By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
Fort Hays Tech | North Central opened its renovated student classroom building Monday, welcoming students, faculty and community members for a ribbon cutting and open house.
Eric Burks, president of Fort Hays Tech | North Central, said the renovation was intended to increase the number of students the college can serve in individual classes. The college had placed some prospective students on waiting lists as programs outgrew their space.
“We never told a student we wouldn’t serve them. We told them they had to wait, so we put them on a waiting list,” Burks said. “When you’re putting people on a waiting list, they’re not going to wait. They’re going to find someplace else that can serve them.”
The building, at the college’s Main Street location, is owned by the city of Hays. Fort Hays Tech previously used it for construction trades programs, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and commercial driver’s license training. Those programs moved to the college’s Hanson Construction Career Center, which opened last year.
The renovated building now houses Business Technology, Business Management, Culinary Arts and Telecommunications programs.
The Business Technology course is being taught by Jennifer Younger, Business Technology chairwoman and instructor.
The Business Office Management course is being taught by Jennifer VonLintel, Business Office Management chairwoman and instructor.
The Culinary Arts course is being taught by Wilma Powers, Culinary Arts chairwoman and instructor.
The Telecommunications & Network Technology course is being taught by Kevin Karlin, Telecommunications & Network Technology chairman and instructor.
“Business technology and business management, just being closer to downtown businesses, I think, is going to be an advantage that we've talked about,” Burks said.
“They have a dedicated media space where they're going to be able to do photography, videos and different things that are very important in today's business world. Culinary arts, there's actually a kitchen space located within this facility.”
Burks said telecommunications students also moved from a facility in Victoria, allowing them to study in Hays.
The renovation includes a new roof, heating and cooling system and other upgrades.
Burks thanked the city, local businesses, college staff, instructors and students and many others for helping complete the project and move the programs.
Sarah Wasinger, president and CEO of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, hosted the ribbon cutting and open house.
Burks also encouraged local businesses to connect with students through the college’s career fairs, job platform and program advisory committees.
“We want to keep those students here in Hays," Burks said. "It's important that there are opportunities for them here in Hays. We want to be able to answer those opportunities, and so we needed to increase our capacity to meet that need. That is what led to this."