CONTENTS

Wichita State's College of Fine Arts, with its schools of music, performing arts, and art and design, offers a colorful and moving history. And this year, the School of Art and Design celebrates a significant milestone: the 50th anniversary of its Master of Fine Arts program.

The investigation into Wichita's infamous BTK murders - 10 in all, between 1974 and 1991- spanned 31 years and a slew of investigative tools and tactics. While much changed through the decades, one thing did not: the determination of the investigators to catch the killer.

It's been 41 years since his graduation; 41 years since he earned his class ring, and he's still wearing it.

As senior vice president for professional standards for the nation's largest physician's group, Modena Wilson '71 leads and manages AMA activities in medical education, medical ethics and in science, quality and public health.

Shocker Notes

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

The WSU Alumni Association’s annual awards ceremony is set to take place Jan. 26, 2006, and this year’s event — the 50th — will see awards presented to six outstanding Shockers.

Charles Koch Arena will once again be the place to be for a blockbuster evening of Shocker fun, food and entertainment. The second annual Rockin’ the Roundhouse event is slated for Sat., Nov. 5.

Shocker Snapshots

I should have read the fine print before I agreed to be this year’s president of the alumni association.

This Oct. 8, I had the pleasure of addressing WSU’s eight Shocktoberfest Outstanding Senior Men and Women finalists, their families and friends.

WSUAA News and Events

Striving to stay "on the bleeding edge of modern music," the conductor of the acclaimed U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West called on three Wichita State music personalities: two award-winning composers and an 'almost operatic' conductor.

Vic Markovich, Walter Mays and Dean Roush brought national attention to WSU Bands this past spring at the April 10 Great Composers Concert in Vacaville, Calif.

The French word gisant refers first to a style of funerary statuary that shows the deceased — usually nobility — reclining on his own tombstone.

University Tidbits

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.

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

To the Lakota people, among others, the flute is the essence of the wind, especially Niya Awicableze, the Enlightening Breath.

Ron Kopita talks about his role as Wichita State's VP of student affairs, John Dewey's pragmatism, movies and a secret desire to be a — lounge singer?

Tennessee Williams dubbed her the "Texas Tornado," and when Margo Jones died, suddenly, on July 24, 1955, he went on a three-week drinking binge.

WSU alums will no doubt recognize the fictional Professor Conrad's university: parts of Blake Robbins' movie will be shot on Wichita State's campus.

As chief of NASA's Systems Division, Stan Schaefer '87 oversees the space agency's shuttle program, which had a successful — yet stressful — return to flight this summer.

A former Fairmount College women's dormitory gets a new lease on life, thanks to the vision and hard work of a most historically minded Shocker — Bob Bayer '57.

IN 1934, MARTIN F. PALMER, a passionate and visionary scientist, established Wichita University's Department of Speech Sciences in order to study and treat speech disorders in children.

Longtime Shocker basketball fans were surprised and delighted to hear the familiar voice of Ronald B. "Ron" Heller '63 in broadcasts of last season's away games.

One of the most accomplished athletes in Wichita State history, senior Desiraye Osburn has covered countless miles in cross country and track.

Sara Lungren, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, is developing into a major force on coach Chris Lamb's Shocker team.

Shocker Sports News and Notes

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

Scot McCloughan fs '92 left WSU a professional baseball player but has spent the past nine years working in a sport Wichita State hasn't hosted since 1986 — football.

"I think I've always known I was going to teach," recalls Sarah McKoin '89, director of bands at Texas Tech University. "After getting into music, I knew my life was going to be a musical one."

Ken Spurgeon '89/97/02 zealously embraces and celebrates Kansas history, particularly the seven years prior to statehood known as Bleeding Kansas, a precursor to the Civil War.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark., won't open for four years — won't even break ground for months.

Remembering Shocker Legacies

Don Dreher fs '85, a cutter and supplier with the LaCrosse Furniture Co. in LaCrosse, Kan., was known as a talented athlete.

Susan (Woodard) Bragg '71, who made her mark on society in law, attended the Oklahoma University School of Law, received her degree in 1979 and in 1981 joined the Oklahoma City district attorney's office, where she became head of the juvenile division.

In 1988, Nancy (Park) Amos fs '44 estimated that she had performed in at least 100 plays for legendary director Mary Jane Teall and Wichita Community Theatre.

Importantly, one never has to leave a campus because it is an idea, not merely a place. We can look back and remember the best within us.

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