By Diane Gasper-O’Brien
University Relations and Marketing
Chantal Solorzano is not afraid of making changes in her life when necessary.
So it was all in a day’s work for the Fort Hays State University senior when the COVID-19 pandemic forced changes for this year’s I Love FHSU Week.
Solorzano – who switched her major as a sophomore when she realized the nursing profession wasn’t for her – is looking forward to next week’s event despite having to make some major changes after students left campus last month because of the pandemic.
The 2020 execution of I Love FHSU Week, in its second year, will be held online. The virtual version of the event will begin Monday, April 20, and feature something different each day.
Solorzano, president of Tigers4Ever, and fellow members are particularly anticipating one of final day’s activities – a virtual coffee for faculty and staff. Those interested in participating can register on the FHSU Alumni Association website (more information is available in accompanying schedule). Participants will be emailed a Zoom video link to join others at 9 a.m. Friday.
The highlight of the virtual coffee will be a slideshow featuring comments from FHSU students showing their appreciation of faculty and staff.
“This is our way of bringing support to faculty and staff,” Solorzano said. “Faculty have had to change their on-campus programs to online, and everyone has been working really hard to make as smooth transition as possible for students. We want to show we appreciate that.”
I Love FHSU Week was launched last year after Tigers4Ever Advisor Charlene Nichols learned about a similar event at a conference.
“We wanted to take some time to appreciate what makes Fort Hays State unique,” said Nichols, assistant alumni director. “It’s an important part of life in western Kansas.”
The student group scheduled the inaugural event around some of the long-standing spring activities on campus, such as the FHSU Rodeo and the Tigers’ spring football game.
Those were just two of several activities canceled this year, so Tigers4Ever worked with a campus-wide committee to add some new ones and improvised with others to deliver them online.
“While we are taking the lead in coordinating the publicity around this week,” Nichols said, “it has truly been a team effort from many across campus to make this a reality.”
It was a challenging but welcoming charge for Solorzano during her last semester of classes before student teaching next semester.
“It was neat to plan something different, because the times are super different right now,” said Solorzano, a secondary education-biology major from Dodge City. “This semester is a big change for all of us. I’m glad we can still carry that on this week through virtual means.”
The group is asking people to use the hashtag #ILoveFHSU as they participate in an event.
Information for several events will be available by linking onto the various Facebook pages.
A complete schedule of events follows below.
Solorzano is hoping for high participation and thinks it will be an uplifting event. “It’s nice Because we can still engage people while still complying with the CDC recommendations,” she said. “They will still be linked to the campus community. Even though they aren’t here in person, they are here in spirit.”
I LOVE FHSU WEEK – the Virtual Edition
April 20-24, 2020
Daily
Explore University
History through Digital Collections
Visit Forsyth Library on Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram @fhsulibrary for daily photo contests featuring images from Forsyth Digital
Collections.
I Love FHSU Online
contest
Check out our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/forthaysstate/ beginning Monday, April 20, for your chance to
enter the I Love FHSU contest. A winner will be announced on Friday, April 24.
Sponsored by the FHSU Virtual College
Monday, April 20
• FHSU Spirit Week
sponsored by FHSU Intramurals – Super Hero Day (link to Facebook event with details
forthcoming)
• 10 a.m. – The Dome from Home: Facebook Live event
from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/). For the kick-off to I Love FHSU Week, staff
at the Sternberg Museum will showcase Fort Hays State University’s role at the
Sternberg.
• 2 p.m. – The Dome from Home: Facebook Live event
from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
Tuesday, April 21
• FHSU Spirit Week
sponsored by FHSU Intramurals – Formal Dress Up Day (link to Facebook event with details
forthcoming)
• 10 a.m.– The Dome from Home: Facebook Live event
from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
• 2 p.m. – The Dome
from Home: Facebook Live event from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
Wednesday, April 22
• International Spice
FHSU is home to students from around the world.
While students are studying, they also have taken time to share their culture
and love of FHSU with our community Look for the slide on our Facebook page
@FHSU International Student Services.
• 15th Annual John
Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activities Day
Scholarly and Creative Activities Day has been
the annual celebration of scholarly research and creative activities since
2005. This annual event is moving online this year. For more information on
SACAD visit https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/research/saca/. To view the posters beginning April 23, please
visit https://www.fhsu.edu/academic/research/saca/
• FHSU Spirit Week
sponsored by FHSU Intramurals – Sport Team Jersey Day (link to Facebook event with details
forthcoming)
• 10 a.m.– The Dome from Home: Facebook Live event
from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
• Noon – Staying Active While Socially Distancing
sponsored by the Kelly Center
Join us for this session, part of the Kelly
Center’s Together, Hays series, focusing on your mental and physical health
during the coronavirus pandemic. This session will be led by Meredith Lewallen,
ARPN from FHSU Student Health. A limited number of participants can be
accommodated, so register today at: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/vpAvc-GoqDMq86o_R45a5sSXRpoSlqICGA?fbclid=IwAR2QAU2An8Zn4WKCA9LgTziG2doUToP-qbBqSqtJdke2tZfUonPV0gj7Qwg
• 2 p.m. – The Dome
from Home: Facebook Live event from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
Thursday, April 23
• FHSU Spirit Week
sponsored by FHSU Intramurals – Construction Day (hardhats, neon vests, boots, gloves, etc)
(link to Facebook event with details forthcoming)
• 10 a.m. – The Dome
from Home: Facebook Live event from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
• 12:30 p.m. – Tiger Live Conversation with
President Mason on the FHSU Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/forthaysstate/
2 p.m. – The Dome
from Home: Facebook Live event from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
• 5 to 7 p.m. –
Downtown Hays Loves FHSU
Check out this special virtual shopping night with special merchandise and
discounts just for FHSU Faculty & Staff. More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/509111833351302/
Friday, April 24
• FHSU Spirit Week
sponsored by FHSU Intramurals – Door DecorationDay (link to Facebook event with details
forthcoming)
• Fun at the Fort
Friday sponsored by FHSU Alumni Association – Visit our Facebook page (link to www.facebook.com/FHSUAlumni) for family-friendly activities including color
pages and puzzles.
• 9 a.m. – Faculty
& Staff Virtual Coffee
To cap off I Love FHSU Week, FHSU faculty and
staff are invited to a virtual coffee. Hosted by Tigers4Ever and the FHSU
Alumni Association, the highlight of the event will be the unveiling of a
slideshow featuring comments from FHSU students about their appreciation of our
university’s faculty and staff. To join, register at www.goforthaysstate.com/events
• 10 a.m. – The Dome
from Home: Facebook Live event from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)
• 2 p.m. – The Dome
from Home: Facebook Live event from the Sternberg Museum (link to https://www.facebook.com/sternberg.museum/)