a>, and eliminated English, journalism and other programs in 2022 due to programs not meeting certain metrics.&nbsp;ESU also recently announced plans to merge several departments and programs, including merging the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences into their new School of Science &amp; Mathematics.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3998b4da-514c-41d4-8ae5-33aa6416fe49">Students and faculty raised concerns about consolidation at FHSU within the College of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences in spring 2022. However, that consolidation was completed as scheduled the following fall.</a>The American Association of University Professors&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/aaup_EmporiaState_Final.pdf">investigation</a>&nbsp;found&nbsp; the actions taken by ESU president Ken Hush with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/14/emporia-state-receives-green-light-to-move-rapidly-with-faculty-program-realignment/">the KBOR support</a>&nbsp;were little more than an attack on academic freedom. The investigation concluded university administrators and Kansas Board of Regents members&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/05/01/emporia-state-university-kansas-board-of-regents-members-unfit-to-lead-investigation-finds/">are “unfit to lead.</a>”Former ESU English professor Rachelle Smith, who worked at ESU for 28 years before her job was eliminated, said she and her colleagues saw the Regents’ actions at ESU as a test case.&nbsp;“I’m not surprised that KBOR has come out with this decision,”&nbsp; Smith said. “We wondered and suspected that ESU was just the beginning of what would happen with the other regional schools in the state.”&nbsp;Smith, who taught courses in indigenous literature and science fiction during her last semester at ESU, believed the firings and department dissolving were the result of political pressures due to a significant faction within the GOP-controlled state Legislature that disapproves of diversity and multicultural teaching.&nbsp;She said the review process could be a convenient way for institutions to get rid of any curriculum they didn’t want taught.&nbsp;“The individual institutions themselves can use that as an opportunity to get rid of people that they don’t want and to get rid of programs that they don’t want and to ensure that research goes in directions that they want,” Smith said.&nbsp;DeCesare, who served as one of the ESU investigators for AAUPP, said it was difficult to trust the Regents’ intentions with other public universities. DeCesare said a board that had already “abused power in the recent past” shouldn’t be judging other academic programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It was the board, as the report says, that initiated the process that assaulted tenure and imperiled academic freedom at ESU,” DeCesare said.He warned that the bipartisan nine-person board, all of whom were appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly, could be prone to political pressures.&nbsp;“When educators don’t make decisions anymore about what education looks like, and when those decisions are in the hands of presidents and provosts and governing board members instead, it just kind of begs for to create a system that is ripe for political interference, political pressure, ideological interference, and all kinds of things that have no place in an institution of higher education,” Decesare said.For Smith, the timing of the review process is suspicious.&nbsp;“I don’t think it is innocuous,” Smith said. “I think that the current board is working hand in hand with the state Legislature to enact political goals of a conservative nature.”

‘I don’t think it’s innocuous’: Kansas Board of Regents’ process scrutinizes academic programs

Visitors to Sternberg Museum in Hays may have noticed several large, bright yellow structures at the entrance of the nature trail located just west of the main facility, 3000 Sternberg Drive.

“The Bee Project” is currently on exhibit and it features bees made from found and recycled objects. Presented by artist Elena Smyrniotis, “The Bee Project” focuses on the importance of pollinators and challenges visitors to participate in the exhibit by making their own bees from found and recycled objects.

The number of bees on the structures will soon multiply as the museum plans a July 1 workshop at which participants will create their own bee sculptures from recycled and found materials, mostly plastic and metals. The structures will remain in place until August.

The free workshop, which is designed to be a family activity for both parents and kids, is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon. The program will be led by Sternberg education and outreach director Ian Trevethan.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own recycled and found materials, and the museum will have some materials on hand as well. Materials can include aluminum cans, plastic containers, discarded toys, flyswatters, etc.

“Basically anything that can be used for a bee’s body and wings,” Trevethan said.

At the conclusion of the activity, participants will write their names on their bees and return to the exhibit to attach them to the structures.

“It’s a very thoughtful exhibit in which people take discarded and found objects and create something from those objects,” Trevethan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687447895051.jpeg" alt="'The Bee Project' at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History's nature trail. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>'The Bee Project' at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History's nature trail. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedVisitors to Sternberg Museum in Hays may have noticed several large, bright yellow structures at the entrance of the nature trail located just west of the main facility, 3000 Sternberg Drive.“The Bee Project” is currently on exhibit and it features bees made from found and recycled objects. Presented by artist Elena Smyrniotis, “The Bee Project” focuses on the importance of pollinators and challenges visitors to participate in the exhibit by making their own bees from found and recycled objects.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687447872461.jpeg" alt="Artist Elena Smyrniotis installs more bees for her project. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Artist Elena Smyrniotis installs more bees for her project. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The number of bees on the structures will soon multiply as the museum plans a July 1 workshop at which participants will create their own bee sculptures from recycled and found materials, mostly plastic and metals. The structures will remain in place until August.The free workshop, which is designed to be a family activity for both parents and kids, is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon. The program will be led by Sternberg education and outreach director Ian Trevethan.Visitors are encouraged to bring their own recycled and found materials, and the museum will have some materials on hand as well. Materials can include aluminum cans, plastic containers, discarded toys, flyswatters, etc.“Basically anything that can be used for a bee’s body and wings,” Trevethan said.At the conclusion of the activity, participants will write their names on their bees and return to the exhibit to attach them to the structures.“It’s a very thoughtful exhibit in which people take discarded and found objects and create something from those objects,” Trevethan said.

Sternberg Museum plans bee-making workshop for July 1

The Schmidt Foundation has awarded $75,000 in grant funding to High Plains Mental Health Center for the purpose of expanding behavioral health workforce throughout northwest Kansas. 

The two-year funding will provide generous scholarships for six staff members beginning master’s level curriculum at Fort Hays State University. They will provide outpatient therapy services at High Plains following graduation.

Nationwide, a chronic shortage of behavioral health professionals has made it difficult for agencies to keep pace with increasing needs for mental health and substance use disorder services. The challenges are often exacerbated in rural areas, but High Plains has had previous success with efforts to “grow our own” workforce, said Walt Hill, executive director.

“We are incredibly grateful for the Schmidt Foundation’s generous and long-standing support of community mental health services,” Hill said. “This program will invest in six bright, young professionals who will further their education, advance their careers, and then put their skills to good use serving the people of Northwest Kansas.”

All six staff members are currently employed as recovery specialists and will continue employment at High Plains while they complete the two-year advanced curriculum at FHSU. Four of the six students will be entering the master’s of social work program, while the other two plan to complete their master of science degree in clinical mental health counseling. Five of the staff are currently based in Hays, while one will be based in the Colby Branch Office. The scholarship funding is contingent on their attendance at Fort Hays State University, in support of the region’s only four-year university.

When the two-year grant program concludes, High Plains will add six in-person outpatient therapists to staff, significantly increasing capacity for mental health services in northwest Kansas. 

Nationally, early evidence suggests more adults and more youth are seeking treatment for behavioral health concerns following the Covid-19 pandemic. As stigma lessens around mental illness, that also is a likely reason why more people are seeking help -- and that is a welcome change, Hill said.

“Mental illness is real, diagnosable and treatable illness. It’s common. High Plains Mental Health Center served a record number of individuals in 2022 and is on track to have another very busy year in 2023,” Hill said. “Expanding workforce is necessary to keep pace with increasing demand and to continue our efforts to grow in becoming a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, one of the first in the state of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687533934287.jpeg" alt="Kaley Conner and Walt Hill, High Plains Mental Health Center, Hays, accept a $75,000 grant from the Schmidt Foundation represented by Gary Shorman (center) for expansion of the behavioral health workforce in northwest Kansas. Courtesy photo.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kaley Conner and Walt Hill, High Plains Mental Health Center, Hays, accept a $75,000 grant from the Schmidt Foundation represented by Gary Shorman (center) for expansion of the behavioral health workforce in northwest Kansas. Courtesy photo.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>HPMCHThe Schmidt Foundation has awarded $75,000 in grant funding to High Plains Mental Health Center for the purpose of expanding behavioral health workforce throughout northwest Kansas. The two-year funding will provide generous scholarships for six staff members beginning master’s level curriculum at Fort Hays State University. They will provide outpatient therapy services at High Plains following graduation.Nationwide, a chronic shortage of behavioral health professionals has made it difficult for agencies to keep pace with increasing needs for mental health and substance use disorder services. The challenges are often exacerbated in rural areas, but High Plains has had previous success with efforts to “grow our own” workforce, said Walt Hill, executive director.“We are incredibly grateful for the Schmidt Foundation’s generous and long-standing support of community mental health services,” Hill said. “This program will invest in six bright, young professionals who will further their education, advance their careers, and then put their skills to good use serving the people of Northwest Kansas.”All six staff members are currently employed as recovery specialists and will continue employment at High Plains while they complete the two-year advanced curriculum at FHSU. Four of the six students will be entering the master’s of social work program, while the other two plan to complete their master of science degree in clinical mental health counseling. Five of the staff are currently based in Hays, while one will be based in the Colby Branch Office. The scholarship funding is contingent on their attendance at Fort Hays State University, in support of the region’s only four-year university.When the two-year grant program concludes, High Plains will add six in-person outpatient therapists to staff, significantly increasing capacity for mental health services in northwest Kansas. Nationally, early evidence suggests more adults and more youth are seeking treatment for behavioral health concerns following the Covid-19 pandemic. As stigma lessens around mental illness, that also is a likely reason why more people are seeking help -- and that is a welcome change, Hill said.“Mental illness is real, diagnosable and treatable illness. It’s common. High Plains Mental Health Center served a record number of individuals in 2022 and is on track to have another very busy year in 2023,” Hill said. “Expanding workforce is necessary to keep pace with increasing demand and to continue our efforts to grow in becoming a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, one of the first in the state of Kansas.

Schmidt Foundation grant to expand mental health workforce

Fort Hays State University held spring commencement ceremonies for its College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and its College of Health and Behavioral Sciences on May 12. Ceremonies for the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship and Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, and the College of Education were held on May 13.

Participants in the ceremonies are listed in the Spring Commencement Program available online at:&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtKwGCSEfb6-2Fx37KuxE5mpJcQfeEpgAi7HZ2sOdaGfDVklaFibCK5W1sfsb8u6u1PBnZKyU-2FUIlKJ-2B05F-2BuDt5Bbkp4rNAOWxtWDXxC3dbTkRvc3advLHQz-2BKb4muwzBfeQ-3D-3DHvW5_scuE6QATIAo5tLVPwSgAru2c-2BhK2yoyXg2bmw7NiE0fAh1KPMZMELOQP7nofz6yYQ-2Bqf093MhwFAtRepL8jHlz54IAfPLuFjTL9o8QdaXZuZ89uG8p7HAdjtWBhgDXVbhONl4BOv6tem2YQVS13fLivrhfwrKsXrTTYJ5fPtN2GPwXfBhfVDfop397XjFx2IssVgL2-2FxucOIXO-2BOZeFxDkveu3ZGoU6RrJIfWgwShtAIrmLgCcjIzCHu18Gyz90u0XojEWgAAi0g6hMMoVdVpt97OZkBO87FMxG6eCDC6ShbVFFGzDB1RtYH35Pneo-2F-2F2wdGKDRYe-2F5LHwImBVkZ754kHrR-2BWedRiBQAQpwm4zDmlavavRcnYGmMEvAlRbUFXByFDdHs2gaw0qPgaPa3Ew-3D-3D" target="_blank">https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/documents/registrar-commencement-spring-program-web.pdf</a>

Fall 2022 commencement ceremonies were held in December 2022. 

Participants of those ceremonies are listed in the Fall Commencement Program:&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtKwGCSEfb6-2Fx37KuxE5mpJcQfeEpgAi7HZ2sOdaGfDVkrFpwh5wedMKJXItZ82uSMdISN8EyP-2B16ModgNfIrv-2Fs-3DkvfB_scuE6QATIAo5tLVPwSgAru2c-2BhK2yoyXg2bmw7NiE0fAh1KPMZMELOQP7nofz6yYQ-2Bqf093MhwFAtRepL8jHlz54IAfPLuFjTL9o8QdaXZuZ89uG8p7HAdjtWBhgDXVbhONl4BOv6tem2YQVS13fLivrhfwrKsXrTTYJ5fPtN2GPwXfBhfVDfop397XjFx2IssVgL2-2FxucOIXO-2BOZeFxDgpCJ5bFkHxB0y3h18zYUypvib0UilObf8CBo3-2BRsgRkDSoNt3WkLt5TYRkbQSPsMEio8L0hZi84GToFhjsIeD1x7EL5xel8witT-2By-2BpsBRr9wTptRWJq6xDl-2FsiZU1KctutoytrL13vkE9WCv6ENJNICMRPhW1F4aS1VeXxBqwpz2zNBkkczqIghRDV-2FOJmtA-3D-3D" target="_blank">https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/documents/program-fall-2022.pdf</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687461926091.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsFort Hays State University held spring commencement ceremonies for its College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and its College of Health and Behavioral Sciences on May 12. Ceremonies for the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship and Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, and the College of Education were held on May 13.Participants in the ceremonies are listed in the Spring Commencement Program available online at:&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtKwGCSEfb6-2Fx37KuxE5mpJcQfeEpgAi7HZ2sOdaGfDVklaFibCK5W1sfsb8u6u1PBnZKyU-2FUIlKJ-2B05F-2BuDt5Bbkp4rNAOWxtWDXxC3dbTkRvc3advLHQz-2BKb4muwzBfeQ-3D-3DHvW5_scuE6QATIAo5tLVPwSgAru2c-2BhK2yoyXg2bmw7NiE0fAh1KPMZMELOQP7nofz6yYQ-2Bqf093MhwFAtRepL8jHlz54IAfPLuFjTL9o8QdaXZuZ89uG8p7HAdjtWBhgDXVbhONl4BOv6tem2YQVS13fLivrhfwrKsXrTTYJ5fPtN2GPwXfBhfVDfop397XjFx2IssVgL2-2FxucOIXO-2BOZeFxDkveu3ZGoU6RrJIfWgwShtAIrmLgCcjIzCHu18Gyz90u0XojEWgAAi0g6hMMoVdVpt97OZkBO87FMxG6eCDC6ShbVFFGzDB1RtYH35Pneo-2F-2F2wdGKDRYe-2F5LHwImBVkZ754kHrR-2BWedRiBQAQpwm4zDmlavavRcnYGmMEvAlRbUFXByFDdHs2gaw0qPgaPa3Ew-3D-3D" target="_blank">https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/documents/registrar-commencement-spring-program-web.pdf</a>Fall 2022 commencement ceremonies were held in December 2022. Participants of those ceremonies are listed in the Fall Commencement Program:&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtKwGCSEfb6-2Fx37KuxE5mpJcQfeEpgAi7HZ2sOdaGfDVkrFpwh5wedMKJXItZ82uSMdISN8EyP-2B16ModgNfIrv-2Fs-3DkvfB_scuE6QATIAo5tLVPwSgAru2c-2BhK2yoyXg2bmw7NiE0fAh1KPMZMELOQP7nofz6yYQ-2Bqf093MhwFAtRepL8jHlz54IAfPLuFjTL9o8QdaXZuZ89uG8p7HAdjtWBhgDXVbhONl4BOv6tem2YQVS13fLivrhfwrKsXrTTYJ5fPtN2GPwXfBhfVDfop397XjFx2IssVgL2-2FxucOIXO-2BOZeFxDgpCJ5bFkHxB0y3h18zYUypvib0UilObf8CBo3-2BRsgRkDSoNt3WkLt5TYRkbQSPsMEio8L0hZi84GToFhjsIeD1x7EL5xel8witT-2By-2BpsBRr9wTptRWJq6xDl-2FsiZU1KctutoytrL13vkE9WCv6ENJNICMRPhW1F4aS1VeXxBqwpz2zNBkkczqIghRDV-2FOJmtA-3D-3D" target="_blank">https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/documents/program-fall-2022.pdf</a>

FHSU lists spring, fall graduating students

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687543706652.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>, <a href="https://www.growhays.com/" target="_blank">Grow Hays</a> executive director Doug Williams discusses the ongoing battle over the water rights from the R9 Ranch and the economic impacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Grow Hays director discusses the economics of water rights in NW Kan." allowtransparency="true" height="450" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=pehcy-143f436-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=450" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://postpodcast.podbean.com/">Post Podcast</a>, <a href="https://www.growhays.com/" target="_blank">Grow Hays</a> executive director Doug Williams discusses the ongoing battle over the water rights from the R9 Ranch and the economic impacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Grow Hays director discusses the economics of water rights in NW Kan.

A total of 1,620 students earned places on the Dean’s Honor Roll at Fort Hays State University for the spring 2023 semester.

The Dean’s Honor Roll includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Online students are eligible.

Students are listed alphabetically within the headings of College of Arts, Humanities &amp; Social Sciences, College of Education, College of Health &amp; Behavioral Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies/Exploratory, Robbins College of Business &amp; Entrepreneurship, Werth College of Science, Technology &amp; Mathematics, and KAMS/AMS. 

This list does not include the 29 students who requested privacy.

The Dean’s Honor Roll can be viewed at&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtHUQH3ao2jPA-2FmJhxnmcFn59Dqdukz8g0qylFnlZY1ZX5cpsciFboDqxTmUG1RmboxBA8fQp0EuvofymFQgrRf4-3DVOLl_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2BDiW-2BZ0khL0sQZ1hd-2F724rEQ5jjdumMS4i-2FDVyUXhzvuxqf8KWkgh32YA03KEwVrKwFtyXVlP48cc7USYwFND0i9hwiEaE2LWF5X4yYCfBC0Y7AfLpU-2B3CGhjErhvH1z6RbALUfkTXAEup50LgzYdfSlYoDOit6EzR8xTwJkULDbaq1Vu-2B1-2BYLUaIfXDYGpRG3AaIyNKbBiEONB-2BZQEtkmeJCH49ulDHKLknIndPXAmyfsbJ2np-2BkK8h7D7ngU6fJ" target="_blank">https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2023/06/spring-2023-deans-honor-roll.pdf</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629469516807.png" alt="Courtesy FHSU" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsA total of 1,620 students earned places on the Dean’s Honor Roll at Fort Hays State University for the spring 2023 semester.The Dean’s Honor Roll includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have completed 12 or more credit hours and earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Online students are eligible.Students are listed alphabetically within the headings of College of Arts, Humanities &amp; Social Sciences, College of Education, College of Health &amp; Behavioral Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies/Exploratory, Robbins College of Business &amp; Entrepreneurship, Werth College of Science, Technology &amp; Mathematics, and KAMS/AMS. This list does not include the 29 students who requested privacy.The Dean’s Honor Roll can be viewed at&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=-2BFJoAhsjp8losQfY8t-2BZtHUQH3ao2jPA-2FmJhxnmcFn59Dqdukz8g0qylFnlZY1ZX5cpsciFboDqxTmUG1RmboxBA8fQp0EuvofymFQgrRf4-3DVOLl_r-2BDMsuWuYVmb7-2F1Mu1QL1I-2FJ8-2BHR91nNNNGTTc38Ah0CWayiZL-2BkhdmA3sx0XGnG-2FN1jk6rVQRO9vN7U5rFC-2BcXi909IOPAdkr3SvXFdyn3Ag1h6-2F-2B6atf0vMUKxRgZ-2BDiW-2BZ0khL0sQZ1hd-2F724rEQ5jjdumMS4i-2FDVyUXhzvuxqf8KWkgh32YA03KEwVrKwFtyXVlP48cc7USYwFND0i9hwiEaE2LWF5X4yYCfBC0Y7AfLpU-2B3CGhjErhvH1z6RbALUfkTXAEup50LgzYdfSlYoDOit6EzR8xTwJkULDbaq1Vu-2B1-2BYLUaIfXDYGpRG3AaIyNKbBiEONB-2BZQEtkmeJCH49ulDHKLknIndPXAmyfsbJ2np-2BkK8h7D7ngU6fJ" target="_blank">https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2023/06/spring-2023-deans-honor-roll.pdf</a>

FHSU names Dean's Spring Honor Roll students 

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly has announced 17 appointments and 7 reappointments to the following state boards and commissions.

Early Childhood Transition Task Force&nbsp; Purpose: The task force is charged with reviewing Kansas’ early childhood care and education system and developing a roadmap for creating a cabinet-level agency dedicated to supporting our youngest Kansans.

Legislative Compensation Commission Purpose:&nbsp;To study compensation, salary, and retirement benefits of legislative members.

Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Developmental Services Purpose:&nbsp;Solicit information and opinions from concerned agencies, groups, and individuals on proposed policies and recommendations for the delivery of health, education, and social services for young children from birth through age five with or at risk for disabling conditions and for their families.

James B. Pearson Fellowship Selection Board Purpose:&nbsp;Interview and review applications for the James B. Fellowship award.

Wichita State University Board of Trustees Purpose: To manage property, estates and funds given, transferred and pledged to Wichita State.

Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board Purpose:&nbsp;The mission is to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare from unlawful or unprofessional practitioners who fall under the boards’ jurisdiction.&nbsp;

Build Kansas Advisory Committee Purpose: Review applications for state matching funds from local government infrastructure projects seeking funding through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law after they have received initial approval from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub.

Kansas Fire Service Training Commission Purpose: Provide for a traveling instruction services to train firefighters in the jurisdictions of this state requesting such instruction.

Real Estate Appraisal Board Purpose:&nbsp;The board regulates real estate appraiser’s license, provide access to appraiser education resources, and inform appraisers of industry news.

Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Purpose:&nbsp;The Commission may suspend, revoke, or deny the certification of a police or law enforcement officer who fails to meet the requirements of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act or has met such requirements by falsifying documents or failing to disclose information required for certification. Provides accredited instruction, which is required for permanent appointment of full-time police and law officers.

Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees Purpose:&nbsp;To honor those that have contributed to the history of sports in Kansas and to educate and inspire the public regarding the value of athletics and Kansas athletic history by providing the requisite leadership.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594401153901.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Office of GovernorTOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly has announced 17 appointments and 7 reappointments to the following state boards and commissions.Early Childhood Transition Task Force&nbsp; Purpose: The task force is charged with reviewing Kansas’ early childhood care and education system and developing a roadmap for creating a cabinet-level agency dedicated to supporting our youngest Kansans.<ul>
 <li>Heather Schrotberger, Overland Park</li>
 </ul> Legislative Compensation Commission Purpose:&nbsp;To study compensation, salary, and retirement benefits of legislative members.<ul>
 <li>Anthony Hensley, Topeka</li>
 </ul> Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Developmental Services Purpose:&nbsp;Solicit information and opinions from concerned agencies, groups, and individuals on proposed policies and recommendations for the delivery of health, education, and social services for young children from birth through age five with or at risk for disabling conditions and for their families.<ul>
 <li>Kimberly Campbell, Pleasanton</li><li>Breanna Clark, Overland Park</li>
 </ul> James B. Pearson Fellowship Selection Board Purpose:&nbsp;Interview and review applications for the James B. Fellowship award.<ul>
 <li>Tiffinie Irving, Bel Aire</li><li>Valdenia Winn, Kansas City (reappointment)</li>
 </ul> Wichita State University Board of Trustees Purpose: To manage property, estates and funds given, transferred and pledged to Wichita State.<ul>
 <li>Dan Rouser, Wichita (reappointment)</li><li>Connie Dietz, Wichita (reappointment)</li><li>Keith Lawing, Wichita</li>
 </ul> Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board Purpose:&nbsp;The mission is to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare from unlawful or unprofessional practitioners who fall under the boards’ jurisdiction.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Andrea Perdomo-Morales, Kansas City (reappointment)</li><li>David Anderson, WaKeeney (reappointment)</li><li>Mary Jones, Wichita (reappointment)</li><li>David Stevens, Roeland Park</li><li>Linda Heitzman-Powell, McLouth</li>
 </ul> Build Kansas Advisory Committee Purpose: Review applications for state matching funds from local government infrastructure projects seeking funding through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law after they have received initial approval from the Kansas Infrastructure Hub.<ul>
 <li>Lindsay Vaughn, Overland Park</li>
 </ul> Kansas Fire Service Training Commission Purpose: Provide for a traveling instruction services to train firefighters in the jurisdictions of this state requesting such instruction.<ul>
 <li>Jason Lankas, Junction City</li><li>Eric Voss, Concordia (reappointment)</li>
 </ul> Real Estate Appraisal Board Purpose:&nbsp;The board regulates real estate appraiser’s license, provide access to appraiser education resources, and inform appraisers of industry news.<ul>
 <li>Gerri Ford, Wichita</li><li>Jeff Meyer, El Dorado</li><li>Lacey Frehe, Seneca</li>
 </ul> Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Purpose:&nbsp;The Commission may suspend, revoke, or deny the certification of a police or law enforcement officer who fails to meet the requirements of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Act or has met such requirements by falsifying documents or failing to disclose information required for certification. Provides accredited instruction, which is required for permanent appointment of full-time police and law officers.<ul>
 <li>Aaron Moses, Wichita</li><li>Rich Lockhart, Lawrence</li>
 </ul> Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Board of Trustees Purpose:&nbsp;To honor those that have contributed to the history of sports in Kansas and to educate and inspire the public regarding the value of athletics and Kansas athletic history by providing the requisite leadership.<ul>
 <li>Steve Scott, Pittsburg</li>
 </ul>Office of governor

WaKeeney resident reappointed to state Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board

It’s no fun being between a rock and a hard place, but that’s the spot Kansas public schools are in today.&nbsp; It’s an unfortunate circumstance begging for action by the Legislature and Kansas State Board of Education.

The two major problems facing schools currently are:&nbsp; 1) teacher shortages and 2) low student achievement. Both have plagued Kansas schools for at least 20 years.

Kansas student achievement on the most recent National Assessment of Student Progress reading and math exams declined again—a situation that can’t improve without schools fully staffed with well-prepared teachers.

The rock/hard-place dilemma is that in the past, the answer to increasing the teacher workforce was to relax the rules for qualifying teachers.

Following precedent, Kansas started down the traditional road again last year by creating an emergency substitute teacher license. Instead of requiring a minimum of 60 hours earned college credit, substitute teacher qualifications are now holding a high school diploma and being at least age 18.

To speed national workforce development, the U.S. Department of Labor is offering funding for apprenticeship programs in a range of occupations including teacher preparation.

These apprentice programs pair accelerated on-line post-secondary education with on-site training. The programs are proving effective for technical careers, and so far, 16 states will&nbsp;receive teacher education funding.&nbsp;KSDE is looking into this as well as creating its own teacher apprentice program.

The best programs place teacher candidates who have completed 60 hours college general education into public schools with 15 to 20 hours paid work per week as paraprofessionals, who assist a teacher, usually with small group activities.

Teacher candidates complete requirements for the bachelor’s degree that include practice teaching experiences in multiple classroom levels with in-person teacher candidate evaluation by credentialed supervisors.

The least effective apprenticeship programs allow 18 year-olds to work as paraprofessionals as little as five hours per week or become full-time classroom teachers with little college-level preparation. The apprenticeship can occur in a single classroom for the full four years of college study which may be shortened through accelerated, eight-week, all on-line courses. The apprentices’ classroom teaching may be with small-groups only, in one grade only with candidate teaching evaluation reduced to student-produced, 15-minute videos observed by on-line reviewers.

COVID taught us that “all online, all the time” is not the best way for students to learn and it follows, also not the best for teacher candidates. Pre-service teachers also need experience through research based, faculty-led roundtables to learn the wide-range of student needs, develop problem solving abilities and practice communication skills—all difficult to accomplish in an exclusively online, one class in one school environment.

If properly organized, paid apprenticeship for teacher candidates can reduce their college costs, give pre-service teachers valuable hands-on experience and speed-up preparation without abbreviated, fully online courses or candidate’s teaching skills evaluated remotely.

Kansans might also consider that in 2023, the median teacher starting salary in Kansas is $40,699 while the average starting salary for college graduates nationally is $58,860.

Kansas ranked 36 nationally in public school salaries in 2021.

The median yearly income of one earner in Kansas is $51,957.

The state projects a $3.2 billion cash surplus by June 2024 and nearly $1 billion more in the rainy day fund.&nbsp;

Raising teacher salaries may be the fastest and most effective way to solve the teacher shortage.

Sharon Hartin Iorio is the dean emerita of the Wichita State University College of Education.

Sources used in this report:&nbsp;KSDE standard &amp; Emergency Substitute License Requirements; KSDE Board Meeting June 13, 2023; Apprentice.gov&gt;Education; Emporia State University February 5, 2020, report and news release. U. S.&nbsp;Trustee Program/Dept of Justice: Kansas; Google Search: Kansas budget surplus; Ed Week June 21, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>It’s no fun being between a rock and a hard place, but that’s the spot Kansas public schools are in today.&nbsp; It’s an unfortunate circumstance begging for action by the Legislature and Kansas State Board of Education.The two major problems facing schools currently are:&nbsp; 1) teacher shortages and 2) low student achievement. Both have plagued Kansas schools for at least 20 years.Kansas student achievement on the most recent National Assessment of Student Progress reading and math exams declined again—a situation that can’t improve without schools fully staffed with well-prepared teachers.The rock/hard-place dilemma is that in the past, the answer to increasing the teacher workforce was to relax the rules for qualifying teachers.Following precedent, Kansas started down the traditional road again last year by creating an emergency substitute teacher license. Instead of requiring a minimum of 60 hours earned college credit, substitute teacher qualifications are now holding a high school diploma and being at least age 18.To speed national workforce development, the U.S. Department of Labor is offering funding for apprenticeship programs in a range of occupations including teacher preparation.These apprentice programs pair accelerated on-line post-secondary education with on-site training. The programs are proving effective for technical careers, and so far, 16 states will&nbsp;receive teacher education funding.&nbsp;KSDE is looking into this as well as creating its own teacher apprentice program.The best programs place teacher candidates who have completed 60 hours college general education into public schools with 15 to 20 hours paid work per week as paraprofessionals, who assist a teacher, usually with small group activities.Teacher candidates complete requirements for the bachelor’s degree that include practice teaching experiences in multiple classroom levels with in-person teacher candidate evaluation by credentialed supervisors.The least effective apprenticeship programs allow 18 year-olds to work as paraprofessionals as little as five hours per week or become full-time classroom teachers with little college-level preparation. The apprenticeship can occur in a single classroom for the full four years of college study which may be shortened through accelerated, eight-week, all on-line courses. The apprentices’ classroom teaching may be with small-groups only, in one grade only with candidate teaching evaluation reduced to student-produced, 15-minute videos observed by on-line reviewers.COVID taught us that “all online, all the time” is not the best way for students to learn and it follows, also not the best for teacher candidates. Pre-service teachers also need experience through research based, faculty-led roundtables to learn the wide-range of student needs, develop problem solving abilities and practice communication skills—all difficult to accomplish in an exclusively online, one class in one school environment.If properly organized, paid apprenticeship for teacher candidates can reduce their college costs, give pre-service teachers valuable hands-on experience and speed-up preparation without abbreviated, fully online courses or candidate’s teaching skills evaluated remotely.Kansans might also consider that in 2023, the median teacher starting salary in Kansas is $40,699 while the average starting salary for college graduates nationally is $58,860.Kansas ranked 36 nationally in public school salaries in 2021.The median yearly income of one earner in Kansas is $51,957.The state projects a $3.2 billion cash surplus by June 2024 and nearly $1 billion more in the rainy day fund.&nbsp;Raising teacher salaries may be the fastest and most effective way to solve the teacher shortage.Sharon Hartin Iorio is the dean emerita of the Wichita State University College of Education.Sources used in this report:&nbsp;KSDE standard &amp; Emergency Substitute License Requirements; KSDE Board Meeting June 13, 2023; Apprentice.gov&gt;Education; Emporia State University February 5, 2020, report and news release. U. S.&nbsp;Trustee Program/Dept of Justice: Kansas; Google Search: Kansas budget surplus; Ed Week June 21, 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Solving Kansas’ teacher shortage problem

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687543672102.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: As high summer temperatures move in pet safety a concern

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Fort Hays State University master's of art student has an exhibition showing now at the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art that explores death and resurrection.

The title of Bethany Panhorst's MFA exhibit is "Of Dust" and is on display at the gallery through July 7.

"Death periodically intrigues us," Panhorst said in her artist statement, "but more so when we feel that we are standing at a safe distance. I grapple with the ugliness and mystery of death but also hope for an end of loss and sorrow. From a position of belief in death's passing, I create ceramic sculptures of the human body."

Panhorst said she drew deeply from her Christain faith in creating the works for this show.

"I wanted to seek something that would connect my art with my Christain faith," she said at the exhibit's opening. "I have always liked the human figure. Using clay fell into place and fit.

"In the Bible in Genesis, it talks about man being formed from the dust and clay. I was also thinking about the body returning to dust and dirt."

She said in the Bible, there are many passages that talk about the body being raised to resurrection or sent to hell.&nbsp;

Her art includes ceramic sculpture with some mixed media elements in addition to photography and a video.

Her images were produced through darkroom work with some manipulation and printed on aluminum.

"It's a very hands-on process and you have a lot of control," she said of the darkroom-processed photography. "There's also something about the quality of the film and the printing in the darkroom that you just don't get anywhere else. Black and white is so beautiful."

The colors in her ceramic work also are muted in whites, blacks and grays. She said she thought the color palette met the serious tone of the exhibit.&nbsp;

Panhorst tried new techniques for several pieces in the exhibit. This included the use of lithopane for pieces, including "Shining Eyes." A very thin layer of porcelain is poured using slip casting, which makes the piece translucent.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687452847984.jpeg" alt="Bethany Panhorst standing next to "Glimpses of Glory" at her master's of fine arts exhibit "Of Dust." Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Bethany Panhorst standing next to "Glimpses of Glory" at her master's of fine arts exhibit "Of Dust." Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Fort Hays State University master's of art student has an exhibition showing now at the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art that explores death and resurrection.The title of Bethany Panhorst's MFA exhibit is "Of Dust" and is on display at the gallery through July 7."Death periodically intrigues us," Panhorst said in her artist statement, "but more so when we feel that we are standing at a safe distance. I grapple with the ugliness and mystery of death but also hope for an end of loss and sorrow. From a position of belief in death's passing, I create ceramic sculptures of the human body."Panhorst said she drew deeply from her Christain faith in creating the works for this show."I wanted to seek something that would connect my art with my Christain faith," she said at the exhibit's opening. "I have always liked the human figure. Using clay fell into place and fit."In the Bible in Genesis, it talks about man being formed from the dust and clay. I was also thinking about the body returning to dust and dirt."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687536928710.jpeg" alt="Bethany Panhorst's "Can These Live?"&nbsp; in her MFA exhibit "Of Dust"" />
 <figcaption>Bethany Panhorst's "Can These Live?"&nbsp; in her MFA exhibit "Of Dust"</figcaption>
 </figure>She said in the Bible, there are many passages that talk about the body being raised to resurrection or sent to hell.&nbsp;Her art includes ceramic sculpture with some mixed media elements in addition to photography and a video.Her images were produced through darkroom work with some manipulation and printed on aluminum."It's a very hands-on process and you have a lot of control," she said of the darkroom-processed photography. "There's also something about the quality of the film and the printing in the darkroom that you just don't get anywhere else. Black and white is so beautiful."The colors in her ceramic work also are muted in whites, blacks and grays. She said she thought the color palette met the serious tone of the exhibit.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687537234390.jpeg" alt="Bethany Panhorst's&nbsp;"Shining Eyes"" />
 <figcaption>Bethany Panhorst's&nbsp;"Shining Eyes"</figcaption>
 </figure>Panhorst tried new techniques for several pieces in the exhibit. This included the use of lithopane for pieces, including "Shining Eyes." A very thin layer of porcelain is poured using slip casting, which makes the piece translucent.&nbsp;Panhorst mounted these pieces in wood in front of light plates. In the areas where there is more porcelain, there are shadows and depth, which results in a piece of artwork that looks more like a print or a drawing, she said.The ghostly appearance of the sculptures fit her theme."It's really like magic," she said. "I wasn't sure it was going to work out. It took a couple of years to really learn the process."She also used a slip-dip process. She took organic material, in the case of "Breath" she used baby's breath flowers and cotton balls, dipped them in clay and fired them.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687537614517.jpeg" alt="Bethany Panhorst's "Breath"" />
 <figcaption>Bethany Panhorst's "Breath"</figcaption>
 </figure>The organic material burns away leaving the fired clay."It leaves this really beautiful shell of the texture and captures a lot of the impression of what was there," she said.Panhorst was from a military family and moved often growing up. She spent most of her youth in Savannah, Ga., and moved to Hays for graduate school in 2019.She has finished her degree and will be teaching high school art in the fall in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Local