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those AVID students , graduating as a member of the National Honor Society while his proud family looked on . Vazquez is also a student at Flint Hills Technical College , where he plans to finish an Associate ’ s Degree in Industrial Engineering before transferring to Pittsburg State University to earn a bachelor ’ s degree .

“ Being in AVID helped a lot ,” Vazquez said . “ I was going to FHTC and EHS at the same time during my Junior and Senior years , and AVID helped me stay organized and on track .”

Board of Education members presented the diplomas as family and friends cheered when their student ’ s name was called .

More than half of the Class of 2016 graduates plan to attend post-secondary education , according the EHS administration . Of the total , 90 will attend Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College

. They are among the 137 who will attend a Kansas post-secondary institution . Another 18 plan to attend an out-of-state college . Twenty-two of the graduates attended FHTC programs while in high school .

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the wire-rimmed wheels .

“ That was tedious work — but worth it ,” he said . “ This truck was a basket case when my dad bought it . The truck bed was gone , the cab was rusted , the doors were rusted . It took almost two years , but they brought it back to its original state .”

Even the paint color is as close to the original as possible . During the restoration , they got lucky and found some of the original blue paint on the gas tank . The paint shop was able to match it , and now the former rusty “ basket case ” is a gleaming blue and black piece of functioning history .

Joe ’ s father put about 2,000 miles on the truck , but Joe plans to add a lot more

now that he has the keys .

“ I do drive it around locally ,” Joe said . “ It can comfortably do 40 to 45 miles per hour . Anything faster than that and I worry about it , so I don ’ t take it out on the highway or for long distances .”

He plans to keep the truck in the family , although he refuses to say which of the children will get it .

“ I ’ m letting them decide that for themselves ,” Joe said .

“ I don ’ t know . I have my eye on the 1965 Mustang he ’ s working on now ,” daughter Hannah Gast Colstrom said .

In addition to the cars , the event offered a silent auction of unique items made by club members out of various car parts — including a replica of the Starship Enterprise — as well as a variety of food vendors . The annual event is a fundraiser , with

proceeds going toward Flint Hills Technical College Automotive Technology scholarships . Emporia Flatland Cruisers sponsors a $ 500 scholarship each spring and another $ 500 scholarship in the fall .

“ Emporia Flatland Cruisers is all about having fun and enjoying the vehicles ,” Sherry Jones , the group ’ s secretary / treasurer said . “ Everybody brings different kinds of cars — there will be classics , there will be originals , there will be hot rods , there will be old ratty cars that you don ’ t think will make it down the highway , but they end up being some of the safest . We just enjoy all the cars . And it doesn ’ t hurt to raise a little money while you ’ re having fun — especially for such a good cause as the Automotive Technology scholarships .”

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Karr started her speech with “ we are awesome ,” a statement directed at her peers . She reminded them of the hard work and sacrifices required to achieve their academic goals , and encouraged them to be thankful to those who helped them .

“ Let ’ s be proud of ourselves , but let ’ s also be thankful to those who helped us along the way ,” she said .

After mentioning the unique skills students in each of FHTC ’ s program acquires , Karr challenged the graduates to take those skills and do something

“ awesome ” with them .

“ What are you going to do with everything you ’ ve been given to make the world awesome ?” Karr asked her fellow graduates . “ Imagine what kind of awesome we could bring to Emporia if we decided to be employees and business owners who gave extra to everything we do .”

The FHTC Spring Class of 2016 included five recipients of a Kansas High School Diploma , as well as recipients of technical certificates in Graphic Arts Technology , Hospitality / Culinary Arts , Dental Assisting , Health Occupations Technology , Practical Nursing , Business Administrative Technology , Computer Program Design and Development , Interactive

Multimedia Design , Automotive Technology , Computerized Tool Engineering , Construction Technology , Industrial Engineering Technology , Power Plant Technology and Welding Technology . Sixty-seven students earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in disciplines including Graphic Arts Technology , Hospitality / Culinary Arts , Health Care Administration and Management , Business Administrative Technology , Computer Program Design and Development , Network Technology , Automotive Technology , Computerized Tool Engineering / Construction Technology , Industrial Engineering Technology , Power Plant Technology and Welding Technology .

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“ While Kansas has fallen behind the nation and other states in the region , I believe Emporia is on the right track and I am delighted to have had a front row seat to witness the initiatives and progress in our area ,” Hill said . “ Lyon County , the city of Emporia , our educational institutions and health care institutions , many private businesses and public enterprises have achieved new levels of success . Having the opportunity to occasionally collaborate and play a role in these successes has been a source of satisfaction and fulfillment . Local dedicated public servants , caring volunteers and engaged stakeholders who all share a positive

vision will continue to make progress possible .”

Emporia Senator Jeff Longbine said Don Hill ’ s leadership will be missed at the state level .

“ Don has served 14 years and in those years he has been a champion of Education , transportation and health care . He shined in constituent services working with people who needed help at the state level .

“ His dedication to Emporia and the surrounding area has been incredible and he will be missed .” said Jeff Longbine .

Hill and his wife Robbie have two adult children and grandchildren . Following his retirement from the legislature he plans to spend time with family and continue to work at The Medicine Shoppe .

“ As I make my career

transition , I hope to use my interests and policy expertise to continue advocating especially for expanded access to health care and for responsible fiscal policy ,” Hill said . “ I look forward to continuing my pharmacy career at Emporia ’ s Medicine Shoppe , my activities in the community and enjoying more opportunities for family and leisure time .”

Hill ’ s current term ends Dec . 31 .

“ I appreciate the opportunity to serve the Emporia area in the Kansas House of Representatives ,” Hill said . “ I will continue to work on constituent service and participate in community endeavors throughout my term which runs through the calendar year .”

Local reactions to Hill ’ s announcement will appear in The Gazette Tuesday .

Special to the Gazette

As the next step in a campus-wide wellness program , Emporia State University is joining the Partnership for a Healthier America , which works with the private sector and PHA honorary chair First Lady Michelle Obama to make healthier choices easier , in a three-year commitment to adopt guidelines around food and nutrition , and physical activity and programming .

“ We are proud that Emporia State is the first institution in the state of Kansas to join this important partnership ,” ESU director of recreation services Mike Wise said . “ We would like to be recognized as the ‘ Healthiest Campus in Kansas .’”

ESU ’ s participation was announced today by PHA in Washington , D . C . With the addition of Hornet Nation , the PHA initiative will impact more than 1 million students , faculty and staff on campuses across 29 states .

Working with a group of the nation ’ s leading nutrition , physical activity and campus wellness experts , PHA has a set of guidelines to build healthier environments for college and university students . In trying to recognize the unique nature of each campus , colleges and universities choose which guidelines they want to complete upon joining the initiative and have until the end of the three-year commitment to fully implement them . These guidelines were created to give credit for existing campus wellness efforts , as well as to challenge colleges and universities to do more .

Emporia State has agreed to implement guidelines over the next three years :

Food and Nutrition

✦✦Provide healthier food and beverage service in

campus-operated dining venues .

✦✦Offer at least one wellness meal during breakfast , lunch and dinner . ✦✦Offer at least five types of fruits , five types of vegetables and two 100-percent whole grain products at lunch and dinner .

✦✦Offer and identify as healthier at point of presentation at least three desserts at both lunch and dinner ( if served ) that have equal-to or less-than 150 calories as served . If serving dessert , at least three options must have less than 150 calories and these lower-calorie options must be identified as healthier .

✦✦Identify food and beverage items using designated healthier food and beverage options using a healthy icon at the point of presentation .

✦✦Offer a plant-based food option at all food stations serving meat .

✦✦Promote water consumption

on campus , offering free water in all dining venues and all educational / physical activity facilities . We will be working on a water awareness campaign this next year .

Already in place

✦✦Implement sustainability program in campus food service by offering tray-less dining as the default system in at least 75 percent of dining venues

✦✦Provide healthier vending options on campus by ensuring that a minimum of 50 percent of vending machines offer only healthier food and beverage products

or 50 percent of each vending machine content is healthier food and beverage products .

✦✦Provide trained food and nutrition professionals on campus and offer personal nutrition assessments and counseling to all students .

Physical Activity and Movement

✦✦Create a built environment that encourages healthier choices on campus .

✦✦Post signage requiring cars to stop for pedestrians at all designated or marked crosswalks on campus .

✦✦Offer a bicycle share / rental program and / or a subsidized bicycle purchase program for all students .

✦✦Participate in a national bicycle or pedestrian recognition program ( e . g ., Bicycle Friendly University ).

✦✦Encourage student physical activity / movement through facilities and programs on campus during the academic year .

✦✦Each month , offer at least one “ how to ” physical activity / movement class that introduces students to new activities free of charge .

✦✦Offer all incoming students fitness / recreation center orientation and one fitness assessment each year free of cost .

Encourage outdoor physical activity / movement on campus . ✦✦Offer at least one free , organized and facilitated , outdoor physical activity / movement opportunity each week .

Already in place

✦✦Provide marked walking routes on campus and make a route map available . Launched during National Walk at Lunch Day

✦✦Offer at least 20 diverse recreation , physical activity / movement or competitive sports opportunities during each academic year . Provide at least one running / walking track that is open and available for use to individuals on campus and the community for at least three hours per day .

✦✦Provide trained physical activity / movement professionals on campus .

Programming

✦✦Offer non-academic cooking skills classes

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that are available to all students .

Already in place

✦✦Implement an integrated , comprehensive wellness program for individuals on campus that is provided annually .

✦✦Implement a program / policy that identifies students who may be food insecure and provides options on campus .

“ Colleges and universities are in a unique position to help shape tomorrow ’ s leaders . The college years are a time when lifelong habits begin to form , and for many

LEGALS

students , this is their first opportunity to make their own choices about food and lifestyle ,” PHA CEO Lawrence A . Soler said . “ By creating healthier food and physical activity environments today , campuses and universities are encouraging healthier habits that will carry into tomorrow and for decades to come .” ESU ’ s Wise agrees . “ We take pride in making sure that our students not only get a quality education in the classroom , but also gain important life skills outside the classroom . This enables them to lead happier , healthier and more productive lives .”

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