Students earn top awards at tech fair Kiowa County High School student Logan Rugg took Best senior woodworking with his China cabinet, and also won the Ed Davis award for best production project and the Fred Ruda award for peoples choice at the recent tech fair hosted by Fort Hays State University in Hays. Courtesy photo May 11, 2022 in News By Josanna Henry Special to the Signal Fort Hays State University hosted its 63rd annual technology fair for Kansas high school students at the end of April, inviting them to come and present their various technical achievements. It was held at the Gross Memorial Coliseum and any student from grades 6-12 who studies under a certified stem or industrial arts teacher is eligible to submit their work to be showcased. Many local Kiowa County High School students participated, winning accolades for their work accomplished this school year under the direction of teacher Peter Kerns. “I teach woodshop to encourage kids to live a quiet life, to mind their own business, and to work with their hands, so their daily lives will win the respect of others and they will not be dependent on anyone,” Kerns said. There were seven Maverick freshmen who received medals for their various projects. There were nine sophomores who had multiple awards, including the best sophomore woodworking award given to McKenna Kerns. She was also the recipient of the Fred Ruda Award, which was awarded to her for the blue ribbon dresser that she crafted. This award is presented to honor the influence and contributions of Fred Ruda who was an integral part of the Fort Hays department of technology for thirty-nine years, thirty three of which were spent as a chairman of the department of applied technology. He was a father, mentor, and even ran a Toys for Tots event every year in order to help spread cheer during the Christmas season. Criteria for the Ruda award is that the project is considered the people’s choice and the fair favorite. The Ralph Huffman award was given to Brock Dereck for his blue ribbon winning face frame clamp table. This award is rooted in FHSU history and is given in honor of a former head football coach Ralph Huffman. He spent ten seasons coaching at Fort Hays and led the team with 41 wins, 37 losses, and 10 ties. The criteria for this award is that it must be the best in the power and energy category. There were six juniors who also were awarded medals for their work, and the title of best junior woodworking went to Buck Slade for his first place gun cabinet. Four Kiowa County seniors were placed in the fair, with Bryson Brown given the award of best senior woodworking for his T.V. stand/ end tables. In the high school aged team competitions a team composed of: Bryson Brown, Buck Slade, Boyd Lothman, Carter Ross, and Jaxon Ploger placed second in communications and third in the technology challenge. For the eighth grade team which had members: Alaina Kost, Jackson Piester, Carter Kishpaugh, and Austin Allison. They achieved first place in problem solving, second place in communications, and third place in the technology challenge. 2022 Tech Fair Results FRESHMAN Tristan Sneed – Desk – Blue/Medal Nazar Haydon – Table – Blue/Medal Tye Newell – TV Stand – Blue Andrew Wolfley – End Table Set – Red Andrew Wolfley – Toy Box – Red Bradley Neier – Night Stand – Red Mavrick Titus – Shot Glass Display – Red SOPHOMORE Brandon Brown – Bed – Blue/Medal Agatha Redecop – Dresser – Blue/Medal Hunter Thompson – Armoire – Blue/Medal McKenna Kern – Dresser – Blue/Medal, Best Sophomore Woodworking, Fred Ruda Award (it’s a fancy plaque with a guy’s face on it) Brock Hassiepen – Night stand – Blue Dereck Mackley – Bench – Blue Brock and Dereck – Face Frame Clamp Table – Blue/ Medal, Ralph Huffman Award (it’s a fancy plaque with a guy’s face on it) Landon Monroe – Coffee Table – Blue Isaac Redburn – Night stand – Blue JUNIOR Alex Redecop – Bed – Blue/Medal Carter Ross – Gun Cabinet – Blue/Medal Boyd Lothman – Dresser – Blue/Medal Buck Slade – Gun Cabinet – Blue/Medal, Best Junior Woodworking Kyler Sheldon – Table – Blue/Medal Jaxon Ploger – Nightstand set – Blue SENIOR Bryson Brown – TV Stand/End Tables – Blue/Medal, Best Senior Woodworking Bo West – Gun Cabinet – Blue/Medal Luke Kishpaugh – Bed – Blue/Medal Caydan Pore – Bed – Blue Bryson, Buck, Boyd, Carter, Jaxon – Team Competitions: 2nd in Communications, 3rd in Technology Challenge Alaina Kost, Jackson Piester, Carter Kishpaugh, Austin Allison – 8th Grade Team Competitions: 1st in Problem Solving, 2nd in Communications, 2nd in Technology Challenge Latest Stories Citizens Bank of Kansas sends kids to space May 11, 2022 Don’t fence me in: Collaborative virtual fencing study aims to advance conservation, ranching outcomes May 11, 2022 Pratt High School boys’ golf finds individual and team success May 11, 2022 Supreme Court, Americans grapple with life questions and illegal drugs coming across the border May 11, 2022 Great Kansas Fishing Derby returns for second year May 11, 2022 Students earn top awards at tech fair May 11, 2022 Redeemmed by His blood May 11, 2022 When ‘Job moments’ come, concentrate on the good that God has already done May 11, 2022 Jesus is the only real hope for change May 11, 2022 It is not the nation but the church that must repent May 11, 2022

Kiowa County High School student Logan Rugg took Best senior woodworking with his China cabinet, and also won the Ed Davis award for best production project and the Fred Ruda award for peoples choice at the recent tech fair hosted by Fort Hays State University in Hays. Courtesy photo

Fort Hays State University hosted its 63rd annual technology fair for Kansas high school students at the end of April, inviting them to come and present their various technical achievements. It was held at the Gross Memorial Coliseum and any student from grades 6-12 who studies under a certified stem or industrial arts teacher is eligible to submit their work to be showcased. Many local Kiowa County High School students participated, winning accolades for their work accomplished this school year under the direction of teacher Peter Kerns.

“I teach woodshop to encourage kids to live a quiet life, to mind their own business, and to work with their hands, so their daily lives will win the respect of others and they will not be dependent on anyone,” Kerns said.

There were seven Maverick freshmen who received medals for their various projects. There were nine sophomores who had multiple awards, including the best sophomore woodworking award given to McKenna Kerns. She was also the recipient of the Fred Ruda Award, which was awarded to her for the blue ribbon dresser that she crafted. This award is presented to honor the influence and contributions of Fred Ruda who was an integral part of the Fort Hays department of technology for thirty-nine years, thirty three of which were spent as a chairman of the department of applied technology. He was a father, mentor, and even ran a Toys for Tots event every year in order to help spread cheer during the Christmas season. Criteria for the Ruda award is that the project is considered the people’s choice and the fair favorite.

The Ralph Huffman award was given to Brock Dereck for his blue ribbon winning face frame clamp table. This award is rooted in FHSU history and is given in honor of a former head football coach Ralph Huffman. He spent ten seasons coaching at Fort Hays and led the team with 41 wins, 37 losses, and 10 ties. The criteria for this award is that it must be the best in the power and energy category.

There were six juniors who also were awarded medals for their work, and the title of best junior woodworking went to Buck Slade for his first place gun cabinet.

Four Kiowa County seniors were placed in the fair, with Bryson Brown given the award of best senior woodworking for his T.V. stand/ end tables.

In the high school aged team competitions a team composed of: Bryson Brown, Buck Slade, Boyd Lothman, Carter Ross, and Jaxon Ploger placed second in communications and third in the technology challenge. For the eighth grade team which had members: Alaina Kost, Jackson Piester, Carter Kishpaugh, and Austin Allison. They achieved first place in problem solving, second place in communications, and third place in the technology challenge.

Tristan Sneed – Desk – Blue/Medal

Nazar Haydon – Table – Blue/Medal

Tye Newell – TV Stand – Blue

Andrew Wolfley – End Table Set – Red

Andrew Wolfley – Toy Box – Red

Bradley Neier – Night Stand – Red

Mavrick Titus – Shot Glass Display – Red

Brandon Brown – Bed – Blue/Medal

Agatha Redecop – Dresser – Blue/Medal

Hunter Thompson – Armoire – Blue/Medal

McKenna Kern – Dresser – Blue/Medal, Best Sophomore Woodworking, Fred Ruda Award (it’s a fancy plaque with a guy’s face on it)

Brock Hassiepen – Night stand – Blue

Brock and Dereck – Face Frame Clamp Table – Blue/

Medal, Ralph Huffman Award (it’s a fancy plaque with a guy’s face on it)

Landon Monroe – Coffee Table – Blue

Isaac Redburn – Night stand – Blue

Alex Redecop – Bed – Blue/Medal

Carter Ross – Gun Cabinet – Blue/Medal

Boyd Lothman – Dresser – Blue/Medal

Buck Slade – Gun Cabinet – Blue/Medal, Best Junior

Kyler Sheldon – Table – Blue/Medal

Jaxon Ploger – Nightstand set – Blue

Bryson Brown – TV Stand/End Tables – Blue/Medal,

Bo West – Gun Cabinet – Blue/Medal

Luke Kishpaugh – Bed – Blue/Medal

Bryson, Buck, Boyd, Carter, Jaxon – Team Competitions: 2nd in Communications, 3rd in Technology

Alaina Kost, Jackson Piester, Carter Kishpaugh, Austin

Allison – 8th Grade Team Competitions:

1st in Problem Solving, 2nd in Communications, 2nd in Technology Challenge