07/14/26

By: FHSU Alumni Office
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University will honor five outstanding alumni during Homecoming weekend, October 1-3. These individuals reflect the heart of FHSU through their commitment to leadership and service, and their contributions will be celebrated throughout Homecoming.

Award recipients include:

Alumni Achievement Award

• Michelle Haub ’93, ’94, Manhattan
• Donald M. Stewart ’58, Lawrence (In Memoriam)

Distinguished Service Award

• Brenda Meder ’80, ’87, Hays

Nita Landrum Award

• Chelsey Ladd ’08, ’08, Hays

Young Alumni Award

• Layne Krizek ’12, Wichita

Visit FHSUhomecoming.com/awards to learn more about the criteria by which these distinguished individuals were chosen.

Homecoming 2026 Honoree Profiles:

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Michelle Haub ’93, ’94, Manhattan

Michelle (Straub) Haub had a simple vision to “help those affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD),” and since 2006, she has turned that goal into a legacy of service and innovation. She has created and facilitated the state’s only consistent Young Onset Parkinson’s group in addition to developing the longest-running free Parkinson’s and memory programs.

Haub earned her degrees in speech-language pathology at Fort Hays State University. Early in her career, she learned about the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) – LOUD, designed to increase vocal volume and clarity. This experience sparked a passion that extended beyond traditional therapy and shaped her broader mission.

She was the first speech-language pathologist to become a certified Rock Steady Boxing coach. Rock Steady Boxing is an evidence-based exercise curriculum designed to impact symptoms and slow progression of Parkinson’s.

Haub is an active Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador and supports other organizations starting PD programs, including the Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic at FHSU. To provide the Flint Hills area with comprehensive, specialized resources, she has designed custom Parkinson’s Disease and dementia curricula tailored to improve quality of life for all affected by these diseases. She also supports more than 150 individuals each week through hybrid classes, meetings, and support groups she develops and leads. Dedicated to education and outreach, Haub collaborates with Kansas State University’s psychology and gerontology programs to train future healthcare workers.

Through her fundraising efforts, she ensures programming remains free of charge for participants, removing financial barriers for those in need. Notably, the Speedy PD Race for Parkinson’s, established in 2008, has grown from 125 participants to 1,068 in its 17th year and has raised more than $1 million.

Haub’s dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s, cognitive changes, and/or dementia. These actions strengthen care and community in the Flint Hills area. Her work reflects the spirit of Fort Hays State University alumni – compassionate, innovative, and committed to making a difference.

She is married to Dr. Mark Haub ’92, and they have two sons, Trae and Trewman.

Donald M. Stewart ’58, Lawrence (In Memoriam)

The late Donald M. Stewart transformed healthcare across Kansas, leaving a legacy that continues to shape hospitals, communities, and public health initiatives.

Stewart began his education at Fort Hays State, earning a degree in general science before pursuing a master’s degree in hospital administration at Northwestern University. After completing his residency, Stewart and his family moved to Hays, where he spent 20 years as CEO of Hadley Medical Center.

In 1983, Stewart became President and CEO of Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. During his tenure there, he played a key role in establishing the Kansas Health Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund. As a senior advisor for the Kansas Health Foundation, he helped guide more than $500 million in grants to improve health across the state. The foundation also launched the Kansas Leadership Center, which develops leadership and civic engagement skills.

Alongside his late wife, Royalynn, and their sons, Brian and Craig, Stewart remained focused on expanding programming to assist rural hospitals and securing funding to create nurse practitioner programs at KU Medical Center, Wichita State, and FHSU.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Stewart was dedicated to service and leadership at state and national levels. He volunteered as chair of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas board, as well as the Kansas Hospital Association board. Additionally, he served on boards for the American Protestant Hospital Association, the Midwest Health Congress, and Health Frontiers. He also represented Kansas as a delegate to the American Hospital Association and was appointed by President George H. W. Bush to the Federal Home Loan Bank board.

Throughout his career, Stewart earned numerous awards, including the Kansas Outstanding Young Man Award and the Charles S. Billings Award, and he received recognition by the Kansas Federation of Business and Professional Women for his efforts to advance women in the workplace.

Stewart’s legacy reflects a lifelong commitment to improving access to healthcare, strengthening institutions, and serving Kansas communities.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Brenda Meder ’80, ’87, Hays

Brenda (Braun) Meder devoted her life to arts advocacy, promoting hundreds of visual and performing artists throughout her career and leaving a lasting mark on the cultural landscape of Hays.

A communication major at Fort Hays State University, Meder developed a passion for performing arts that shaped her professional journey. In 1990, she became the Hays Arts Council Director, and for more than 35 years, Meder curated and installed over 300 exhibitions and organized 125 Art Walks. Additionally, she helped develop the building design, while guiding the For the Heart of Hays capital campaign, a major renovation supporting the arts in downtown Hays. 

Meder’s commitment extends deeply into arts education. She contributed significantly to arts education as a theatre director for Hays High School, Thomas More Prep-Marian, and Fort Hays State University, and is currently serving as director of the Hays Community Theatre summer musical. Meder also fostered student creativity by organizing exhibitions in area schools and coordinating the long-standing Famous Figures competition.

From 1992 to 2005, Meder served as host and associate producer of Kansas Arts Today for Smoky Hills Public Television, interviewing more than 150 visual, performing, and literary artists.

Meder has been honored for her dedication to the arts by receiving the Arts Advocate Award from the Kansas Arts Commission’s Governor’s Arts Awards program, the Citizen of the Year Award from the Chamber in Hays, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Victoria High School.

Meder’s legacy continues through her family. Her sons, Nate and Heath, are both FHSU art and design graduates, and her oldest grandchild, Canon, is currently a Tiger. The families, which include daughters-in-law Sara and Kelli, and granddaughters Harlo, Olivia, and Wren, reside in Hays.

NITA LANDRUM AWARD

Chelsey Ladd ’08, ’08, Hays

Chelsey (Gillogly) Ladd’s career is rooted in public service and community engagement. For nearly 18 years, she has served the people of Kansas, working alongside U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, most recently in the role of Director of Constituent Services, where she helps Kansans navigate federal agencies and ensures their voices are heard.

Ladd graduated from Fort Hays State University with dual degrees in political science and organizational leadership. Her connection to Fort Hays State continues through her leadership on the Foundation Board of Trustees and her previous involvement as a member of the Alumni Board of Ambassadors and President of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She remains actively involved in supporting FHSU initiatives, events, and alumni engagement efforts, and believes strongly in giving back to the university that gave so much to her.

Her volunteer work spans beyond Fort Hays State University. Ladd currently serves as president of the board of directors for The Bricks in Downtown Hays. She has also been a dedicated volunteer with the Kiwanis Club of Hays, serving in several leadership roles, contributing to the club’s U.S. Flag Project, and many of their other community initiatives. In recognition of her servant leadership and dedication to her community, Ladd received the 2020 Rising Star Award from The Chamber in Hays.

Ladd and her husband, Aaron, are proud parents of their two boys, Theodore and Wyatt, whom they are raising in the heart of Tiger Nation.

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

Layne Krizek ’12, Wichita

Layne Krizek’s path from Fort Hays State University graduate to Chief Risk Officer at Koch, Inc., highlights his strong foundation in finance, leadership, and strategic thinking.

Krizek earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from FHSU. During his time as a student, he distinguished himself both academically and competitively as a member of the university’s financial planning team, which captured a national championship title. In recognition of his leadership, academic achievement, and contributions to the program, he was also honored with Fort Hays State University’s prestigious Torch Award in 2012. Krizek later completed a master’s degree in quantitative financial economics from Oklahoma State University.

Since joining Koch, Inc. in 2014 as a market risk analyst, Krizek has advanced through multiple leadership roles to become the Chief Risk Officer. At just 36, he leads risk strategy for one of the world’s largest privately held companies, with more than 120,000 employees across 50+ countries.

Krizek also serves as a board member for Wichita Warriors Homeschool Athletics. He and his wife, Kelsie, are active in their church and homeschooling community while raising their four children: Kinsley, Hudson, River, and Maverick.

Alumni Award Recipient Meet and Greet

The public and FHSU community are invited to join us in congratulating these extraordinary individuals during Homecoming weekend at a come-and-go Alumni Award Meet and Greet on Friday, October 2, from 9:30 – 11:00 AM, in Tebo Library on FHSU’s campus.

To nominate an FHSU alumni or friend of the university you believe is worthy of recognition or to view past award recipients, visit FHSUhomecoming.com/awards .

Check out FHSUhomecoming.com for a schedule of events that will take place throughout Homecoming weekend. For questions, contact the FHSU Alumni Office at alumni@fhsu.edu or 785-628-4430.