Meet the March 2018 Students of the Month
On-Campus Student: Diane Hernandez-Ramirez
From, Kansas City, Kansas, Diane Hernandez-Ramirez is a senior at Fort Hays State University. She is currently majoring in Leadership and Sociology working towards a bachelor’s degree in both. On campus, Diane’s involvement includes Circle K International, Tigers in Service, and Philosophy Club. Dianne has numerous hobbies outside of school. She enjoys painting, reading, traveling, hearing music, participating in service, hanging out with friends, and eating desserts. Her influence to get involved with Leadership Studies dealt primarily with bettering her leadership skills and ultimately herself. She states, “Through the leadership department, I have not only improved as a leader, I am also a better person as a result.” So far in her journey to gain a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, her favorite class was LDRS 670 Leadership and Personal Development with Christy Brungardt. The class challenged her to reflect on how she thinks about herself, the type of person she wants to be, and her perspective on vulnerability.
Virtual Student: Eric Hollenbeck
Virtual Student, Eric Hollenbeck received his Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from FHSU and is now working towards his Master’s. He is from San Marcos, California and resides in Tampa, Florida. Eric is involved in several professional, community organizations which include Navy Mustang Association, Surface Warfare Officers Association, and the Navy League. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, martial arts, video games, and exercising. Eric also loves to travel. His involvement with Leadership Programs stem from his current career. He felt as though it was a natural extension of what he had been doing in his career for more than half of his twenty years in it. Eric’s favorite class is his current class, Organizational Systems, Change, and Leadership with Dr. McRay. He believes the class reveals practical ways to use teachings in organizational development. Class discussions with the professor have helped Eric improve as a leader from the informative feedback and encouragement to challenge his assumptions.
International Student: Shuyu Jiu (Janet)
Janet Jiu is an international student from Kaifeng, Henan majoring in Finance. She obtained the Leadership Studies Certificate to make her success of finding a translator job in Beijing much higher. As a student, Janet is primarily and extraordinarily involved in the speech club at Sias. She took part in three speech competitions, hosted a talk show competition, and was vice president of the speaking and eloquence Association. Outside of school, her hobbies include exercising, traveling, playing badminton, and shopping. Her drive to be involved with Leadership Programs stem from her desire to improve the overall stigma of female leaders. Janet desires to be a female leader and set up an educational institution in the future. Her favorite class taken in the certificate program was LDRS 310, Field Work in Leadership Studies. She loved how the course combined in-class learning with off-campus, hands-on learning. Janet felt that she not only increased her leadership skills but also how to make her communication skills more effective.