Great Bend's Froetschner channels debate skills into advocacy

By RICK PETERSON JR.
KSHSAA Covered

Rhys Froetschner is enthralled by just about every aspect of debate. The Great Bend senior has spent much of his jam-packed high school career immersing himself in the activity.

“I love the critical thinking in debate and love the theory in debate,” Froetschner said. “Being able to have conversations about present issues is really important, and I think, the whole point of debate. The resolution is often based on current things that are happening. And the cases are people’s approach to the situation.”

Froetschner is also fascinated from a philosophical standpoint. “I’m a big philosophy person,” he said. “I love learning about Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx or Socrates. Just learning about different kinds of ideas, it’s so interesting to me – all of it.”

A four-year member of debate and forensics, Froetschner – this week’s Capitol Federal® True Blue® Student of the Week – has put those skills to use after a transformative experience outside of the classroom. Froetschner has worked at Sunflower Diversified Services in Great Bend for a little over two years. “We help adults with disabilities live their lives more efficiently and grow – that’s our main mission,” Froetschner said. 

Froetschner said he quickly fell in love with the work. “Getting five different people saying ‘Hi’ when you walk in a room, it makes you feel like you’re doing the right thing because you’re being a positive influence in their lives,” Froetschner said. “It’s really rewarding. I would not trade it for any other job.”

As a direct support professional, Froetschner’s job responsibilities vary. “If I work at a house, I’m helping them throughout their day,” he said. “I’m helping them make meals, I’m helping behaviors and I’m helping them do what they want to do.

“At work, I’m kind of like a supervisor and I make sure that they follow OSHA regulations and they’re doing their jobs safely and effectively. For instance, if someone is putting recycling in the wrong place, we’ll redirect them and say, ‘Hey, we need to put it in this place instead.’ ”

“It’s just reinforcing positive behaviors and correcting wrong behaviors.”

Froetschner said his work at Sunflower has had a profound impact on his life, inspiring a lifelong commitment of advocacy for those with disabilities.

“It made me realize I wanted to help people and also made me realize I wanted to get involved with our government,” Froetschner said. “Anything that affects my people, I’m going to protest.

“If there’s any mistreatment of them or any programs that affect them negatively, I have to speak out against it. It’s an obligation I have.”

Froetschner recently spoke at a local rally to protect Social Security services for people with disabilities.

“It was very gratifying to have a lot of people listen to my message: Everyone should be treated as they are – humans,” Froetschner said. Great Bend debate and forensics coach Kim Heath noted that Froetschner’s advocacy for people with disabilities has extended into his academic pursuits.

“He incorporates these issues into debate and forensics, not simply to win rounds, but to spread an important message about equity, compassion and community responsibility,” Heath said. In addition to debate and forensics, Froetschner has been active in theatre and band, though he had to step away from band this year because of his hectic schedule.

Froetschner said school activities help students form a tight-knit sense of community. “I don’t want any person to feel like they’re not being heard,” he said. “I don’t want any person to feel like they don’t belong somewhere.

“Places like debate, Sunflower, any music classes I’m in, I feel like I’m a part of something and spreading a good message.”

Froetschner’s other main passion is music. He is looking to pursue a career in music management, planning on starting at Barton Community College next year and then transferring to Fort Hays State. “I love helping artists and watching them grow,” Froetschner said. 

Froetschner’s goals for his senior year?

“I want to make a lot of friends and I want to be the person that someone can go to when they’re struggling,” he said. “His drive, compassion and ability to balance so many responsibilities make Rhys an inspiring role model,” Heath said.