Shockers everywhere, at events long ago or happenings just the other day, always have something interesting to say. Take this sampling as a Shock Talk example:
“Dear Debbie – Your hospitality warmed our hearts. From an honorary Shocker, Monty.”
— The message on a handwritten note from Monty Hall, WSU honorary alum, 1971, to Debbie Kennedy ’94, president and CEO of the WSU Alumni Association; received after Hall and his wife, Marilyn, returned to their California home from a visit to Wichita as special guests at the Sept. 28 Rockin’ the Roundhouse fundraiser at Charles Koch Arena. Rockin’ the Roundhouse 2013 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the alumni association and applauded a century of Shockers – including the Halls. Read on for background on Monty Hall’s longstanding relationship with Wichita State and its alumni association.
“The event was very successful. We are grateful for the partnership and participation from the community. It was a moment of pride for all of us to have Mike, ‘voice of the Shockers,’ Kennedy recognize Freddy as a former Shocker athlete. The restaurant teams enjoyed the above-average business level and were excited to be at the center of the Shocker world for a few hours.”
— Ben Simon, vice president of operations, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers about the alumni association and Freddy’s teaming up for “Shocker Night at Freddy’s” on Nov. 5 to bring Shocker fans together at four Wichita Freddy’s locations to meet Shocker basketball personalities, including Freddy Simon ’49, pictured, “the” Freddy of Freddy’s. He played basketball for the University of Wichita in the 1940s. A portion of the evening’s proceeds were donated to the alumni association.
For a century and counting, the alumni association has worked as an uplifting agent in support of higher education at, first, Fairmount College, then the municipal University of Wichita and, since 1964, Wichita State University. The association’s heritage is rich — rich in history and accomplishments, yes, but primarily rich in people. During this centennial year of 2013, now drawing to a close, the WSU Alumni Association thanks its current members for their investment in the oldest and largest network of Shockers in the world. At the same time, the alumni association seeks to look back in recognition and appreciation of the hundreds of Shockers who have made lasting contributions to our university — and looks forward with anticipation to its next 100 years.
Help us make the next 100 years as meaningful as the first. Please consider making a Centennial Gift to the WSU Alumni Association.
From the university’s beginning in 1895 and then the alumni association’s founding in 1913, exciting times have been the norm on campus and within the Shocker alumni community – now is no different!
We’re all still celebrating the trip to the Final Four our men’s basketball team took earlier this year. The campus is buzzing with construction on the Rhatigan Student Center and student housing. And we are wrapping up our celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the alumni association. From vocal support to financial contributions, none of these achievements would have been possible without the continued support of the members of the association.
To continue the momentum into the next century of alumni association operations, we invite you to Share the Pride by making a financial contribution or volunteering your time to assist with one of the association’s many events or projects. Share the Pride you feel for the accomplishments of all our students — whether they’re on the court, on the stage or out in the field studying snowy egrets. Share the Pride for our campus that continues to grow and thrive. Share the Pride for the academic and research achievements of our Shocker faculty. Share the Pride in the lives and work of Shocker alumni everywhere. Share the Pride in our collective Shocker history.
Your donation will help the WSU Alumni Association continue to offer a wide variety of programs, activities, events and publications that will allow generations of Shocker alumni to Share the Pride.
