HAYS — Arika Fanshier was awarded one of only three Leora B. Stroup Awards given out at Fort Hays State University’s ceremony on May 14. These awards, named for the founder of Fort Hays State University’s nursing program, recognize outstanding clinical performance, community involvement and academic achievement in three categories.
Fanshier, an employee at Great Bend Regional Hospital since December 2011, received the graduate student award and earned a Master of Science in Nursing in the family practitioner track.
“Pursuing the nurse practitioner degree was something that had been on my mind from the beginning, but what really set it in stone was working on the floor at the hospital and in the emergency room and seeing patients that need primary care,” Fanshier said. “I wanted to be in a position to help these people before they get so sick they have to be admitted to the hospital, especially those who don’t have insurance and often avoid the doctor’s office.”
Arika earned her undergraduate degree from FHSU in 2011, and received the Stroup Award then as well. She spent three years working on her graduate degree, working full time for most of that period. Fanshier was required to log more than 750 hours of clinical work over 40 weeks, and worked part time during those semesters.
“Now that I have the degree I need to help the underserved population in our area; I have accepted a position with Heart of Kansas Family Healthcare to pursue my passion for helping people with a financial need,” Fanshier said. “It’s something I know I’m supposed to be doing, and I look forward to making a difference in people’s lives.”
Arika and her husband, Jake, live in Great Bend with their 2-year-old son, Noah.