By RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
The Chamber in Hays recognized small businesses and nonprofits for their work supporting the Hays community on Tuesday at the 41st annual Chamber Awards Banquet inside the Memorial Union Ballroom. Eight award winners were honored for their economic impact and volunteer service among 545 Chamber members.
The FHSU Pep Band greets the sponsors and award winners with the Fort Hays fight song. 
Ben Schears opens the 41st annual Chamber Awards Banquet with a speech. 
Praying before the Hays Chamber hosts the banquet. 
Chamber Vice President of Membership Leigh Purdy speaking. 
Award sponsors listening to a speech. 
Creek Side Resort owner Aaron Dreher engages chamber members in an activity. 
Reflecting on all businesses’ efforts on keeping the Hays economy going. 
Receiving applause and walking to the stage to collect an award. 
The Hays Veterinary Hospital won the City of Hays Small Business Achievement award. 
The family of the late Sgt. Scott Heimann collects the posthumous Nex-Tech Citizen of the Year award. 
Marley Dechant won the Chamber’s Got Talent award and $50 for her dance video. 
Innovation Center board chair Clare Gustin received the Golden Belt Bank Hall of Fame Award. 
The award winners from the Chamber Banquet Awards.
Hays Chamber President and CEO Sarah Wasinger said it is challenging to choose winners due to the sheer number of deserving businesses, nonprofits and individuals who are nominated.
“Our chamber is very blessed to have a lot of great members who support us,” Wasinger said. “Our chamber is only as strong as all of the businesses that support us because we’re completely funded by them. We received 50 nominations this year, and it was a difficult job for our nominating committee to narrow that down.”
Wasinger emphasized how every member made a difference in driving the Hays economy.
“Anytime anybody has the courage to open up a small business, it makes a positive impact on our community,” she said. “It shows people that if you take a chance on yourself, anything is possible and it gives us more choices in our community, and the more we support one another, the stronger we get.”
Hays Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, who lost his life in the line of duty last year, was posthumously awarded Nex-Tech Citizen of the Year, and his family collected the award.
“Sgt. Heimann’s award was a particularly special component for tonight,” Wasigner said. “His experience brought our community together in a lot of special ways that I don’t think people anticipated. We were blessed that so many of his family members and the police department were here to honor him. In general, you look at all the people who were honored tonight, and they’re the people who make our community great, so we’re just thankful for all of it.”
A full list of winners and more information about the Chamber can be found at https://hayschamber.com/.