By CLARE THOLSTRUP
Tiger Media Network
Last school year, the Advanced Technology Student Organization (ATSO) was reformed as a club at Fort Hays State University after a six-year hiatus. With few members and little time to put together activities, ATSO found a way to build the club and make connections.
Housed within the Department of Computer Science and Informatics, ATSO offers club members a place where they can network with professionals, ask questions, and become more informed about the industries they will enter after graduation.
For ATSO President Ella Edwards, restarting the club was a way to find peace of mind amid how fast the technology world changes.
“I feel that with the current advancements occurring in technology, specifically with AI, many technology majors are nervous about what that means for them in the next couple of years,” Edwards said. “Speaking directly to the people who are seeing and deploying these changes allows students to get a first-hand view of the current job environment and changes occurring in the industry.”
Edwards expressed difficulty in planning events, given the club’s recent return, but ATSO still planned three events last school year, including hosting two speakers – Scott Rohleder and Josh Tanguay, and taking a field trip to Wichita.
Rohleder, who is the chief technology officer at Great Plains Health Alliance, spoke to ATSO about Health Informatics. Tanguay, is an instructor of Psychology at FHSU. He is also a licensed clinical psychotherapist and the owner of Western Kanas Therapy Associates LLC. He spoke about the intersection of technology and psychology.
The two speakers exposed the students to different areas that involved technology without necessarily being technology-heavy fields. ATSO Advisor Amie Wright said that she wants students to experience this exposure at these ATSO events.
“My biggest hope is that students walk away from meetings with a broader perspective,” Wright said. “I want them to discover new fields they might never have considered, see how technology can advance their personal and professional goals, and recognize the real impact they can make on society through tech.”
Through the connection made with Rohleder, some members of ATSO were invited to attend the Kansas Chapter of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference in Wichita in April. Presentations at the conference informed the group about new legislation on Health IT and how AI is impacting Health Informatics.
With the success of this trip and the speakers, ATSO plans to host even more events in the 2026-2027 school year.
ATSO is open to any students, even those outside technology-related majors. Students interested in joining ATSO can visit TigerLink for details and contact information.
Story submitted as part of Convergent Media Lab, a course within the Department of Computer Science and Informatics at Fort Hays State University