The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported six new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Friday.

<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, both in the active phase.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,745 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 71 coronavirus-related deaths — the last of which was reported on March 10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620666610215.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported six new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County since Friday.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.As of Monday, the University of Kansas Health System reported two COVID-19 inpatients at HaysMed, both in the active phase.Since reporting began, there have been 3,745 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 71 coronavirus-related deaths — the last of which was reported on March 10.

KDHE: Six new virus cases in Ellis Co. since Friday

LENORA -&nbsp;Nex-Tech is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement to acquire Vic Innovations of Atwood effective June 1, 2021. 

Vic Innovations was founded in 2013 and began as a computer repair company. Today, the company provides Internet, voice services, web hosting services, and computer repair to customers in Atwood, McDonald, Bird City, and the surrounding rural areas.

“This acquisition is a perfect fit for Nex-Tech and strategically aligns with plans we have for the area after receiving the Broadband Access Grant (BAG) from the Kansas Department of Commerce in March,” said Jimmy Todd, CEO and general manager of Nex-Tech. 

The Nex-Tech BAG project will provide high-speed broadband for up to 429 underserved rural locations across 261 square miles in Bird City and along Highway 36 from Oberlin to Bird City in Decatur, Rawlins, and Cheyenne counties. The project will have a combination of fiber and fixed wireless coverage areas. As Nex-Tech begins network upgrades in the area, customers will receive information on new Internet speeds and packages as well as other services that will be available.

“Serving the customers of Atwood, McDonald, and Bird City has been a privilege and I am pleased to have brought reliable broadband service to my customers,” said Simon Micek, vice chairman and CEO of Vic Innovations. As part of the acquisition, Simon will relocate to the Hays, area with his family and will be employed as a network operations engineer in Victoria.

If customers have questions about this transition, please contact Nex-Tech at 877-625-7872 or Vic Innovations at 844-842-9477.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601562391147.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseLENORA -&nbsp;Nex-Tech is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement to acquire Vic Innovations of Atwood effective June 1, 2021. Vic Innovations was founded in 2013 and began as a computer repair company. Today, the company provides Internet, voice services, web hosting services, and computer repair to customers in Atwood, McDonald, Bird City, and the surrounding rural areas.“This acquisition is a perfect fit for Nex-Tech and strategically aligns with plans we have for the area after receiving the Broadband Access Grant (BAG) from the Kansas Department of Commerce in March,” said Jimmy Todd, CEO and general manager of Nex-Tech. The Nex-Tech BAG project will provide high-speed broadband for up to 429 underserved rural locations across 261 square miles in Bird City and along Highway 36 from Oberlin to Bird City in Decatur, Rawlins, and Cheyenne counties. The project will have a combination of fiber and fixed wireless coverage areas. As Nex-Tech begins network upgrades in the area, customers will receive information on new Internet speeds and packages as well as other services that will be available.“Serving the customers of Atwood, McDonald, and Bird City has been a privilege and I am pleased to have brought reliable broadband service to my customers,” said Simon Micek, vice chairman and CEO of Vic Innovations. As part of the acquisition, Simon will relocate to the Hays, area with his family and will be employed as a network operations engineer in Victoria.If customers have questions about this transition, please contact Nex-Tech at 877-625-7872 or Vic Innovations at 844-842-9477.

Nex-Tech acquires Vic Innovations of Atwood

Norton County Community Foundation (NCCF) has announced the date for its fourth annual Norton County Match Day. Match Day 2021 will be held on&nbsp;Wednesday, July 21 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Heaton Building in Norton, KS.

Match Day is a giving event designed to raise awareness and support for non-profits and charitable projects in Norton County. 

This year’s match pool will be&nbsp;$70,000&nbsp;and is generously provided by Norton County Community Foundation and the Jim and Lida Sharp family.&nbsp;

A complete set of match rules/guidelines can be found on NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>.

Any organization&nbsp;with an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF will automatically qualify to participate and will receive a 2:1 match. 

Organizations and charitable projects&nbsp;without an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF are invited to apply to participate and will receive a 1:1 match.

 Applications are due by June 15, 2021 and can be found on NCCF’s website. A final list of participating organizations will be made available to the public after the application deadline of June 15th&nbsp;has passed.

On Match Day,&nbsp;participating organizations are invited to set up a small table in the Heaton Building to help raise money for their organizations. Donors can make in-person donations at the Heaton Building between the hours of 7:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m. on July 21, 2021.&nbsp;Online donations will be accepted via NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>&nbsp;between&nbsp;12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 21, 2021.

“We’re really looking forward to this year’s Match Day” said Tara Vance, executive director of Norton County Community Foundation. 

“Thanks to the generosity of the Jim and Lida Sharp family, our match pool is $70,000. Organizations with endowed funds at NCCF are going to receive a 2 to 1 match this year, which is our way of rewarding them for thinking about their long-term sustainability. Organizations and projects without an endowment are invited to apply for participation, and we hope to raise money for some neat community projects that way, too.”

For more information, please contact Tara Vance at 785-874-5106 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tara@nortonccf.org" target="_blank">tara@nortonccf.org</a>.

About Norton County Community Foundation

The Norton County Community Foundation was established in 1994 for the purpose of supporting local charitable activities in Norton County through endowments made to the foundation.&nbsp;Dedicated to serving today for tomorrow, to make our community a better place in which to live.&nbsp;Connect with the Norton County Community Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620663507568.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;SubmittedNorton County Community Foundation (NCCF) has announced the date for its fourth annual Norton County Match Day. Match Day 2021 will be held on&nbsp;Wednesday, July 21 from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Heaton Building in Norton, KS.Match Day is a giving event designed to raise awareness and support for non-profits and charitable projects in Norton County. This year’s match pool will be&nbsp;$70,000&nbsp;and is generously provided by Norton County Community Foundation and the Jim and Lida Sharp family.&nbsp;A complete set of match rules/guidelines can be found on NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>.Any organization&nbsp;with an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF will automatically qualify to participate and will receive a 2:1 match. Organizations and charitable projects&nbsp;without an endowed fund&nbsp;at NCCF are invited to apply to participate and will receive a 1:1 match. Applications are due by June 15, 2021 and can be found on NCCF’s website. A final list of participating organizations will be made available to the public after the application deadline of June 15th&nbsp;has passed.On Match Day,&nbsp;participating organizations are invited to set up a small table in the Heaton Building to help raise money for their organizations. Donors can make in-person donations at the Heaton Building between the hours of 7:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m. on July 21, 2021.&nbsp;Online donations will be accepted via NCCF’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org/matchday2021</a>&nbsp;between&nbsp;12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 21, 2021.“We’re really looking forward to this year’s Match Day” said Tara Vance, executive director of Norton County Community Foundation. “Thanks to the generosity of the Jim and Lida Sharp family, our match pool is $70,000. Organizations with endowed funds at NCCF are going to receive a 2 to 1 match this year, which is our way of rewarding them for thinking about their long-term sustainability. Organizations and projects without an endowment are invited to apply for participation, and we hope to raise money for some neat community projects that way, too.”For more information, please contact Tara Vance at 785-874-5106 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tara@nortonccf.org" target="_blank">tara@nortonccf.org</a>.About Norton County Community FoundationThe Norton County Community Foundation was established in 1994 for the purpose of supporting local charitable activities in Norton County through endowments made to the foundation.&nbsp;Dedicated to serving today for tomorrow, to make our community a better place in which to live.&nbsp;Connect with the Norton County Community Foundation at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/" target="_blank">www.nortonccf.org</a>.

Norton Co. foundation announces annual Match Day; $70K match pool

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

<div><iframe title="Hays Public Library remodel complete; summer programming planned" allowtransparency="true" height="300" 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=kz3ae-103154b-pb&from=pb6admin&download=1&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3&btn-skin=3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Hays Public Library remodel complete; summer programming planned

DSNWK is hosting a walk-in hiring event from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Reed Center, 317 W. 13th. Interviews will be available on the spot with job offers for immediate hire. 

Virtual interviews are also available. Call Michelle Bland at 785-625-5678 prior to the event to coordinate virtual interview details.&nbsp; Full- and part-time personal assistant positions are available. Employees will teach and assist in living skills (grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc.) for adults with developmental disabilities.&nbsp; Benefits&nbsp;include $500 sign-on bonus, sick and vacation time, health, dental, and vision insurance, KPERS retirement, Aflac policies, paid training, and more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602261742827.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DSNWK is hosting a walk-in hiring event from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Reed Center, 317 W. 13th. Interviews will be available on the spot with job offers for immediate hire. Virtual interviews are also available. Call Michelle Bland at 785-625-5678 prior to the event to coordinate virtual interview details.&nbsp; Full- and part-time personal assistant positions are available. Employees will teach and assist in living skills (grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc.) for adults with developmental disabilities.&nbsp; Benefits&nbsp;include $500 sign-on bonus, sick and vacation time, health, dental, and vision insurance, KPERS retirement, Aflac policies, paid training, and more.

DSNWK job fair set for Tuesday

By JAMES BELL Hays Post <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/03/by-the-grace-of-god-a-small-kansas-towns-fight-to-save-beloved-church/">For over 20 years area residents have wondered about the future of St. Anothny's Church in St. Peter after the last regular mass was held in 1999.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">The wait for a conclusive answer seemed to be over o</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">n April 8, when the Bishop of the Salina Diocese, Gerald Vincke, issued a decree</a>&nbsp;that effectively ended any possibility the church would again be used for church purposes and put in motion the process for the building to be razed.

But some have promised to appeal that decision.

While that group of people across the country have worked to raise support online for saving the building — and perhaps a restoration to an active parish — many that live in the area see the harsh reality of the situation and are ready to say goodbye to the beloved church.

A group of local residents, all practicing Catholics with family histories dating back to the earliest settlers of the town, gathered Thursday to discuss the decree. They also wished to rebut what they see as a divisive effort online to save the church that only tells a part of the story.

Along with what they see as an unrealistic effort to save the church, the group is opposed to the bad blood that is being created between those that live elsewhere that have promised an appeal of the decision and those who remain living in the area.

The nervousness around the effort and the mischaracterization of the bishop and the community led to members of the group asking to not be named directly in this story, in fear of retaliation in a town so small the population is likely in the single digits, and a township that is only peppered with residents.

"The sad part about it is this isn't the only church in this position," a group member said. "There are many across the country and why this one got chosen to be such a controversial thing I don't know."

While the fight continues online, the group said area residents understand the practicality of the diocese's decision and argue many who support saving the church may not fully understand the realities of living in such a remote location.

"We are all from the area. A lot of these people were baptized, first communion, some of these people were born here, had their wedding in this church," one group member said. "We are local people. We have been here. We haven't moved in."

"Bred, born and raised right here," another group member said. "All of us."

All of the group said they are practicing Catholics in the three area parishes and could attest that most people who remain in the area are in agreement with the diocese.

"I agree with the Bishop," a group member said. "It's sad that the church would have to go, but why do you want to keep it when we are going to have less and less people here?"

"It's the people that make up the church," a group member said. "It's not the building, and when the people are gone, the church is gone. It's done its duty."

The Bishop in his decision noted a fund of around $1.3 million would be required to secure the building now and into the future, a move they said is financially irresponsible.&nbsp;

"How do you spend a million dollars to fix up a building when there are very few people left out here," one group member said.

"With the money that is going to take to fix that up," another member said. "that would feed a lot of poor people. That would do more good than spending it all on that building. It served its purpose as far as I am concerned."

Along with their disagreement with the efforts to dispute the decision from the diocese, they also said it was unfair to attack the Bishop about unrelated matters in a statement made by the St. Anthony Church of St. Peter Preservation Society that blamed Vincke for allowing&nbsp;defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick to reside within the diocese.

"Bringing McCarrick into this deal is about a low as they could get," a group member said. "That just should not have been."

Along with the statements made against the Bishop, the group also took offense to the statement that the reason the church was in disrepair was due to the local population being extremely elderly and disorganized.

The sad truth, they said, is there is virtually no population left in the area. With that unlikely to change and without a reason to maintain the church, they all agreed the time has come to demolish the building before it is in complete disrepair.

On the outside of the building, a stained glass window is taped together haphazardly to keep water from coming in, while the roof is disintegrating.

Inside, water damage is visible everywhere, mold is taking hold in various areas, ceiling tiles have caved in and over the years birds have found their way into the building, littering areas with feathers and droppings.

As the population is expected to continue to decline in the area, the diocese also noted the problems that arise when church buildings are sold.

"I understand their thinking," one group member said. "'What for?' There is nothing left to celebrate here anymore. It's a shame. Nobody likes to see this happen."

The group also was concerned about what would happen to the building even if it is fully restored now, a concern also shared by Vincke.

"I think what everyone is afraid of, and us few here aren't the only ones," a group member said, "you get this (building) into the wrong hands, say the preservation society doesn't work out, which is a toss-up...who knows what they could do with it. Who knows what it will bring in. You just don't know. Nobody knows the future. The school is a prime example."

The group noted the numerous school buildings in the area that have been long abandoned and are now often a decaying blemish in many small towns, including the Catholic school that remains in disrepair next to the church building in St. Peter.

"That used to be a school," a group member said, pointing to the boarded-up building. "Penokee had a school. Morland had a school, but when there are no people, you close it up and go on."

For the building to be saved by the preservation society, the group also noted the location of the town itself makes the possibility of regular visitors to the building unlikely, a different situation from other historic church buildings that have been saved in more accessible areas of the state.

"Here you have to drive 12-14 miles on dirt roads to get here, and if it's muddy, you don't want to come," a group member said.

The group believes those realities may be lost on the supporters of the preservation effort online, many of which are decades removed from the area, if they have any personal connection at all.

<a href="https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/church-in-trouble-in-kansas">They are also troubled by the attention brought by stories that make it appear that the preservation effort is being driven by the local population when it is painfully obvious to them the reality of the difficulties of saving the building are not well understood to those living out of the area, or in other parts of the country.</a>

In fact area residents almost unanimously agree the best outcome going forward is the demolition of the church.

"If you want to come out and try to preserve a church, wouldn't you want to talk to the people in the community first," a group member said.

"Everybody says we do this for our ancestors," another group member said. "Ancestors really don't care anymore."

They said even the board members of the&nbsp;Preservation Society are not local.

"Most of those supporters you see on the Facebook page are not from around here," a group member said.

"There is only one that I actually know, and she used to live here," another group member said.&nbsp;

The society in their statement said their desire is to&nbsp;save the church and fully restore it with the intent to hold a minimum of two masses annually, as well as to make it a modern-day place of prayer and quiet reflection for visitors who come to St. Peter searching for their Volga-German ancestry.&nbsp;

It would also serve as a place to understand the deep faith of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who built St. Peter, the society said.

But the group said the finding those who would be needed to keep the building in good repair and open for visitors would also require people that are unlikely to materialize as time passes.

"I don't think the outsiders that are all in favor of this are going to come here to support a mass," a group member said.&nbsp;

With the difficulties presented in the preservation effort and the likely continued decline of the area population, the group said the effort to postpone the inevitable demolition is only making the situation harder.

"The only outcome I see coming out of this is it's going to drag it on forever," a group member said.&nbsp;

"I say get it over with as cheaply as we can," another group member said.&nbsp;

But they also said a memorial of some sort should be installed, like the church bell, or another type of marker to be a reminder of the church and their appreciation for those who built the town.

"It's not that we don't love St. Peter church, we do," a group member said.

But despite that love, the group of locals understands the reality of the situation and seem ready to move on, even as hundreds from around the country are anxious to share support online, even if they haven't been in the town in decades.

"Everybody has memories," a group member said. "We all have memories, but you can never recreate that same memory. I don't care how much money you spend on something. It's never the same."

"It comes to the point that none of us want to see this happen, but reality has to set in," a group member said. 

"A million dollars is not common sense," yet another member of the group quickly chimed in.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620501972547.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays Post <a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/03/by-the-grace-of-god-a-small-kansas-towns-fight-to-save-beloved-church/">For over 20 years area residents have wondered about the future of St. Anothny's Church in St. Peter after the last regular mass was held in 1999.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">The wait for a conclusive answer seemed to be over o</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/814c23db-595a-407e-b5b7-d7dcbc6ae34b">n April 8, when the Bishop of the Salina Diocese, Gerald Vincke, issued a decree</a>&nbsp;that effectively ended any possibility the church would again be used for church purposes and put in motion the process for the building to be razed.But some have promised to appeal that decision.While that group of people across the country have worked to raise support online for saving the building — and perhaps a restoration to an active parish — many that live in the area see the harsh reality of the situation and are ready to say goodbye to the beloved church.A group of local residents, all practicing Catholics with family histories dating back to the earliest settlers of the town, gathered Thursday to discuss the decree. They also wished to rebut what they see as a divisive effort online to save the church that only tells a part of the story.Along with what they see as an unrealistic effort to save the church, the group is opposed to the bad blood that is being created between those that live elsewhere that have promised an appeal of the decision and those who remain living in the area.The nervousness around the effort and the mischaracterization of the bishop and the community led to members of the group asking to not be named directly in this story, in fear of retaliation in a town so small the population is likely in the single digits, and a township that is only peppered with residents."The sad part about it is this isn't the only church in this position," a group member said. "There are many across the country and why this one got chosen to be such a controversial thing I don't know."While the fight continues online, the group said area residents understand the practicality of the diocese's decision and argue many who support saving the church may not fully understand the realities of living in such a remote location."We are all from the area. A lot of these people were baptized, first communion, some of these people were born here, had their wedding in this church," one group member said. "We are local people. We have been here. We haven't moved in.""Bred, born and raised right here," another group member said. "All of us."All of the group said they are practicing Catholics in the three area parishes and could attest that most people who remain in the area are in agreement with the diocese."I agree with the Bishop," a group member said. "It's sad that the church would have to go, but why do you want to keep it when we are going to have less and less people here?""It's the people that make up the church," a group member said. "It's not the building, and when the people are gone, the church is gone. It's done its duty."The Bishop in his decision noted a fund of around $1.3 million would be required to secure the building now and into the future, a move they said is financially irresponsible.&nbsp;"How do you spend a million dollars to fix up a building when there are very few people left out here," one group member said."With the money that is going to take to fix that up," another member said. "that would feed a lot of poor people. That would do more good than spending it all on that building. It served its purpose as far as I am concerned."Along with their disagreement with the efforts to dispute the decision from the diocese, they also said it was unfair to attack the Bishop about unrelated matters in a statement made by the St. Anthony Church of St. Peter Preservation Society that blamed Vincke for allowing&nbsp;defrocked Cardinal Theodore McCarrick to reside within the diocese."Bringing McCarrick into this deal is about a low as they could get," a group member said. "That just should not have been."Along with the statements made against the Bishop, the group also took offense to the statement that the reason the church was in disrepair was due to the local population being extremely elderly and disorganized.The sad truth, they said, is there is virtually no population left in the area. With that unlikely to change and without a reason to maintain the church, they all agreed the time has come to demolish the building before it is in complete disrepair.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502215975.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On the outside of the building, a stained glass window is taped together haphazardly to keep water from coming in, while the roof is disintegrating.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502265526.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Inside, water damage is visible everywhere, mold is taking hold in various areas, ceiling tiles have caved in and over the years birds have found their way into the building, littering areas with feathers and droppings.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502101120.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As the population is expected to continue to decline in the area, the diocese also noted the problems that arise when church buildings are sold.And the group agrees."I understand their thinking," one group member said. "'What for?' There is nothing left to celebrate here anymore. It's a shame. Nobody likes to see this happen."The group also was concerned about what would happen to the building even if it is fully restored now, a concern also shared by Vincke."I think what everyone is afraid of, and us few here aren't the only ones," a group member said, "you get this (building) into the wrong hands, say the preservation society doesn't work out, which is a toss-up...who knows what they could do with it. Who knows what it will bring in. You just don't know. Nobody knows the future. The school is a prime example."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502042298.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The group noted the numerous school buildings in the area that have been long abandoned and are now often a decaying blemish in many small towns, including the Catholic school that remains in disrepair next to the church building in St. Peter."That used to be a school," a group member said, pointing to the boarded-up building. "Penokee had a school. Morland had a school, but when there are no people, you close it up and go on."For the building to be saved by the preservation society, the group also noted the location of the town itself makes the possibility of regular visitors to the building unlikely, a different situation from other historic church buildings that have been saved in more accessible areas of the state."Here you have to drive 12-14 miles on dirt roads to get here, and if it's muddy, you don't want to come," a group member said.The group believes those realities may be lost on the supporters of the preservation effort online, many of which are decades removed from the area, if they have any personal connection at all.<a href="https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/church-in-trouble-in-kansas">They are also troubled by the attention brought by stories that make it appear that the preservation effort is being driven by the local population when it is painfully obvious to them the reality of the difficulties of saving the building are not well understood to those living out of the area, or in other parts of the country.</a>In fact area residents almost unanimously agree the best outcome going forward is the demolition of the church."If you want to come out and try to preserve a church, wouldn't you want to talk to the people in the community first," a group member said."Everybody says we do this for our ancestors," another group member said. "Ancestors really don't care anymore."They said even the board members of the&nbsp;Preservation Society are not local."Most of those supporters you see on the Facebook page are not from around here," a group member said."There is only one that I actually know, and she used to live here," another group member said.&nbsp;The society in their statement said their desire is to&nbsp;save the church and fully restore it with the intent to hold a minimum of two masses annually, as well as to make it a modern-day place of prayer and quiet reflection for visitors who come to St. Peter searching for their Volga-German ancestry.&nbsp;It would also serve as a place to understand the deep faith of their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who built St. Peter, the society said.But the group said the finding those who would be needed to keep the building in good repair and open for visitors would also require people that are unlikely to materialize as time passes."I don't think the outsiders that are all in favor of this are going to come here to support a mass," a group member said.&nbsp;With the difficulties presented in the preservation effort and the likely continued decline of the area population, the group said the effort to postpone the inevitable demolition is only making the situation harder."The only outcome I see coming out of this is it's going to drag it on forever," a group member said.&nbsp;"I say get it over with as cheaply as we can," another group member said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620502134691.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>But they also said a memorial of some sort should be installed, like the church bell, or another type of marker to be a reminder of the church and their appreciation for those who built the town."It's not that we don't love St. Peter church, we do," a group member said.But despite that love, the group of locals understands the reality of the situation and seem ready to move on, even as hundreds from around the country are anxious to share support online, even if they haven't been in the town in decades."Everybody has memories," a group member said. "We all have memories, but you can never recreate that same memory. I don't care how much money you spend on something. It's never the same.""It comes to the point that none of us want to see this happen, but reality has to set in," a group member said. "And common sense," said another."A million dollars is not common sense," yet another member of the group quickly chimed in.

Locals argue effort to save St. Peter church foolhardy; decry attacks on Diocese

BY KARISSA NEIHOFF National
Federation of State High School Associations and BILL FAFLICK Kansas State High School Activities Association

After
months of working with state government, education and health leaders, schools
in all 50 states have been given the go-ahead to resume high school sports at
some level of competition. Schools in the District of Columbia were the last to
receive the green light on April 1. This is great news and signals that a
return to normalcy may be on the horizon by the time schools begin sports and
activities this fall.

Unfortunately, there is an ever-increasing issue that could put a kink
in the return-to-play plans in Kansas and across the country – a shortage of
officials, as in referees and umpires, that borders on catastrophic in some
sports and in some parts of the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;


The
shortage of officials in high school – and middle school – sports has been a
growing concern for several years; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has moved the
issue to heightened levels. 

In
some cases, schools that have waited months and months to “play ball” have had
to cancel games or reschedule games. There are so many contests occurring, with
some states currently playing football and other sports they were unable to
offer last fall, coupled with regular spring sports now underway, there simply
are not enough people to officiate all scheduled games.

According to the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO),
registration of officials across the country is down about 30 percent this
year. In Kansas from 2019-20 to 2020-2021 we saw a 14% reduction of officials
registering.&nbsp; Five hundred-twenty fewer officials
registered in 2020-2021. In the past 10 years – since 2010-2011 we are down 26%
- 1092 few officials registered in 2020-2021. Sports with the largest percent
decrease were basketball and wrestling at approximately 17% reduction. 

Tennessee and Georgia have reported declines in baseball umpires. In one
county in Georgia, one middle school had to cancel its baseball season due to a
lack of umpires.

In
some cases, the number of available officials has declined due to
health-related reasons – people opting out this year because of the pandemic.

As vaccinations increase and the optics improve, many of
these individuals hopefully will return. 

For
other officials, however, the pandemic was a secondary concern compared to the
verbal abuse they receive from fans – mostly parents. It is particularly hard
for rookie officials to overcome the verbal shots they hear from parents. In an
article in the Salt Lake City Deseret News, Jeff Cluff, assistant director in
charge of officials for the UHSAA, had the following to say about unruly fans
in his state: 

“Parents are out of control ... Because of the club and super-league
culture, they think these games mean everything; we don’t look at it that way
in high school. Kids are learning, the officials are learning, the coaches are
learning. We have lots of people who are interested in officiating. If we could
keep these officials, we’d be fine.”

Schools in Kansas need two things: 1) more individuals to consider
officiating high school sports and 2) an improvement in fan behavior so that
officials don’t have to deal with verbal abuse and can feel good about
continuing to officiate. Despite the fun and rewards that come with officiating
high school sports, no one wants to continue if they are continually berated by
fans.

The NFHS has been actively
recruiting officials for four years through its #BecomeAnOfficial campaign.
More than 50,000 individuals have expressed interest in officiating during this
time. However, more individuals are desperately needed to keep the games going
for the millions of students in middle school and high school sports. Anyone
can sign up today at www.highschoolofficials.com.

More
importantly, let’s do all we can to keep the men and women who are currently
giving of their time to officiate middle school and high school sports. The
next time you think about yelling at the referee during a high school contest,
DON’T!

There
is hope on the horizon that the pandemic will not keep kids off the playing
fields and courts much longer. Let’s make sure boorish behavior doesn’t keep
officials off the same fields and courts.&nbsp;


Karissa Niehoff is executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Bill Faflick is executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620652841937.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>BY KARISSA NEIHOFF National
Federation of State High School Associations and BILL FAFLICK Kansas State High School Activities AssociationAfter
months of working with state government, education and health leaders, schools
in all 50 states have been given the go-ahead to resume high school sports at
some level of competition. Schools in the District of Columbia were the last to
receive the green light on April 1. This is great news and signals that a
return to normalcy may be on the horizon by the time schools begin sports and
activities this fall.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Unfortunately, there is an ever-increasing issue that could put a kink
in the return-to-play plans in Kansas and across the country – a shortage of
officials, as in referees and umpires, that borders on catastrophic in some
sports and in some parts of the nation.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The
shortage of officials in high school – and middle school – sports has been a
growing concern for several years; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has moved the
issue to heightened levels. In
some cases, schools that have waited months and months to “play ball” have had
to cancel games or reschedule games. There are so many contests occurring, with
some states currently playing football and other sports they were unable to
offer last fall, coupled with regular spring sports now underway, there simply
are not enough people to officiate all scheduled games.According to the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO),
registration of officials across the country is down about 30 percent this
year. In Kansas from 2019-20 to 2020-2021 we saw a 14% reduction of officials
registering.&nbsp; Five hundred-twenty fewer officials
registered in 2020-2021. In the past 10 years – since 2010-2011 we are down 26%
- 1092 few officials registered in 2020-2021. Sports with the largest percent
decrease were basketball and wrestling at approximately 17% reduction. Tennessee and Georgia have reported declines in baseball umpires. In one
county in Georgia, one middle school had to cancel its baseball season due to a
lack of umpires.In
some cases, the number of available officials has declined due to
health-related reasons – people opting out this year because of the pandemic.As vaccinations increase and the optics improve, many of
these individuals hopefully will return. For
other officials, however, the pandemic was a secondary concern compared to the
verbal abuse they receive from fans – mostly parents. It is particularly hard
for rookie officials to overcome the verbal shots they hear from parents. In an
article in the Salt Lake City Deseret News, Jeff Cluff, assistant director in
charge of officials for the UHSAA, had the following to say about unruly fans
in his state: “Parents are out of control ... Because of the club and super-league
culture, they think these games mean everything; we don’t look at it that way
in high school. Kids are learning, the officials are learning, the coaches are
learning. We have lots of people who are interested in officiating. If we could
keep these officials, we’d be fine.”Schools in Kansas need two things: 1) more individuals to consider
officiating high school sports and 2) an improvement in fan behavior so that
officials don’t have to deal with verbal abuse and can feel good about
continuing to officiate. Despite the fun and rewards that come with officiating
high school sports, no one wants to continue if they are continually berated by
fans.The NFHS has been actively
recruiting officials for four years through its #BecomeAnOfficial campaign.
More than 50,000 individuals have expressed interest in officiating during this
time. However, more individuals are desperately needed to keep the games going
for the millions of students in middle school and high school sports. Anyone
can sign up today at www.highschoolofficials.com.More
importantly, let’s do all we can to keep the men and women who are currently
giving of their time to officiate middle school and high school sports. The
next time you think about yelling at the referee during a high school contest,
DON’T!There
is hope on the horizon that the pandemic will not keep kids off the playing
fields and courts much longer. Let’s make sure boorish behavior doesn’t keep
officials off the same fields and courts.&nbsp;
Karissa Niehoff is executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Bill Faflick is executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.&nbsp;

More officials, better fan behavior needed in high school sports

Demand for rural properties continues to be strong, according to those who help buyers and sellers

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/market-stoked-rural-property-values-keep-tracking-upward/article_ede43cdc-af36-11eb-ba5e-a31e828d9eb6.html">High Plains Journal</a>

Don Hazlett, longtime real estate broker with Farm and Ranch Realty, Colby, Kansas, said the market for rural land is simple—it is hot. “The long and short of it is we’re seeing many more buyers than sellers. The listings are getting sold at a rate I have not seen in years and years.”

Hazlett has operated his agency since 1977.

Historically
 low mortgage rates and producers having more income have added fuel, he
 said. A year ago when corn was selling for about $3.25 a bushel it 
tempered buyer interest, but a year later with the price per bushel more
 than twice that per bushel it has spurred the market.

Irrigated
 farm acres with historically strong wells continue to top the market, 
Hazlett said, and he added that even some ground with less predictable 
long-term wells have drawn considerable interest from buyers and that 
has driven up their prices, too.

Paul
 Schadegg, an area sales manager with Omaha, Nebraska-based Farmers 
National Company, whose territory includes multiple states in the High 
Plains, is seeing land reach the record heights of 2012 to 2014, which 
followed a peak of record commodity prices. He has more than 20 years of
 experience in the industry plus a lifetime of observation and has seen 
many peaks and valleys in farmland values. The peak seven years ago was 
thought to be unreachable again.

“I
 thought back then I’d likely not see the value again for a long time 
and maybe even in my lifetime,” he said. “Right now the market is 
proving me I was wrong.”

The 
impact is not only pulling up high quality ground it is also pushing up 
the values of lesser quality crop ground. In some cases there has been a
 double-digit increase in values compared to a year ago when the market 
was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He would not be surprised to see 
values be up 12% to 15% for the year.

Another
 driver has been that grain prices have continued to go up as the market
 digests news of tight world supplies. The values are likely to go 
hand-in-hand, he said. The values have also caught the attention of 
non-traditional investors and they are helping to push the market 
higher.

Randy Dickhut, senior 
vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National, said 
farmland values have increased throughout the regions, particularly in 
comparison to a year ago at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People who wanted to sell property pulled back,” he said. “But we did start to see in the summer an increase in activity.”

Driving
 much of the interest in the market were particularly small tracts of 
land near urban centers where people who were able to keep their jobs 
and maintain their incomes were looking for 20 to 40 acres to build a 
cabin, he said.

The market for 
traditional farm and ranch real estate still had not taken off yet 
because of low commodity prices but by summer heading into fall it 
started to change, Dickhut said. Commodity prices were better and 
federal government payments designed to ease the financial burden were 
improving bottom lines and that really started to kick in by fall.

“This
 winter we definitely saw the buyer demand go up,” Dickhut said. 
“Farmers had a better year. The government payments and commodity 
markets were moving and they are still up. At the same time there was 
not a land of available.”

If 
the commodity prices stay high, he expects the trends to continue toward
 higher land values because new buyers and sellers see the investment 
opportunity particularly with low long-term real interest rates.

“Demand
 is driving the market right now. Combined with less supply in the 
market and low interest rates and if commodity prices stay high I think 
we’ll see farmers and ranchers continue to look to add more acres,” he 
said.

As in all cases, there are caveats, 
based on market prices, drought and other factors that influence 
regional markets. Pastureland also has other variables, including 
livestock prices and drought that changes its value.

Hazlett
 has seen an increase in values for producers wanting to buy grassland 
for ranch operations. Another trend is that people want to get away from
 the city life as a result of the pandemic and technology allows them to
 remotely work. One customer recently decided to sell his ranch at a 
premium in a more urbanized region to purchase ground in a more sparse 
area.

“[In] Colorado and Kansas you can get a lot more acres for less money,” he said.

Schadegg
 said he is also working with producers in urban areas who can get top 
prices for land likely to be developed for commercial and residential 
areas and they are willing to relocate their operation and buy a farm 
where prices are much lower.

David
 Krien, a real estate associate with Re/Max Pro of Hays, Kansas, said he
 works with a group of investors that is taking an active interest in 
the market. Those investors are looking for a safe haven in light of the
 run-up in the stock market.

He
 remembers one man told about how pleased he was to have sold a tract of
 quality dryland acreage for $1,700 an acre but Krien said he knows of 
similar crop acreage that sold for $2,256 an acre.

The
 outside investment, Krien said, can help producers who might be 
leveraged and relieves their debt pressure. It can also help younger 
producers who are starting their farms and can rent ground. Krien grew 
up on a farm and ranch operation and understands the pressure producers 
face.

Krien said last year his 
records showed about $12.5 million in sales and it is already at about 
$15 million and he expects by the end of the year it could double the 
2020 sales mark.

Buyers and 
sellers always need to do their homework, Dickhut said. Sellers need to 
promote their acreage in advance so there is plenty of exposure in the 
marketplace. They also might want to consider a public auction as a way 
to get top value. His advice for buyers is simple: “Be ready to act,” he
 said.

They also should be 
aggressive if the opportunity meets their needs but also to understand 
how it can fit into their operation and finances. Sometimes the right 
approach is to bow out and wait for another time to purchase additional 
property. With equipment and technology the need for adjacent property 
is not as much of a consideration as it once was, he said.

Hazlett said buyers and sellers need to do their due diligence. “Sellers need to get a market analysis.”

Auctions have also been helped sellers to earn top value. “When prices go up auctions are the way to go,” Hazlett said.

Krien’s
 advice to buyers and sellers is when they are wanting to either buy or 
sell farm acreage is to develop a rapport with a representative. He is 
willing to work for a lower commission and work with other firms to help
 clients achieve their goals.

He
 also believes in advertising, both in traditional ways and through 
social channels, to get the word out. Some investors do not want to be 
involved with public auctions and as a result Krien said sellers might 
want to rethink their strategy so that can been taken into account.

Schadegg
 reiterated the importance of buyers and sellers to continue to educate 
themselves about the market and define their objectives.

“The
 successful investor looks at it without any emotion and he has a target
 for his return on his investment,” Schadegg said. “The emotional effect
 is always going to be there. We often hear ‘I have never seen this land
 up for sale’ or ‘I always wanted to farm that ground.’”

Schadegg said the “once in a lifetime” mindset should be tempered with patience and staying within realistic game plan.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or <a href="mailto:dbergmeier@hpj.com">dbergmeier@hpj.com</a>. Republished with permission.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620402252074.png" alt="Courtesy High Plains Journal" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy High Plains Journal</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Demand for rural properties continues to be strong, according to those who help buyers and sellers</h2>By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/ag_news/market-stoked-rural-property-values-keep-tracking-upward/article_ede43cdc-af36-11eb-ba5e-a31e828d9eb6.html">High Plains Journal</a>Don Hazlett, longtime real estate broker with Farm and Ranch Realty, Colby, Kansas, said the market for rural land is simple—it is hot. “The long and short of it is we’re seeing many more buyers than sellers. The listings are getting sold at a rate I have not seen in years and years.”Hazlett has operated his agency since 1977.Historically
 low mortgage rates and producers having more income have added fuel, he
 said. A year ago when corn was selling for about $3.25 a bushel it 
tempered buyer interest, but a year later with the price per bushel more
 than twice that per bushel it has spurred the market.Irrigated
 farm acres with historically strong wells continue to top the market, 
Hazlett said, and he added that even some ground with less predictable 
long-term wells have drawn considerable interest from buyers and that 
has driven up their prices, too.Paul
 Schadegg, an area sales manager with Omaha, Nebraska-based Farmers 
National Company, whose territory includes multiple states in the High 
Plains, is seeing land reach the record heights of 2012 to 2014, which 
followed a peak of record commodity prices. He has more than 20 years of
 experience in the industry plus a lifetime of observation and has seen 
many peaks and valleys in farmland values. The peak seven years ago was 
thought to be unreachable again.“I
 thought back then I’d likely not see the value again for a long time 
and maybe even in my lifetime,” he said. “Right now the market is 
proving me I was wrong.”The 
impact is not only pulling up high quality ground it is also pushing up 
the values of lesser quality crop ground. In some cases there has been a
 double-digit increase in values compared to a year ago when the market 
was slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He would not be surprised to see 
values be up 12% to 15% for the year.“It keeps strengthening,” he said.<h2>Higher grain prices</h2>Another
 driver has been that grain prices have continued to go up as the market
 digests news of tight world supplies. The values are likely to go 
hand-in-hand, he said. The values have also caught the attention of 
non-traditional investors and they are helping to push the market 
higher.Randy Dickhut, senior 
vice president of real estate operations with Farmers National, said 
farmland values have increased throughout the regions, particularly in 
comparison to a year ago at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.“People who wanted to sell property pulled back,” he said. “But we did start to see in the summer an increase in activity.”Driving
 much of the interest in the market were particularly small tracts of 
land near urban centers where people who were able to keep their jobs 
and maintain their incomes were looking for 20 to 40 acres to build a 
cabin, he said.The market for 
traditional farm and ranch real estate still had not taken off yet 
because of low commodity prices but by summer heading into fall it 
started to change, Dickhut said. Commodity prices were better and 
federal government payments designed to ease the financial burden were 
improving bottom lines and that really started to kick in by fall.“This
 winter we definitely saw the buyer demand go up,” Dickhut said. 
“Farmers had a better year. The government payments and commodity 
markets were moving and they are still up. At the same time there was 
not a land of available.”If 
the commodity prices stay high, he expects the trends to continue toward
 higher land values because new buyers and sellers see the investment 
opportunity particularly with low long-term real interest rates.“Demand
 is driving the market right now. Combined with less supply in the 
market and low interest rates and if commodity prices stay high I think 
we’ll see farmers and ranchers continue to look to add more acres,” he 
said.<h2>Each market is different</h2>As in all cases, there are caveats, 
based on market prices, drought and other factors that influence 
regional markets. Pastureland also has other variables, including 
livestock prices and drought that changes its value.Hazlett
 has seen an increase in values for producers wanting to buy grassland 
for ranch operations. Another trend is that people want to get away from
 the city life as a result of the pandemic and technology allows them to
 remotely work. One customer recently decided to sell his ranch at a 
premium in a more urbanized region to purchase ground in a more sparse 
area.“[In] Colorado and Kansas you can get a lot more acres for less money,” he said.Schadegg
 said he is also working with producers in urban areas who can get top 
prices for land likely to be developed for commercial and residential 
areas and they are willing to relocate their operation and buy a farm 
where prices are much lower.<h2>Outside investors motivated</h2>David
 Krien, a real estate associate with Re/Max Pro of Hays, Kansas, said he
 works with a group of investors that is taking an active interest in 
the market. Those investors are looking for a safe haven in light of the
 run-up in the stock market.He
 remembers one man told about how pleased he was to have sold a tract of
 quality dryland acreage for $1,700 an acre but Krien said he knows of 
similar crop acreage that sold for $2,256 an acre.The
 outside investment, Krien said, can help producers who might be 
leveraged and relieves their debt pressure. It can also help younger 
producers who are starting their farms and can rent ground. Krien grew 
up on a farm and ranch operation and understands the pressure producers 
face.Krien said last year his 
records showed about $12.5 million in sales and it is already at about 
$15 million and he expects by the end of the year it could double the 
2020 sales mark.Buyers and 
sellers always need to do their homework, Dickhut said. Sellers need to 
promote their acreage in advance so there is plenty of exposure in the 
marketplace. They also might want to consider a public auction as a way 
to get top value. His advice for buyers is simple: “Be ready to act,” he
 said.They also should be 
aggressive if the opportunity meets their needs but also to understand 
how it can fit into their operation and finances. Sometimes the right 
approach is to bow out and wait for another time to purchase additional 
property. With equipment and technology the need for adjacent property 
is not as much of a consideration as it once was, he said.Hazlett said buyers and sellers need to do their due diligence. “Sellers need to get a market analysis.”Auctions have also been helped sellers to earn top value. “When prices go up auctions are the way to go,” Hazlett said.Krien’s
 advice to buyers and sellers is when they are wanting to either buy or 
sell farm acreage is to develop a rapport with a representative. He is 
willing to work for a lower commission and work with other firms to help
 clients achieve their goals.He
 also believes in advertising, both in traditional ways and through 
social channels, to get the word out. Some investors do not want to be 
involved with public auctions and as a result Krien said sellers might 
want to rethink their strategy so that can been taken into account.Schadegg
 reiterated the importance of buyers and sellers to continue to educate 
themselves about the market and define their objectives.“The
 successful investor looks at it without any emotion and he has a target
 for his return on his investment,” Schadegg said. “The emotional effect
 is always going to be there. We often hear ‘I have never seen this land
 up for sale’ or ‘I always wanted to farm that ground.’”Schadegg said the “once in a lifetime” mindset should be tempered with patience and staying within realistic game plan.Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or <a href="mailto:dbergmeier@hpj.com">dbergmeier@hpj.com</a>. Republished with permission.

Market stoked: Rural property values keep tracking upward

James Little well remembers the compassion shown by neighbors and relatives – and even strangers – following the aftermath of an EF5 tornado that ripped through his hometown of Greensburg back in 2007.

Witnessing the rebuilding of homes and people’s lives while growing up ultimately led Little to pursue a career in construction management. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in technology studies later this month, Little will return to the Greensburg area to work for a local construction company.

While commercial companies in larger cities annually recruit several FHSU graduates, Little decided on the residential construction route after working an internship last summer with a commercial building company.

“I wanted to give commercial a try,” he said, “but I really take pride in my work in residential, and it seems more personal. I just really like helping people. I’ve always wanted to go back and make a difference in my community, and this gives me a chance to do that.”

Little, who was 8 years old when the tornado nearly destroyed the town of about 850 residents, lived with his family in a FEMA trailer while his home was being rebuilt, so he got to watch firsthand the reconstruction of his town.

He got his start in residential construction while working with his high school industrial technology instructor, Peter Kern, who rebuilt his family home in Greensburg. When the home was nearing completion, it was struck by lightning. One of the rooms caught on fire, and several rooms received smoke and water damage.

“We had to gut the place, and start over,” Little said. “It sure wasn’t an ideal situation, but it definitely was a learning experience for me.”

A Fort Hays State graduate himself, Kern is pleased that Little chose the construction industry – and Fort Hays State.

“James is a rock star,” Kern said. “He is conscientious and takes pride in his work. I couldn’t think of a better representative for our high school here at Fort Hays State. Now, we’ll have another FHSU graduate out in the workforce.”

Little and Kern were reunited last month when Kern brought his students from Kiowa County High School to the 62nd annual Western Kansas Technology Education Fair at FHSU.

Little served as a judge’s assistant at the fair, and he was proud of the projects his high school displayed. Kiowa County senior Logan Rugg won two of the most prestigious awards at the fair. He was awarded the Ed Davis Award given for the most outstanding production entry for his walnut china cabinet. He also won the Fred Ruda Legacy Award, a people’s choice award for the fair’s favorite project. Coincidentally, Little also won two of the top awards at the tech fair as a high school senior back in 2017.

“The technology fair was one of the favorite parts of the school year in high school,” Little said. “It was always nice to show off the quality work we can produce out of our school.”

Like Kiowa County’s Kern, instructors for programs that won the other three main overall awards this year are FHSU graduates. Students of Brent Kerr from Ness City Junior/Senior High School won the Dennis McKee Award (multi-pupil) for their tiny house project. Hays High School senior Tyree Turnbull (instructor Chris Dinkel) won the Richard Cain Award as the winner of the communication contest. USD 399-Natoma High School and Paradise Junior High (instructor Chris Broeckelman) won the Ross Beach Sr. Award for outstanding program of the year.

“Hard-working, dedicated applied technology students make hard-working, dedicated industrial technology teachers,” said Kim Stewart, chair of FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology. “Many of our past graduates support the FHSU technology fair, and we appreciate the opportunity to bring programs together and share ideas.” &nbsp;

Last year’s fair was canceled because of the pandemic. Even though they knew numbers would probably be down this year, faculty in the Department of Applied Technology decided to go ahead with the 2021 fair.

“We adhered to protocols with wearing masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizing,” said Kim Stewart, department chair. “We decided we were going to make it work. It was great to see kids on campus.”

Students from 15 middle and high schools brought their projects to Gross Memorial Coliseum for display, and students also participated in a quiz bowl competition, metric 500, problem-solving competition, communication contest, and STEM Display.

“This is such an excellent way for middle and high school students to showcase the work they have done throughout the year,” said Eric Deneault, associate professor of applied technology. “This is all about the students and their dedicated instructors. I’m really glad we were able to have the fair this year.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620398493034.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University senior James Little, right, assists judge Richard Rome at the 2021 Western Kansas Technology Education Fair." />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University senior James Little, right, assists judge Richard Rome at the 2021 Western Kansas Technology Education Fair.</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsJames Little well remembers the compassion shown by neighbors and relatives – and even strangers – following the aftermath of an EF5 tornado that ripped through his hometown of Greensburg back in 2007.Witnessing the rebuilding of homes and people’s lives while growing up ultimately led Little to pursue a career in construction management. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in technology studies later this month, Little will return to the Greensburg area to work for a local construction company.While commercial companies in larger cities annually recruit several FHSU graduates, Little decided on the residential construction route after working an internship last summer with a commercial building company.“I wanted to give commercial a try,” he said, “but I really take pride in my work in residential, and it seems more personal. I just really like helping people. I’ve always wanted to go back and make a difference in my community, and this gives me a chance to do that.”Little, who was 8 years old when the tornado nearly destroyed the town of about 850 residents, lived with his family in a FEMA trailer while his home was being rebuilt, so he got to watch firsthand the reconstruction of his town.He got his start in residential construction while working with his high school industrial technology instructor, Peter Kern, who rebuilt his family home in Greensburg. When the home was nearing completion, it was struck by lightning. One of the rooms caught on fire, and several rooms received smoke and water damage.“We had to gut the place, and start over,” Little said. “It sure wasn’t an ideal situation, but it definitely was a learning experience for me.”A Fort Hays State graduate himself, Kern is pleased that Little chose the construction industry – and Fort Hays State.“James is a rock star,” Kern said. “He is conscientious and takes pride in his work. I couldn’t think of a better representative for our high school here at Fort Hays State. Now, we’ll have another FHSU graduate out in the workforce.”Little and Kern were reunited last month when Kern brought his students from Kiowa County High School to the 62nd annual Western Kansas Technology Education Fair at FHSU.Little served as a judge’s assistant at the fair, and he was proud of the projects his high school displayed. Kiowa County senior Logan Rugg won two of the most prestigious awards at the fair. He was awarded the Ed Davis Award given for the most outstanding production entry for his walnut china cabinet. He also won the Fred Ruda Legacy Award, a people’s choice award for the fair’s favorite project. Coincidentally, Little also won two of the top awards at the tech fair as a high school senior back in 2017.“The technology fair was one of the favorite parts of the school year in high school,” Little said. “It was always nice to show off the quality work we can produce out of our school.”Like Kiowa County’s Kern, instructors for programs that won the other three main overall awards this year are FHSU graduates. Students of Brent Kerr from Ness City Junior/Senior High School won the Dennis McKee Award (multi-pupil) for their tiny house project. Hays High School senior Tyree Turnbull (instructor Chris Dinkel) won the Richard Cain Award as the winner of the communication contest. USD 399-Natoma High School and Paradise Junior High (instructor Chris Broeckelman) won the Ross Beach Sr. Award for outstanding program of the year.“Hard-working, dedicated applied technology students make hard-working, dedicated industrial technology teachers,” said Kim Stewart, chair of FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology. “Many of our past graduates support the FHSU technology fair, and we appreciate the opportunity to bring programs together and share ideas.” &nbsp;Last year’s fair was canceled because of the pandemic. Even though they knew numbers would probably be down this year, faculty in the Department of Applied Technology decided to go ahead with the 2021 fair.“We adhered to protocols with wearing masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizing,” said Kim Stewart, department chair. “We decided we were going to make it work. It was great to see kids on campus.”Students from 15 middle and high schools brought their projects to Gross Memorial Coliseum for display, and students also participated in a quiz bowl competition, metric 500, problem-solving competition, communication contest, and STEM Display.“This is such an excellent way for middle and high school students to showcase the work they have done throughout the year,” said Eric Deneault, associate professor of applied technology. “This is all about the students and their dedicated instructors. I’m really glad we were able to have the fair this year.”

Hometown tragedy inspires FHSU student’s career choice

MANHATTAN — A prestigious internship with NASA's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a>, JPL, is helping a Kansas State University student achieve her career goals.&nbsp;

Sarah Lamm, master's student in geology from&nbsp;Colby, began her remote internship in April with the&nbsp;<a href="https://origins-habitability.jpl.nasa.gov/meet-the-lab/" target="_blank">Origins and Habitability Lab at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a>&nbsp;on the InVADER — In-situ Vent Analysis Divebot for Exobiology Research — project.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is conducting data analysis of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, or LIBS, and Raman laser data collection experiments on hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. The collected data helps to determine mineral compositions relevant to life on Mars and ocean floors. "The Raman technique is what I am using right now in my master's degree research at K-State," Lamm said. "I also have experience on the LIBS from my previous internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory. I already knew how those lasers worked, so I was able to jump right in." At K-State, Lamm's research focuses on developing a Raman laser calibration method to determine the chemical composition of chlorite minerals. Chlorite is found in many geologic environments and forms with different chemical compositions depending on the physical and chemical conditions at the time of formation. For planetary scientists, accurate chemical composition of chlorite minerals helps to better understand the environment of other planets. Lamm's dream career is to work for NASA as an astronaut or on one of its mission as a project scientist. Lamm says she takes advantage of any opportunity or connection she makes to reach her goals. "There are a lot of opportunities available at K-State if you are willing to seek them out," Lamm said. "The best way to elevate yourself is to get involved in the community or get involved in undergraduate research or internships. Those are the communities you will fall back on." Lamm, who earned bachelor's degrees in geology, chemistry and geography from K-State in 2018, credits her success to being creative and organized and to the support of her K-State advisors and professors. "They always had my back and were very supportive of my ideas," she said. "They would normally do what they could to find a valid solution to my problem. It was nice that I had their support." Lamm understands it is difficult for some students to take risks and that rejection is hard. She wants younger students to know that she has also experienced rejection, but she still applies for every scholarship, award or opportunity if she has the qualifications.&nbsp; "I'm a pretty bold person, and I will just ask for what I want," Lamm said. "The worst that they can say is no." Lamm has earned many honors and awards in her academic career. In 2020 she received the K-State Student Science Communication Award and the Association for Women Geoscientists Service Award. Other accolades include The Mars Generation 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space, NASA Solar System Ambassador and NASA Group Achievement Award. Lamm's previous internships were with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Geological Society of America. She also has given 19 professional presentations and invited talks and written nine conference abstracts.&nbsp; Lamm will complete her master's degree in August and then will continue her doctorate studies in planetary sciences at the University of Kansas in the fall. Read more about Lamm and her research on Mars included in the spring 2021 issue of Seek magazine, available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/research/about/seek/spring-2021/geology-student-researches-makeup-of-mars.html" target="_blank">online</a>.&nbsp;

K-State News Service<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620426178982.jpeg" alt="Colby native Sarah Lamm, graduate student in geology at Kansas State University, earned an internship with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory." />
 <figcaption>Colby native Sarah Lamm, graduate student in geology at Kansas State University, earned an internship with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — A prestigious internship with NASA's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/" target="_blank">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a>, JPL, is helping a Kansas State University student achieve her career goals.&nbsp;Sarah Lamm, master's student in geology from&nbsp;Colby, began her remote internship in April with the&nbsp;<a href="https://origins-habitability.jpl.nasa.gov/meet-the-lab/" target="_blank">Origins and Habitability Lab at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a>&nbsp;on the InVADER — In-situ Vent Analysis Divebot for Exobiology Research — project.&nbsp;&nbsp;She is conducting data analysis of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, or LIBS, and Raman laser data collection experiments on hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. The collected data helps to determine mineral compositions relevant to life on Mars and ocean floors. "The Raman technique is what I am using right now in my master's degree research at K-State," Lamm said. "I also have experience on the LIBS from my previous internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory. I already knew how those lasers worked, so I was able to jump right in." At K-State, Lamm's research focuses on developing a Raman laser calibration method to determine the chemical composition of chlorite minerals. Chlorite is found in many geologic environments and forms with different chemical compositions depending on the physical and chemical conditions at the time of formation. For planetary scientists, accurate chemical composition of chlorite minerals helps to better understand the environment of other planets. Lamm's dream career is to work for NASA as an astronaut or on one of its mission as a project scientist. Lamm says she takes advantage of any opportunity or connection she makes to reach her goals. "There are a lot of opportunities available at K-State if you are willing to seek them out," Lamm said. "The best way to elevate yourself is to get involved in the community or get involved in undergraduate research or internships. Those are the communities you will fall back on." Lamm, who earned bachelor's degrees in geology, chemistry and geography from K-State in 2018, credits her success to being creative and organized and to the support of her K-State advisors and professors. "They always had my back and were very supportive of my ideas," she said. "They would normally do what they could to find a valid solution to my problem. It was nice that I had their support." Lamm understands it is difficult for some students to take risks and that rejection is hard. She wants younger students to know that she has also experienced rejection, but she still applies for every scholarship, award or opportunity if she has the qualifications.&nbsp; "I'm a pretty bold person, and I will just ask for what I want," Lamm said. "The worst that they can say is no." Lamm has earned many honors and awards in her academic career. In 2020 she received the K-State Student Science Communication Award and the Association for Women Geoscientists Service Award. Other accolades include The Mars Generation 24 Under 24 Leaders and Innovators in STEAM and Space, NASA Solar System Ambassador and NASA Group Achievement Award. Lamm's previous internships were with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Geological Society of America. She also has given 19 professional presentations and invited talks and written nine conference abstracts.&nbsp; Lamm will complete her master's degree in August and then will continue her doctorate studies in planetary sciences at the University of Kansas in the fall. Read more about Lamm and her research on Mars included in the spring 2021 issue of Seek magazine, available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/research/about/seek/spring-2021/geology-student-researches-makeup-of-mars.html" target="_blank">online</a>.&nbsp;

Colby student works internship with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The major goal of Future Educators Day at Fort Hays State University is to increase interest for students in the teaching profession and to inspire them by having them interact with some of the most dynamic teachers in the state. High school students attending the 2021 event last month at FHSU got to hear from – and interact with – the best of the best.

Tabatha Rosproy, who spoke at the inaugural Future Educators Day in 2020 as part of the Kansas Teachers of the Year team, returned this year as National Teacher of the Year (NTOY). That designation by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is the most prestigious teacher recognition program in the country.

Dr. Jill Arensdorf, FHSU provost, also addressed those in attendance.

“Teaching is the lifeblood of our communities,” Arensdorf said. “It’s a calling to help shape and define our youth as well as our community.”

There are currently nearly 1,400 teaching vacancies listed on the Kansas Education Employment Board. Arensdorf pointed out that teaching is a stable career – and much more.

FHSU graduates more than 200 teacher education majors each academic year. Most of those students complete student teaching in their final semester before graduating. This semester, FHSU has 112 student teachers with 124 scheduled for the fall of 2021. Overall, Fort Hays State averages more than 1,000 students in its Teacher Education Program.

Dr. Chris Jochum, chair of FHSU’s Department of Teacher Education, emphasized the significance of hosting Future Educators Day on the campus that was founded as a Teacher’s College in 1902.

“It shows our continued commitment to serving Kansas communities through recruiting and training excellent teachers,” Jochum said. “This is critically important for potential first-generation college students who may have limited experience on a college campus. Simply getting them to campus and having them interact with other students, faculty, and staff sends the message that they’re capable of being successful here.”

While it is sometimes difficult to attract quality teachers to rural areas, Dr. Paul Adams, dean of FHSU’s College of Education, insists that Fort Hays State is committed to helping fill that gap. He was pleased that Rosproy – who is nationally recognized and has been featured in Reader’s Digest – was able to speak at the Future Educators Day for a second year.

“Our College of Education is committed to preparing teachers as part of our mission to serve Kansas,” Adams said. “Tabatha is a leader and innovator as a teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm conveyed what it means to be a teacher – for students considering their choice of careers. I believe students walked away from this event realizing that teaching is more than just a career, that it is a way of life and making a difference in the world.”

Part of Rosproy’s responsibilities as NTOY include attending speaking engagements across the country to inspire others to join the teaching profession and to bring national public attention to the importance of excellence in teaching.

Rosproy’s reign as NTOY began on July 1, 2020, and runs for one year. Because of the pandemic this past year, 95 percent of her presentations have been virtual, with only a few in-person events. She definitely wanted FHSU’s Future Educators Day on the in-person list. After all, she is a Fort Hays State student, working on her Master of Science in Education degree.

Rosproy, who has been working as a preschool teacher for special education students in Winfield for the past seven years, has the distinction of being the first NTOY who works in early childhood education.

After giving a lively and uplifting presentation to the students in the Memorial Union this year, students were able to visit with representatives from the FHSU Admissions office. Then, current FHSU students in Teacher Education led smaller break-out sessions for the participants. The sessions focused on three areas that Rosproy told the students that “great teachers do” – connecting to your purpose and doing what you are passionate about, building relationships, and engaging your students.

The event enabled the students’ teachers, counselors, and principals to accompany them and interact more as colleagues, thus underscoring the importance and significance of the profession.

Rosproy’s passion was evident as she talked about her teaching career. She told the students how she “shined in school” because adults recognized her strengths and believed in her.

“I am who and what I am because of what other people poured into me,” she said. “You can change the life of a child as a teacher.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620237181929.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsThe major goal of Future Educators Day at Fort Hays State University is to increase interest for students in the teaching profession and to inspire them by having them interact with some of the most dynamic teachers in the state. High school students attending the 2021 event last month at FHSU got to hear from – and interact with – the best of the best.Tabatha Rosproy, who spoke at the inaugural Future Educators Day in 2020 as part of the Kansas Teachers of the Year team, returned this year as National Teacher of the Year (NTOY). That designation by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is the most prestigious teacher recognition program in the country.Dr. Jill Arensdorf, FHSU provost, also addressed those in attendance.“Teaching is the lifeblood of our communities,” Arensdorf said. “It’s a calling to help shape and define our youth as well as our community.”There are currently nearly 1,400 teaching vacancies listed on the Kansas Education Employment Board. Arensdorf pointed out that teaching is a stable career – and much more.FHSU graduates more than 200 teacher education majors each academic year. Most of those students complete student teaching in their final semester before graduating. This semester, FHSU has 112 student teachers with 124 scheduled for the fall of 2021. Overall, Fort Hays State averages more than 1,000 students in its Teacher Education Program.Dr. Chris Jochum, chair of FHSU’s Department of Teacher Education, emphasized the significance of hosting Future Educators Day on the campus that was founded as a Teacher’s College in 1902.“It shows our continued commitment to serving Kansas communities through recruiting and training excellent teachers,” Jochum said. “This is critically important for potential first-generation college students who may have limited experience on a college campus. Simply getting them to campus and having them interact with other students, faculty, and staff sends the message that they’re capable of being successful here.”While it is sometimes difficult to attract quality teachers to rural areas, Dr. Paul Adams, dean of FHSU’s College of Education, insists that Fort Hays State is committed to helping fill that gap. He was pleased that Rosproy – who is nationally recognized and has been featured in Reader’s Digest – was able to speak at the Future Educators Day for a second year.“Our College of Education is committed to preparing teachers as part of our mission to serve Kansas,” Adams said. “Tabatha is a leader and innovator as a teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm conveyed what it means to be a teacher – for students considering their choice of careers. I believe students walked away from this event realizing that teaching is more than just a career, that it is a way of life and making a difference in the world.”Part of Rosproy’s responsibilities as NTOY include attending speaking engagements across the country to inspire others to join the teaching profession and to bring national public attention to the importance of excellence in teaching.Rosproy’s reign as NTOY began on July 1, 2020, and runs for one year. Because of the pandemic this past year, 95 percent of her presentations have been virtual, with only a few in-person events. She definitely wanted FHSU’s Future Educators Day on the in-person list. After all, she is a Fort Hays State student, working on her Master of Science in Education degree.Rosproy, who has been working as a preschool teacher for special education students in Winfield for the past seven years, has the distinction of being the first NTOY who works in early childhood education.After giving a lively and uplifting presentation to the students in the Memorial Union this year, students were able to visit with representatives from the FHSU Admissions office. Then, current FHSU students in Teacher Education led smaller break-out sessions for the participants. The sessions focused on three areas that Rosproy told the students that “great teachers do” – connecting to your purpose and doing what you are passionate about, building relationships, and engaging your students.The event enabled the students’ teachers, counselors, and principals to accompany them and interact more as colleagues, thus underscoring the importance and significance of the profession.Rosproy’s passion was evident as she talked about her teaching career. She told the students how she “shined in school” because adults recognized her strengths and believed in her.“I am who and what I am because of what other people poured into me,” she said. “You can change the life of a child as a teacher.”

Fort Hays State’s Future Educators Day targets potential teachers

Three-day weather outlook

	What is mental health? The National Institute of Mental Health says “mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others.” The last fourteen months has been hard on our mental health.&nbsp;

	Elaine Johannes is the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University and has worked with our Family Development team of Extension Agents to study and learn more about the pandemic’s impact on children and families. Johannes states, “This pandemic has been filled with change, loss, some grief and some positive things. So, the meaning of what has happened really needs to be our focus now. The meaning helps us understand how, mentally, we move toward the recovery phase.”&nbsp;

	Interviews with Elaine Johannes can be found on K-State’s weekly radio program&nbsp;

Sound Living, <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html</a>&nbsp;

You can also visit the National Institute of Mental Health for some great resources: <a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/mymentalhealth">www.nimh.nih.gov/mymentalhealth</a> The most important thing on the list to improve your mental health is self-care. Everyone has a different level of care needed so take the time to figure out what you most need. Many of the suggestions were on my list for my staying positive program.&nbsp;

If you or someone you know are experiencing severe symptoms for more than two weeks, talk to a professional.&nbsp; Search for the fact sheet on the National Institute of Mental Health website “Tips for Talking with your Health Care Provider”.&nbsp;	

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>	What is mental health? The National Institute of Mental Health says “mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others.” The last fourteen months has been hard on our mental health.&nbsp;	Elaine Johannes is the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor of Community Health at Kansas State University and has worked with our Family Development team of Extension Agents to study and learn more about the pandemic’s impact on children and families. Johannes states, “This pandemic has been filled with change, loss, some grief and some positive things. So, the meaning of what has happened really needs to be our focus now. The meaning helps us understand how, mentally, we move toward the recovery phase.”&nbsp;	Interviews with Elaine Johannes can be found on K-State’s weekly radio program&nbsp;Sound Living, <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html">https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html</a>&nbsp;	You can also visit the National Institute of Mental Health for some great resources: <a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/mymentalhealth">www.nimh.nih.gov/mymentalhealth</a> The most important thing on the list to improve your mental health is self-care. Everyone has a different level of care needed so take the time to figure out what you most need. Many of the suggestions were on my list for my staying positive program.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Get regular exercise. A 20 or 30-minute walk will help clear your mind.</li><li>Eat regular, healthy meals and stay hydrated.</li><li>Make sure you are getting enough sleep.</li><li>Practice gratitude and stay positive.</li><li>Stay connected with friends and family.&nbsp;</li><li>Set goals and priorities. Decide what must be done and what can wait.</li><li>Schedule a regular time for a relaxing activity. Yoga or breathing exercises are good choices.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>If you or someone you know are experiencing severe symptoms for more than two weeks, talk to a professional.&nbsp; Search for the fact sheet on the National Institute of Mental Health website “Tips for Talking with your Health Care Provider”.&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Kansas State Department of Education

TOPEKA —&nbsp;Three mathematics educators and three science educators have been named 2021 state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The 2021 state finalists for mathematics are Melissa Schoepf, Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior-Senior High School, Salina Diocese; Elizabeth Self, Kepley Middle School, Ulysses Unified School District 214; and Kimberly Tate, Chisholm Middle School, Newton USD 373.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620399689334.jpeg" alt="Melissa Schoepf" />
 <figcaption>Melissa Schoepf</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Department of EducationTOPEKA —&nbsp;Three mathematics educators and three science educators have been named 2021 state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.The 2021 state finalists for mathematics are Melissa Schoepf, Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior-Senior High School, Salina Diocese; Elizabeth Self, Kepley Middle School, Ulysses Unified School District 214; and Kimberly Tate, Chisholm Middle School, Newton USD 373.The 2021 state finalists for science are Stephanie Alderman-Oler, Eisenhower Middle School, Kansas City USD 500; Arthur Ballos, Wichita East High School, Wichita USD 259; and Erica Huggard, Emporia High School, Emporia USD 253.The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching are the nation’s highest honor for mathematics and science teaching. They are presented to educators who show a high degree of knowledge, innovation, skill and leadership.Elementary and secondary educators are recognized in alternating years. This year, secondary teachers are being recognized. Kansas had seven mathematics applicants and 11 science applicants (a list of applicants is attached). Each of the state finalists will be recognized at the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) conference Feb. 10-11, 2022. They also will compete for a national finalist title.Two educators from each state, one in the area of mathematics and one in science, may be named national finalists. Each of the national finalists will receive a $10,000 award.