<figure>
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 </figure><div><iframe title="FHSU celebrates homecoming with virtual events" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/969ss-edc861?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth=&btn-skin=101"></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostNot even a global pandemic can bring down the Tiger spirit as
Fort Hays University celebrates homecoming this week with a mix of in-person
and virtual events with a theme of Homecoming @Home.“We know that they can’t come to Tigerland, so we are bringing
the Tiger Spirit to them,” said Tammy Wellbrock, FHSU Alumni Association
interim director.“We have been working really hard to get our virtual
homecoming events up and off the ground and then making sure that all of our
alumni and friends are aware of the events going on,” said Noelle Husmann, FHSU Alumni
Association communications coordinator.This year, Husmann said, the events are free and the virtual
events are open to anyone across the globe.“We are hoping to get some good numbers this year just
because a lot of people have the opportunity to participate during this Homecoming @Home,” she said.While many of this year’s events moved online, the goal is
to create an experience that can still bring the FHSU community together.“That truly is our way of bringing the news, the celebration
and the honoring,” Wellbrock said. “Everything that is traditional about
homecoming — from the warm fuzzy sense
of the events — we are wanting to re-create.” With the shift to online events, Homecoming 2020 has the
potential to draw more people than ever before into the festivities.“Certainly, we would have rather had everybody come visit and
us to be in person but as we have talked about here at the alumni association, we all know that 2020 homecoming is not going to look like 2019 — but I really
hope that the 2021 homecoming also doesn’t look like 2019,” Wellbrock said.
“We really want to maybe drive new traditions that can enable those people that
either can't travel due to health, can't travel due to distance and finances,
time, all those things they can still be able to interact with their fellow
alumni, Tiger friends and family and just be able to celebrate at a bigger
global level.”By bringing the events online, many alumni who are unable
to come to Hays for the annual celebration can participate.“I think the majority of people understand we are a global
institution reaching every place on the globe,” Wellbrock said. “That’s where
we would love to be able to continue to celebrate homecoming here on campus
because that is the heart of where everything happens, it all starts here. But it’s also not the only reality, and we certainly hope to be able to engage some
of the ideas that we are putting into place this year.”She said she hopes to grow the online offering in the
future, even as life returns to normal.<h2>The events</h2>While much of the FHSU homecoming shifted online, some
events are still planned in person.On Thursday, the Alumni Golf Tournament is set to begin at 8:30
a.m. and the Tiger Alumni and Friends 5K Run/Walk will start at 8 a.m.
Saturday.The 5K will also have a virtual component for those who are
not in Hays.Other virtual events began earlier in the week, with
interviews with the alumni award winners that will culminate with an online celebration
at 7 p.m. Thursday.“It’s a challenge to do this celebration while we can’t
actually be in person, but we have seven amazing award winners that are being
honored,” Wellbrock said.<a href="https://m.facebook.com/FHSUAlumni/">The interviews are available for replay on the FHSU Alumni
Association Facebook page.</a>&nbsp;<figure>
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 </figure>Friday’s events include a virtual groundbreaking for the
Fischli-Wills Center for Student Success at 9 a.m.And from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, a virtual reunion is
planned in an online space.“Our office has been working really hard to find an innovative
way to connect with alumni,” Husmann
said. “We found this great online software that is a bit more interactive than
your typical video conferencing.”Attendees will see be able to interact on a virtual quad
modeled after an 8-bit video game.&nbsp;“You can walk around
a live campus and see people that way,” Husmann
said.“It’s kind of a throwback gaming feel,” Wellbrock said. A big part of the celebration every year is the FHSU
football game, but even without games being played, the association has created
a fun solution.Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock and Head Coach Chris
Brown will offer commentary during a replay of the Tigers and Northwest
Missouri State 2017 game.“We are having those two actually do what we call a football
flashback,” Wellbrock said.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/fhsualumni/videos?view=0&amp;sort=dd&amp;shelf_id=1&amp;app=desktop">That is set to premiere on the FHSU Alumni Association youtube page at 7 p.m. Saturday.</a>Overall, homecoming fits into FHSU President Tisa Mason’s
goal for the year — convert don’t cancel.“Lots to be proud of, lots to celebrate during the
homecoming week and a lot of people are making it happen,” said Scott Cason,
FHSU chief communications officer.Despite the challenges of the year and the work required to
pull off the event, Wellbrock is grateful for the opportunity to bring FHSU
together.“The opportunity to celebrate is always there and we are
glad that we get to be a part of it,” Wellbrock said.<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/homecoming/schedule/schedule-of-events">A full schedule of events and links to the virtual events
can be found by clicking here.</a>

🎙FHSU celebrates Homecoming @Home with virtual events