FHSU History

07/29/2026

Read here about how two of our Tiger teachers recently traveled to DC to learn more about Holocaust education.

Local Educators Travel to USHMM
July 2026 – Coffeyville, KS

Kayanna Adams and Megan Wade, educators at Field Kindley Memorial High School in Coffeyville, tackled tough history this summer. Adams and Wade participated in an intensive Holocaust education program called KC to DC, sponsored by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE).
The highlight of KC to DC was a trip to tour the exhibitions at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. Educators in the 2026 cohort engaged in eleven hours of virtual classroom learning taught by the MCHE team and completed an intensive guided self-study assignment on Holocaust history.
“KC to DC was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Adams said. “Learning about the Holocaust from the MCHE team and Sam Devinki gave me a new perspective on the importance of teaching this history to students. I am grateful for the connections I made and look forward to using the knowledge and resources gained in my classroom for years to come.”
“Walking through the USHMM transformed the way I think about teaching the Holocaust,” Wade said. “The experience reinforced that this history is not just about learning the facts; it is about honoring the lives of those who were lost, recognizing the dangers of hatred and indifference, and empowering students to become informed, compassionate citizens. I am excited to bring these powerful lessons and resources back to my classroom and help my students make meaningful connections between the past and the world they live in today because ‘What You Do Matters.’”
KC to DC is designed to strengthen educators’ historical knowledge, instructional skills, and connections to MCHE’s team and resources. Another goal is to foster supportive relationships among the teachers themselves. As they return to FKHS this year, Wade and Adams will be better able to implement effective and meaningful Holocaust lessons for their students.
KC to DC is funded through the generous support of Sam Devinki, son of Holocaust survivors Fred and Maria Devinki. The program will be on hiatus while USHMM renovates its permanent exhibition during 2027 and 2028. KC to DC will restart in 2029.
Visit the MCHE website at www.mchekc.org for more information about professional development for educators, programs for students, and programs for the community.

07/02/2026

Congratulations to David Solis on his successful thesis defense!

06/30/2026

We are so proud of Sarah!

Hahn....
The Eastern Shoshone Archives & Records Administration (ARA) is happy to introduce its new Collections Specialist, Sarah Keiss. This position has been made possible thanks to grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services! Sarah is working closely with both the ARA and the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Cultural Center.
"My name is Sarah Keiss, and I am the new Collections Specialist for the Eastern Shoshone Archives and Cultural Center. I just completed my master’s degree in public history from Fort Hays State University in Kansas, where I also obtained my bachelor’s in history and a certificate in museum studies. I have worked in several museum spaces in various collections and archival roles, most recently serving as the collections committee chair for Ellis County Historical Society. This past semester, I defended my thesis “Defend the Fort: Indigenous History Remembrance, and Memorialization in Ellis County, Kansas.” Previous research projects of mine have centered on Holocaust & genocide studies, memory & memorialization, and settler colonialism.
I am originally from Northern Colorado, where I enjoyed camping, hiking, and generally spending time outdoors, which I plan to do now that I am back in the mountains. Since I was a child, I have visited historic sites, museums, and natural areas across the US West, most of which focused on Indigenous and settler history. I am passionate about preserving and sharing the complex history of the West, and it has been a dream of mine to work in a museum space dealing with Indigenous and Western US history. I am incredibly grateful to have this opportunity and am excited to learn more about the community and area.
In my past public history roles, I have assisted in the creation of new policies, created collections organization systems, inventoried artifacts, and supported other collections management roles. In this position, I hope to create comprehensive inventories of the archives and cultural center materials to support easier access and digitization of many of the resources. I plan to implement new archival policies and procedures that focus on increasing accessibility to staff and visitors and assist later staff members after me. I look forward to working with the archives team to help organize the Eastern Shoshone Archives and prepare for the Eastern Shoshone Cultural Hub."
Welcome Sarah!

05/16/2026

Congratulations to our history graduates! 🎓 💛🖤

05/12/2026

Congratulations to our Outstanding Graduate Faculty Advisor, Dr. Juti Wi******er!

Mentorship is the cornerstone of the graduate experience. Dr. Wi******er shows exceptional commitment to student success and leadership within the FHSU community!

Thank you for your tireless service and for being such a vital part of our graduate community. Your impact makes a world of difference!

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Hollie Marquess, who was recognized today for her promotion to Sr. Lecturer! 🎉

05/02/2026

History Virtual MA student, Raul Ayala, came to Hays from New Mexico to participate in the SACAD poster session. As an added bonus, he also got to meet Victor E. Congrats, Raul!

05/01/2026

If you missed Dr. Chad Gibbs’s talk last night, you can visit our YouTube channel to watch it here:

Survival at Treblinka Dr Chad Gibbs

04/22/2026

Congratulations to Sarah Keiss who successfully defended her MA thesis today in FHSU Tebo Library! Way to go, Sarah!