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Heart of a Tiger

Heart of a Tiger is President Mason’s bi-weekly Hays Post online column about the people, programs and progress of Fort Hays State University, and the role the university plays in our community. Columns are listed in order by most recent semester/term.

Spring 2026 Semester

Date Article Title
3/26/26 FHSU Tiger Women's Wrestlers step into the spotlight
3/12/26 How Ryan Funai found his calling in the caves and classrooms of FHSU
2/26/26 How FHSU's ethic of care is transforming Kansas
2/12/26 Profiles of two pioneers from FHSU’s first Hybrid Nursing Cohort
1/30/26 From Crisis to Courtroom: The Unstoppable Journey of Jarrett Brown
01/16/26 From the High Plains to the High Seas: FHSU Students Embrace Global Citizenship
01/2/26 Looking Back on a Successful 2025 at FHSU

Fall 2025 Semester

Date Article Title
12/19/25

David Solis-Enriquez's Exploration of Heritage and History
12/5/25

The gifts he left behind: Remembering Isaiah Maxi's commitment to service
11/21/25

Rooted in Kansas – reaching the world
11/7/25

The unsung heroes of the FHSU Financial Aid Office
10/24/25

Turning service into success: Brandon McKenna’s road to a college degree

10/10/25

FHSU graduate student balances teaching, graduate studies, and global learning
9/28/25

Delivering Innovative Agriculture Practices to Rural Kansas and the World
9/10/25

Teddy Roosevelt, Neil Armstrong, and our own Dr. Matthew Clay

Previous Columns

Summer 2025 Semester

Date Article Title
8/29/25

Elle Hutchinson's Journey from High School to FHSU Honors Graduate
8/15/25

The Hernandez Family is Back on Campus
8/1/25

Kiley Whipple Plants Seeds of Passion and Purpose
7/15/25

Meet a Barrel Racing Champion in the Making
7/3/25

Beautifying Our Home on the Plains
6/20/25

A Beacon of Hope in Public Health

6/6/25

Tigers Step up to Lend a Helping Hand in Grinnell

5/23/25

Meet Future School Psychologist and Military Spouse Allyson Baloga

Date Article Title
5/09/25

Meet Honesty Beaton - innovator, leader, change-maker

4/25/25

Shaping Global Citizen Leaders

4/10/25

Fort Hays State University Introduces New Business Retention and Expansion Program

3/28/25

Comprehensive Cadaver Lab Renovation Planned

3/14/25

Embracing the Future: Fort Hays State University's Commitment to AI Education and Innovation

2/27/25

FHSU Telemental Health Initiative Poised to Improve the Quality of Life in Rural Kansas

2/14/25

Victor E. Tiger Turns 25

1/31/25

Meet Next-Generation Kansas Farmer Joe Ferguson

1/16/25

VIP Ambasssadors Gain Insight, Give Back to FHSU Community

1/2/25

Looking Back on a Transformative 2024

Date Article Title
12/19/24

FHSU Rodeo Champions Show Competitive Edge in a Thriving Program
12/5/24

Spotlighting our Entrepreneurial Students, and the Peter Werth Challenge
11/22/24

Celebrating International Education Week
11/7/24

FHSU’s Work to Enhance the First-Generation Student Experience
10/24/24 FHSU’s Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator Shaping the Future for Students and Businesses
10/11/24 Kansas Academy of Math and Science Alum Ready to Make her Mark on the World
9/27/24 Celebrating Success, part 5
9/12/24 Celebrating Success, part 4
Date Article Title
8/28/24 Celebrating Success, part 3
8/14/24 Celebrating Success, part 2
8/1/24 Celebrating Success: Fort Hays State Unversity's Strategic Plan 2019-2024
7/13/24 Profiles of Two Determined First-Year Medical School Students
7/5/24 Meet Leea Smarsh, a Survivor Who Has Learned to Thrive at FHSU
6/20/24 FHSU Tourism Students Exploring New Frontiers in AI-Driven Marketing
6/1/24 Meet Josie Gage, a Pathfinding Future Teacher
5/23/24 2024 Graduate Chelsea Kiefer and the Power of FHSU Online
Date Article Title
5/9/24 Promises Kept and Lives Touched: Local Educators Ignite Hope through Learning and Literacy
4/26/24 Sternberg Museum's Record Summer Camp Enrollment Marks a New Era of Science Exploration
4/12/24 Celebrating SACAD, FHSU’s Annual Learning and Creative Expression Showcase
3/29/24 Pioneering Pathways Through Visionary Approaches
3/15/24 Philanthropy and Wooster Society at FHSU
3/1/24 Balancing Academics and Athletics: The Evolving Role of Faculty Athletics Representatives
2/15/24 FHSU's New Telehealth Certification
2/2/24 Changing the Way Law Enforcement Manages Potential Conflicts
1/18/24 Building a Thriving Work Environment at Fort Hays State University
1/5/24  Looking Back at Top 10 FHSU News Stories of 2023
Date Article Title
12/21/23 FHSU Shotgun Team Continues Dominance in Fall Season
12/7/23 Reflections on the 2023 Tiger Athletics Hall of Fame Celebration, Part 2
11/23/23 Reflections on the 2023 Tiger Athletics Hall of Fame Celebration, Part 1
11/9/23 Empowering First-Generation College Students at Fort Hays State University
10/26/23 FHSU's Well Tiges Program Cultivates Wellness and Work-Life Balance
10/12/23 Scholarship Program Shapes our Leaders of Tomorrow
10/2/23 Bringing History to Life
9/15/23 The Student-Athlete Experience Fuels Success in College and in Life
9/1/23 The Unmatched Value of an FHSU Education 
Date Article Title
8/17/23 Family Ties to FHSU Run Deep in Rural Kansas
8/4/23 Professional Excellence and Caring Hearts-the Hallmarks of FHSU Nursing
7/20/23 Tiger Athletes Earn National Academic All-American Honors
7/6/23 Heart of the Tiger: Sharing Innovative Projects
6/22/23 New Leadership for the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
6/8/23 The Three C's
5/28/23 Farheen Khan and her Spirit of Generosity
Date Article Title
5/12/23 Mason Cloud's Victory Vessel
4/24/23 Giving the Gift of Life
4/13/23 Get Out and Vote!
3/30/23 Riley Tinder and the Value of Competition and Collaboration
3/16/23 The Inspiring Work of Engaged Student Leaders
3/3/23 Meet a Talented Tiger Twirler
2/15/23 Responding to the Greater Need
2/3/23 FHSU Online at 25 Years
1/20/23 Be That Person
1/5/23 Amy Schmierbach's Quest 
Date Article Title
12/23/22 Retrospective - My First Five Years as President 
12/8/22 Brendan Chapman
11/24/22 FHSU Student Tanner Callis Discusses the Power of Scholarships
11/10/22 Patrick McGinnis and the Power of the Community
11/1/22 My Evening with Tiger Hall of Famers
10/13/22 Meet Ayanna Hensley
10/6/22 A Tennis Double-Double
9/15/22 Rounding Up
9/1/22 Celebrating our Exceptional Faculty at Fall Convocation
Date Article Title
8/16/22 Four decades and two generations of Tiger Tots
8/04/22 Hot fun in the summertime
7/20/22 Intentionally and the Rarick Hall Renovation Project
7/7/22 Team Mallory
6/23/22 FHSU at 120 - A Legacy of Massive Moments
6/10/22 Pell Grants Vital to Student Success
5/26/22  Responsiveness, Positivity, Kindness: That is Fort Hays State
Date Article Title
5/12/22 Resilience is Part of the Culture at FHSU
4/28/22 Partnerships Expanding Opportunities for Students
4/14/22 A Powerful Redemption Story
3/31/22 College Journey Shaped my Destination
3/17/22 Filling Vital Roles in Rural Kansas
2/24/22 Introducing a New Way to Celebrate your Tiger Spirit
2/10/22 Welcoming 2 New Senior Leaders at FHSU
1/27/22 A Promising Year Ahead at Fort Hays State
1/13/22 FHSU Pleased to Bring Back Encore Series
Date Article Title
9/9/21 Celebrating Success to Kick Off New School Year
9/23/21 FHSU, 4-H Both Provide Opportunity to Change Lives, Community - and the World
10/7/21 Lang Investing in his Future at FHSU
10/21/21 FHSU Students Can Plan with the Best
11/04/21 Tiger Nation: An Ethic of Care like Nowhere Else
11/18/21 Business Succession Planning and Economic Vitality in Rural Kansas
12/2/21 This FHSU Alum is Changing the World One Experience at a Time
12/16/21 Gratitude for Family, Friends, and Traditions
12/30/21 Top 10 List Brimming with Good News
Date Article Title
6/3/21 Count on us to be Tiger Strong
6/17/21 FHSU Leaders Continually Strive for Excellence
7/1/21 Ventura Took Full Advange of FHSU Opportunities
7/9/21 FHSU: A Different University
8/1/21 Heart of a Tiger
8/26/21 Newcomers Adding Energy to FHSU
Date Article Title
1/14/21 FHSU Top 10 List for 2020
1/28/21 Remarkable Leaders, a Remarkable Community
2/11/21 FHSU Stands United in Giving Love this February
2/25/21 Making Someone Else's Day a Little Bit Brighter
3/11/21 The Team Behind the Teams
3/25/21 Schmidt Foundation Fuels Dreams of FHSU Scholars
4/8/21 Celebrate Scholarly Research and Creative Work with FHSU
4/22/21 FHSU Team on Target with another National Title
5/6/21 Celebrating a true Tiger Champion
5/20/21 FHSU Thriving Through Resilience
Date Article Title
8/13/20 Not Everything is about COVID-19!
8/27/20 FHSU Professor and Student Join Forces for Epilepsy Research
9/10/20 A One(sie) Welcome for our Littlest Tigers
9/24/20 The Importance of Staying Connected
10/9/20 Tiger Freshman Seizes Opportunity at FHSU
10/22/20 FHSU Comes Together to Make Beautiful Music
11/5/20 FHSU Admissions Staff Still Going the Extra Mile
11/19/20 On-the-Job Training for FHSU Student Workers
12/03/20 FHSU Greatest Gift: Remaining Tiger Strong
12/17/20 Helping Hands Abound at FHSU
12/31/20 Making Dreams Come True at FHSU
Date Article Title
5/21/20 Distance Doesn’t Dim Graduates’ Joy of Achievement
6/4/20 Grads Embrace the Opportunity in Meeting Unexpected Challenges
6/18/20 FHSU Bringing Graduating Tigers, Families and Friends in for a Hashtag Celebration
7/2/20 FHSU Passes Test in Commitment to Students
7/16/20 FHSU Embraces Change, Faces Challenges Head On
7/30/20 Change is Seamless at Fort Hays State
Date Article Title
1/02/20 2019 Was Another Great Year at Fort Hays State
1/16/20 Focusing on the Magic in a New Year
1/30/20 Great Institutions Value the People who make them Great
2/13/20 A University’s Success is Rooted in the Spirit of Generosity
2/27/20 Eric and Amanda’s Story Drives a Research Team
3/12/20 Personal Touches Turn a Great Education into a Great Experience
3/27/20 Tiger Innovation, Persistence and Ethic of Care on Display
4/9/20 At Fort Hays State, COVID-19 Means Converting, Not Canceling
4/23/20 Esports at FHSU is going big time – Varsity
5/07/20 A Case for College

Contact Office of the President

600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601
Sheridan Hall 312
Phone: (785) 628-4231