FHSU Student Wins KMEA Composition Award

HAYS, Kan. -- Fort Hays State University student Christopher Johnson, Leoti senior, was the collegiate division winner of the annual Kansas Music Educators Association Composition Competition.

The award recognizes an original composition submitted by both high school and college music students who attend school in the state of Kansas. Students submit an original piece of music written for one of three categories: solo, ensemble and electronic music.

In addition to this award, Johnson has also served as the drum major, trombone section leader and student director at FHSU. Johnson's primary instruments are trombone and tuba.

"I wrote the piece, called 'Battle Canyon,' when I was student teaching in Scott City in the spring of 2009," Johnson said. "The director heard that I liked to write music and asked me to write something for his band so the students could get the experience of seeing the compositional process. I appreciate their support and the band's support of the project."

(Mr. Johnson did his student teaching during the spring of 2009 at Scott Community High School under the guidance of Shawn Henderson.  If you were lucky enough to have attended the spring band concert, then you heard this piece.)

Arriane Alexander

This information comes from Miss Arriane Alexander, granddaughter of Inez Blackett and daughter of Sharilyn Beach.  She is also the cousin of Ted and Pam Crist.  Be sure to visit her website after reading this press release.

Manhattan Mercury Article---Arriane Alexander

Emerging Star from Kansas Brings Back the Glamour of the Hollywood Sirens

In just over two years, Arriane Alexander, originally from Wichita and a graduate of Kansas State University, has put herself on the map as in-demand nightclub performer and actress, in part due to her glamorous, larger-than-life and hilarious personality that audiences love. Believe it or not, Arriane’s flamboyant style is ironically rooted on one side with six generations of inspirational Dunkard Brethren ministers, the other with powerful Cherokee Indian women, all settling in the Scott City area engaging in farming and ranching operations.
Arriane breaks the mold of a typical Hollywood actress as she stands, in her own words, “6’ 2” with heels and hair”, and enjoys a curvaceous figure that is a throwback to the Hollywood screen sirens of decades ago. Dana Meller, who played Eponine in Broadway’s Les Miserables, says of Arriane, “She is like Mae West from the Valley.” Read more...

Army v. AirForce 2009

We were honored to be able to attend the Army-Air Force game on 7 November at the U.S. Air Force Academy. This is a photo of the ritual that is known as the "exchange of prisoners" as both corps give up their exchange students back to their respective corps for the duration of the game. The entire spectacle of an inter-academy college football game just makes you swell with pride in the young people who choose to serve their country. (I took this photo with my cell phone---sorry for the quality!)

Please remember our military veterans in your prayers and thoughts as we observe Veteran's Day on November 11th. We commemorate the end of World War I and, more importantly, have an opportunity to thank those who preserve our freedom. Veteran's Day is also as known Armistice Day, having the name changed after World War II. An armistice took effect on the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month of 1918. Approximately 20 million people died fighting in WWI. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919, but fighting had mostly stopped with the armistice. Some regard the demands of the treaty as a causation for World War II, with Germany unable to meet the required reparations. But that is another story... Read more...