By ABIGAIL SHEARER
Tiger Media Network
On Thursday, speakers from the organization Women Who Lead spoke to the senate. President Ruth Ruder and former President and Founder Nancy Jeter shared their journey of getting started and what they do with Fort Hays State University and the surrounding community. Their insights highlighted how they empower and uplift women while fostering a culture of leadership and collaboration.
Jeter founded Women Who Lead in 2017, shortly after her retirement. The organization primarily supports children in the Hays community. One of the organization’s significant initiatives has been the adoption of Sunrise Park, located near the new Roosevelt School. Women Who Lead plans to eventually renovate the park to create more opportunities for local children.
Last year, on National Women’s Day, Women Who Lead also established a partnership with Delta Zeta. There are currently 25 Delta Zeta members involved with Women Who Lead. Last year, the organization concentrated on addressing the food needs of children in the community.
“[Women Who Lead] have given $10,000 to a child structure for kids who don’t have food when they go home for the weekend,” Ruder said. “We put backpacks together for those kids so they have food.”
This year, they are focused on mental health. The organization is open to any recommendations, which can be submitted at womenwholead.org. They will accept all recommendations and do their best to help each idea get started and running.
Women Who Lead started a youth advisory board with the city.
“Reach out to your city commissioners, reach out to your school board members, and reach out to your county commissioners with all your ideas,” Ruder said.
She also announced that Women Who Lead was the winner of the Chamber of Commerce Helping Hands Award. This comes after being nominated for the award in each of the previous years.
In other business, four new bills were up for first reading. There are two bills that are line item changes for shooting sports and AIGI. There were also two bills to create a new line for AIGI and the Muslim Student Association.
One bill was up for second reading for a Fe Sculpture Club line item change.This bill passed with 21(Y)/0(N).
Senate will resume next week with allocations.
Announcements
- February 28th- Black & Gold Academy, 12 pm-5 pm in the Ballroom
- March 5th- ADP 12:30-1:30
- Spring interest to run due Saturday. For more information, speak with SGA President Ella Burrows