The Kansas Army National Guard will mark the opening of a new office on the campus of Fort Hays State University with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.

Attending the ceremony will be Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, and FHSU President Tisa Mason along with other FHSU faculty members.

The new office will be staffed by members of the Kansas National Guard Recruiting and Retention Office, who will provide members of the Fort Hays State community with information on the educational and professional benefits of enlisting in the Kansas National Guard.

These partnerships between the Kansas National Guard and our states community colleges and universities are mutually beneficial, said Tafanelli. The men and women who attend these institutions are smart, eager and committed to improving their state and communities; theyre just the sort of people we want in the Guard.

"And the students receive great educational benefits as a member of the Guard, not just in terms of tuition, but also because of the many great career opportunities we have. For just about any field of study they have as a student, you can find a correlating career in the Guard.

President Mason welcomed the expansion of the universitys relationship with the Guard, stating We take great pride in being able to support these men and women whose sacrifice, dedication and selfless service inspires us all.  I think what makes us attractive as an education partner is the high-quality programs, unmatched affordability, and dedicated and caring faculty and staff we offer to value-conscious Guard members who want to advance in their civilian and military careers.