KC area students have opportunity to travel out west

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t can be tough pulling students out of the Kansas City area to come to Fort Hays State University. Liz McDowell knows because she is one who made that choice, going to FHSU from Leavenworth and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2015. She is now an FHSU graduate student seeking a Master of Business Administration as well as an admissions counselor for the university’s Office of Admissions, primarily responsible for eastern Kansas.

“A lot of them have never been out here, so they don't know what it's like,” she said, “and it’s farther away from home.”

McDowell, who chose to go west, is now in a position to offer a chance for Kansas City area students to see what’s out here.

“There is an opportunity coming up for high school students to see Fort Hays State. Completely free. We will bus them out to Hays.”

That is the Tiger Road Trip for high school seniors who are beginning the search for their colleges. McDowell is the point person for the Road Trip from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17, Sunday and Monday, an overnight campus tour with travel and stay provided. The bus to FHSU will make stops in Bonner Springs, Topeka and Lawrence. A $10 deposit to reserve a seat on the bus will be refunded upon arrival at FHSU.

“It gives them a chance to see FHSU, to see the kinds of opportunities we have to offer for participation, involvement and leadership, but it’s also more,” she said. “It is also an opportunity for a diverse group of students to begin developing friendships and making contacts.”

McDowell said that a spring trip, for high school juniors, is under consideration.

For the fall trip, McDowell can be contacted at e_mcdowell@fhsu.edu or by phone, 785-639-2907.