By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Nominations are already open for the annual Hays Chamber Banquet Awards.
It's a month earlier than usual, said Sara Wasinger, CEO/president.
"We started in October last year," she said.
"This year, we just want to give people enough time and really make sure folks have plenty of days and opportunities to submit nominations."
Awards to be given in 2024 are:
• City of Hays Small Business Achievement Award
• eyeSMILE Vision + Dental Helping Hands Award
• Golden Belt Bank Hall of Fame Award
• Grow Hays Robert E. Schmidt Entrepreneur of the Year Award
• Nex-Tech Citizen of the Year Award
• Nex-Tech Wireless Businesswoman of the Year Award
• Vyve Broadband Rising Star Award
• Werth Wealth Management Member Investor of the Year Award
The eight awards will be presented during the Jan. 30, 2024 annual banquet to local businesses, organizations, and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the community.
Nominations may be made on the Chamber's website, hayschamber.com, through Oct. 31. Previous award winners are also listed online.
"It's one of our favorite events," Wasinger said.
The awards come as a surprise to the nominees, and there've been some "white lies" told to make sure the honoree would be attending the banquet.
"I get a little red-faced thinking about some of the 'extended truths' and 'big white lies' I've told," Wasinger laughed.
Last year she and her chamber staff told Hays psychologist Kyle Carlin, director of the West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, "that someone he knew and loved and appreciated was getting an award so we could get him there."
Carlin was then surprised when his own name was announced as winner of the 2023 Helping Hands award.
"He kept shaking his finger at me from the stage," Wasinger said. "I'll never forget that look on his face."