CONTENTS

Wichita State’s NIAR operates one of the world’s largest aircraft structural test and evaluation centers.

Shocker Notes

Shockers everywhere, at events long ago or happenings just the other day, always have something interesting to say.

Shocker Open participants enjoyed the greens at Willowbend Golf Club on Sept. 5.

WSUAA News and Events

There were quite a few Wichita State alums happy they didn’t have to head back to class in August. To celebrate the occasion, they returned to campus for a party!

Nick Taylor ’04/05/07 energized the Rise & Shine crowd at a WSU Distinguished Alumni Speaker breakfast lecture Oct. 1 at the Marcus Welcome Center.

Members of Shockers Forever, the alumni association’s student group, debuted their Dine with an Alum event on Oct. 24 at the Woodman Alumni Center.

Shocker Snapshots

Greetings from your Centennial Alumni Association President!

This coming February will mark my ninth year with the Alumni Association, and for the ninth year in a row (indeed, for years before that!) I can enthusiastically write: It’s an exciting time for the Alumni Association and Wichita State.

A Memorial '70 remembrance ceremony.

Wichita State University graduate student Hannah Holden is studying snowy egrets while pursuing her master’s degree in biological sciences.

Wichita State became a National Merit Scholarship sponsor this year. To be a sponsor, a university must attract at least three finalists per year for the four most recent competition years.

During the Aug. 27 Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event at Wichita State, the more than 100 participants learned about domestic violence issues and resources.

The start of a school year brings on a flurry of activity at fraternities and sororities.

Greek News and Events

These Gleanings entries survey the current university scene and feature original illustrations by Scott Dawson ’86.

A gallery of both literary and visual art, Shock Art showcases works by Wichita State alumni, faculty and students.

A gallery of both literary and visual art, Shock Art showcases works by Wichita State alumni, faculty and students.

Samuel Ramey ’69 performs in the role of Olin Blitch, one of the opera great’s signature roles.

With emcee Monty Hall, Rockin’ the Roundhouse 2013 was truly an event for the Shocker history books.

Wichita State's new vice president for academic affairs, an MIT aeronautics and astronautics doctoral grad with an impressive work history in higher education, talks about books, balance, Buzz Aldrin, a Japanese Spitz named Yuki — and one cool plane.

What do a teacher invited to brief Congress, a former Kansas governor, a wheelchair tennis champ and an NFL executive have in common?

Of Wichita State’s six colleges, none covers a wider scope of academic disciplines than does the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Joan Minor ’71 performs at venues all over the world.

Meet a family with three generations of Shockers.

Writer, playwright, educator and university first lady Laurel Vartabedian ’78 has written the book and lyrics for two musicals, Mother Divine: The Musical and American Story.

Africa’s Embrace is Mark Wentling’s first novel, a work of magical realism that tells of the adventures of a young man named David from Kansas who travels to Africa to follow his destiny and becomes caught up in a mystical adventure.

The year 2013 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the alumni association. Looking forward to this milestone, The Shocker has shared a time line of association history in each issue for the past several years. Now, we're jumping back to the association's beginning - to the year 1913.

Fresh off last season’s 30-win campaign and a trip to the NCAA Final Four, the Shockers won their 18th straight regular-season opener – their seventh in a row under head coach Gregg Marshall – by defeating Emporia State, 93-50, on Nov. 9 in Charles Koch Arena.

The Wichita State volleyball team, which is 23-6 overall, has three more regular-season games before heading into the MVC Tournament, which is slated from Nov. 28 through Nov. 30 at Wichita.

Wichita State was chosen second in the MVC women’s basketball preseason poll, and Alex Harden became the program’s first-ever preseason Player of the Year in the annual survey of MVC coaches, sports information directors and media members.

Shocker Sports News and Notes

Comings, goings, appointments, retirements, honors, accolades and other personal alumni news.

Professor emeritus James W. McKenney began his career as an elementary and middle school teacher and coach in Oregon, his home state.

In 1985, Gary L. Bell ’86 was just 26 years old and not quite finished earning a bachelor’s degree in general studies at Wichita State when he became the second African American in Wichita’s history to serve on the city council.

Noted composer, conductor, author and educator Joshua Missal arrived at the University of Wichita in 1952 as professor of viola and to head the music theory and composition department.

After reigning as Homecoming Queen in 1950 and majoring in physical education with a minor in music, Norma J. Haley wed William Smith ’50 in 1951.

On the first day of his classes, Erach R. Talaty would write “Dr. T” on the blackboard, then explain to his students, “T is for terrible or terrific, whichever – that’s entirely up to you.”

Marguerite “Mickey” M. (Smith) Miller ’67, professor emeritus of fine arts at Wichita State, taught at the university from 1948-82, serving as chair of the department of keyboard studies and as head of piano pedagogy and group piano programs.

Leaving lasting legacies are these Wichita State University alumni and friends.

From the writings of Geraldine “Gerry” Hammond, a Wichita State professor emeritus of English.

The 2014 season will mark the first year for Francisco R. “Paco” Martinez ’04 as head coach of the Wichita Wild indoor pro football team.

Xavier McDaniel ’96, will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday, Nov. 24, during a three-day celebration of college basketball.

David Ramos ’84 is one of the physicians profiled in the fall 2013 issue of Lifeline, a publication of the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System in California.

Newsworthy info about alumni and university personalities and happenings — all packaged up in bite-size reads.