By Diane Gasper-O’Brien
University Relations and Marketing
Siblings – even twins – have different career goals. But Jenice Hernandez said she feels blessed that she followed her twin sister, Jasmine, to Fort Hays State University following their senior year at Liberal High School.
Jenice graduated Friday with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and plans to take her talents to the Kansas City area.
During her presidential remarks at commencement – the first at FHSU following the fall semester – Dr. Tisa Mason asked all first generation graduates to stand. Jenice was honored to do so and pleased to celebrate with her family as a first generation graduate, joining Jasmine in that distinction. Jasmine graduated last spring with a degree in health and human performance and is working with an athletic trainer at a high school in Tyler, Texas, while pursuing her master’s.
Jenice chose the creative arts path and plans to continue her education. Her goal is to become an esthetician (a skincare specialist) and eventually operate her own business. And she feels her experiences at FHSU will carry her far.
“I feel like I grew a lot as a person at Fort Hays State,” she said. “I’m a little nervous about graduating and going out into the world but excited at the same time.”
Mason said those feelings are natural.
“Feelings of nostalgia are important,” she told the graduates. “They mean we have etched a place in your heart and you are tied to your alma mater. Don’t ever forget that your education is a privilege, and a Fort Hays State University education is a special privilege. Cherish it.”
Jenice reminisced about her career during finals week while talking about the importance of a college education, especially at Fort Hays State. She was particularly impressed with the hands-on opportunities available so early in her college career. Jenice worked as a student graphic designer in the office of University Relations and Marketing for two and a half years.
“It was a great opportunity to be able to use my design skills,” she said. “It’s so awesome to be able to get the experience here instead of having to wait until you graduate and are out in the real world before you get started.”
Jenice was surprised at first with – and appreciative of – the support that FHSU students get from the Hays community.
“It’s sometimes hard to reach audiences with your art,” Jenice said. “But Hays has several community art walks a year where we can display our work, and we have shows in the art and design building. Those are such great opportunities for us.”
Even though she didn’t even visit the FHSU campus until late in her senior year, Jenice said she was able to obtain enough financial aid to graduate with little debt. She was considering two other colleges during her senior year at Liberal but accompanied Jasmine to Fort Hays State on a campus visit.
Jenice immediately fell in love with the campus and soon felt the same about the graphic design program, which she says covers all aspects of the creative process.
“Our program not only emphasizes the design but to think in depth what it means,” she said. “We learn the planning, the organizing, the perception, how to tell a story.”
