FHSU Civic Learning and Engagement

03/24/2026

The Big Event. File photo/Courtesy Fort Hays State University Submitte

03/24/2026

Community Photo Contest for Rural Kansas Storytelling Project
We invite students and community members to participate in a photo contest as part of Facing Relationship Violence: A Rural Kansas Storytelling Initiative.

We are seeking photographs that reflect resilience, healing, community care, and hope in rural Kansas. Selected photographs will be featured in the final community book, which will bring together stories and creative expressions that highlight support, strength, and lived experiences within our communities.

Submission deadline: May 1, 2026, by the end of the day

Submission guidelines
You may submit up to 3 original photographs.
Photos should be high resolution, 300 PPI or above, in JPEG or PNG format.
Please include a short caption of 1 to 3 sentences for each photo.
A photo release waiver will be required.
Please avoid including identifiable individuals unless you have their permission.
Please note that all photographs selected for the final published book will appear in black and white. You may submit black and white photos, or note that color images can be converted for publication.
Recognition and incentives
Up to 20 photographs will be selected for inclusion in the final book.
Selected photographers may receive one of three $100 awards:
Community Choice Award
Storytelling Through Image Award
Resilience and Strength Award

Selected contributors may also receive credit in the published book, recognition at the community book launch event, and a free copy of the book.

Thank you for helping us share and celebrate stories of resilience, healing, and hope in rural Kansas.
Contact: Ziwei Qi at [email protected]

03/24/2026

We’re going LIVE next Monday, March 30th! 🎥

Curious about what 100 Who Care - Ellis County, KS is all about? This is your chance to hear directly from us—who we are, how we work, and the impact we’re making together in our community.

We’ll also be joined by the Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 student team, who will be sharing why they felt passionate about partnering with us and what this experience has meant to them. Their perspective is something you won’t want to miss!

💬 We want this to be interactive—drop your questions in the comments ahead of time or bring them with you to the live. Whether you’ve been involved from the start or are just hearing about us, we’d love for you to chime in, participate, and be part of the conversation.

📅 Monday, March 30
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Right here on our page

Invite a friend, share this post, and help us spread the word. The more voices we have, the stronger our impact becomes!

03/24/2026

Call for volunteers!

📢Volunteers Needed for Reality U on April 16th 📢

Join us at Hays Middle School for a fun day of guiding 8th graders through the financial realities of life.

🔔 Morning Sessions:
9:00 - 10:15 AM
10:25 - 11:40 AM
🔔Afternoon Sessions
12:20 - 1:35 PM
1:45 - 3:00 PM

Find all the details at www.liveunited.us

Reality U is a hands-on money simulation that shows students real-world financial scenarios. In 75 minutes, they budget for things like housing, childcare, insurance, cars and bills - based on a life scenario determined by their goals and GPA.

Volunteers help students think through their financial choices and pay bills at each station.

💵Thursday, April 16th
💰Multiple sessions available - volunteer for as many sessions as you'd like
💵Signup link here: www.liveunited.us

United is the Way to build a stronger financial future for every generation!

03/24/2026

The director of Civic Learning and Engagement served on a Women and Creative Leadership Panel yesterday. We thank the co-sponsors of this event for hosting an invigorating in-person dialogue.

03/12/2026

03/03/2026

This is a story about how civic learning turns into civic engagement and reinvests in student leadership development. It's a powerful example of partnership among community and university to lead change!

Heart of a Tiger
By President Tisa Mason

In the landscape of American higher education, the term "innovation" often conjures images of glass-walled laboratories and high-tech startups. But at FHSU, it is also evident in the handshake between a student and a local nonprofit leader, in an alumna's decision to break the cycle of "learned helplessness," and in a university-wide commitment to the "ethic of care."

Brandy Ridgway’s story is a testament to the "ethic of care" that defines the FHSU experience. "When you grow up in poverty, you have two choices," Brandy says. "You can choose to accept that life as unavoidable; that’s called learned helplessness. Or you can choose to move forward and keep growing. I can pinpoint the moment I made the decision to take control of my destiny."

Inspired by her faith and a desire to "pay it forward," Brandy created 100 Who Care Ellis County. The concept is elegantly simple: a group of individuals meets quarterly, each bringing $100. In one hour, they listen to presentations from local nonprofits and vote on who receives a collective gift of up to $10,000. It is the "Heart of a Tiger" in its purest form—individual contributions pooled to create a massive community impact.

Read more: https://hubs.ly/Q04592m80

02/11/2026

The Fort Hays State University Sociology Program and Ana's Gift are teaming up to bring comfort to children in our community! We are collecting new stuffed animals to support Ellis County children in crisis and to celebrate joyous milestones like adoption days at the courthouse!

How you can help: Drop off a brand-new furry friend (with tags!) at either of these Rarick Hall locations: the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science Dean's Office (RH 101) or the Sociology Main Office (Rarick Hall 145)

The deadline to donate is February 19! Please keep stuffed animals under 14" high and 10" wide so they can travel easily to their new friends!

Let's show our community some Tiger love!

02/03/2026

FHSU Faculty - apply to be a Service-Learning Faculty Fellow for next year! Applications are due April 10th. Through this, you can learn more about service-learning, support faculty development at FHSU, and receive $1500.

The purpose of the Provost’s Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program is to provide an opportunity for faculty to share their passion for and knowledge about service-learning with campus and community partners in ways that strengthen service-learning opportunities and enhance the climate of engage...

01/30/2026

Calling all Community-Engaged Scholars and Practitioners. This is a very supportive conference to share your work and connect with colleagues across the U.S. Call for proposals have just been released- due March 31, 2026. The conference will be October 7-8, 2026 in Knoxville, TN.

📣 Call for Proposals Now Open!

It's time to submit your proposals for our 2026 Annual International Conference, "Changing Lives and Improving Society: Data-Driven Engagement and Innovation," happening October 7–8, 2026, with preconference activities October 5–6, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Submit now: https://engagementscholarship.org/meetings/esc-2026/call-for-proposals

01/30/2026

American Democracy is a strong partner of Civic Learning and Engagement work. Take a look at upcoming events and programs: https://www.fhsu.edu/polisci/americandemocracy/programming