CONTENTS

WSU's innovation campus secures its first major corporate partner: Airbus Americas Engineering.

Bob Lutz ’84 is one of a league of Shockers championing the cause of introducing kids to America’s pastime.

Phuoc Thai ’90 left Vietnam for a better education, and a chance at landing his dream job at NASA.

Shocker Notes

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

The WSU Alumni Association's BAT Party was on May 5, before the Shockers took Tyler Field for a game against the Wildcats of Kansas State.

Filling out NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament brackets netted some serious fun for members and guests of Women United for the Shockers, who gathered March 16 at Deano's Grill & Tapworks in Wichita for food, drink – and some collegial rivalry.

No one – not organizers, nor sponsors or participants – was surprised by the cold weather during Homecoming 2015.

Recipients of two alumni association-administered scholarship programs – the WSU License Plate Scholarship and the Legacy Endowed Scholarship – were the center of attention during a congratulatory reception the evening of April 20 at the Woodman Alumni Center.

WSUAA News and Events

From manning Welcomefest tables at the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year to packing semester-end goodie bags for Shocker students studying for finals, Shockers Forever can close the book on another successful year of student alumni association activities and events.

Shocker Snapshots

As my term as Chair ends, this memory reminds me that there is much more to complete with the changes in the Association. I will continue working to advance the organization as directed by Mindy McPheeters. Mindy is a great choice for the next Chair, and has shown strong leadership and commitment.

The first few months of any new job is exciting, stressful, challenging …

President John Bardo counsels a global perspective; talks about learning, applied research and engaged service; shares a definition of versalitist; and urges us "off the hill" and into the wider world.

Along with Charlie Chandler, chairman and CEO of INTRUST Bank, and Brad Dillon of Gilliland & Hayes, WSU President John Bardo is among the leaders of the BREG initiative, an economic development effort.

Shelby Reynolds is well on her way to becoming a successful professional journalist, thanks in part to the valuable experience she is gaining while a student by working as a writer, editor, photographer and designer for campus and local media.

During a ceremony in front of his Delta Gamma Chapter brothers on Nov. 15, 2014, Dan Carney '53 was awarded the fraternity's highest honor, the Oxford Cup.

The WSU chapter of Phi Delta Theta celebrated its annual Founders Day Banquet on April 18 in downtown Wichita's Old Town. This year's featured alumnus was noted sportscaster Gary Bender '62, who was the keynote speaker at the event.

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.

Crowned at halftime of the Feb. 28 Wichita State vs. Northern Iowa game are Homecoming Queen Jessica Crumrine and King Chris Wiebe.

In what has been a special Shocker tradition for 59 years now, outstanding Wichita State alumni, faculty and staff were celebated for their achievements and distinugished service at the annual Alumni Awards banquet, held June 4 in the Rhatigan Student Center's Shirley Beggs Ballroom.

A whirlwind of activities greeted Glenn Zweygardt ’67 on his return to campus the week of Feb. 23.

Jake Shaffer ’65 was guest of honor during a May 1 celebratory reception at Wichita’s McCormick Armstrong printing company. The occasion marked Shaffer’s 50th year with the company.

Currently an associate professor in health care leadership and management at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, Michael Meacham became involved in health care while practicing law.

Gina Brown '04, worked in Afghanistan from 2007-09, setting up a prenatal care clinic, as well as a child growth deficiency clinic.

At a reunion dinner, broadcaster Mike Kennedy '71 and color commentator Dave Dahl '71/74 emceed the show, which featured remarks by Gregg Marshall, the WSU men's basketball coach at the helm of Wichita State's second Final Four team in 2013.

The Shockers, who entered the 2015 tourney as Missouri Valley champs wiht a 28-4 record and a 7-seed, topped the Hoosiers, 81-76. Next up was second-seeded Kansas. On March 22, battle-tested Wichita State used its experience to KO the talented but young Jayhawks, 78-65.

Shocker bowling buffed up its already sparkling national reputation with the men’s team making a winning run through Intercollegiate Team Championships competition April 16-18 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita.

On April 18, Alex Harden was inducted into the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame, a few days after she was the 18th overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury in this year’s WNBA draft – and a month, more or less, before graduating and joining the ranks of Wichita State alumni.

Shocker Sports News and Notes

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

Tanya Tandoc fs ’10 was most widely known as a restaurateur and chef.

Howard L. Johnson didn’t step a foot inside a Wichita State classroom as a student, but no one was a more thoroughgoing Shocker than he.

As a student at Wichita State, Glenn Patrick McCarty ’66 ran cross country and track, majored in business and was known on campus as Pat.

The Wichita Group is a trio of artists: Michael McClure fs ’53, Bruce Conner fs ’55 and David “Dave” L. Haselwood ’53.

In March 1991, Wichita native James R. Paul ’56 returned to his alma mater to deliver the James P. Schwartz Memorial Lecture.

Jacqueline (Boomis) Block ’52 excelled in a career that spanned decades, time zones and fluctuating hemlines.

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

Perhaps it was the interview with astronaut Gene Cernan, the last moonwalker. Or maybe it was the interview with well-oiled rocker Joe Walsh. Then again, it could have been as I stood surrounded by 20 or 30 Minnesota militia men snapping photos of them they didn’t want taken and shoving my way out of the room.

Lyric baritone Jonathan Retzlaff ’81, who was associate professor of voice at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, has joined the voice faculty at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

Wilma I. (Dettmer) Kuhlman ’91, is one of nine faculty members awarded Alumni Outstanding Teaching Awards on April 16 by the University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni Association.

This spring has been an eventful one for Allen D. Tang ’13, a Wichita State international business graduate who is deserving of Shocker congratulations on no less than three different fronts.

Representing her home state of Kansas, Laura Schlapp ’13 was crowned First Runner-up during the Cherry Blossom Festival this past April in Washington, D.C.

Newsworthy info about alumni and university personalities and events — all packaged up in bite-size reads, complete with original illustrations by Wade Hampton.

The Shocker is published twice annually by the Wichita State University Alumni Association for association members and other selected audiences. Copyright © 2015 by the alumni association.