CONTENTS

If halls could talk, those in Henrion would have plenty to say — about all kinds of things. We’d hear about athletics and art, for sure. There’d be tales of student love affairs and other intrigues, countless stories of Shocker activity, old and brand new.

He slips on his camera-synched goggles, triggering the Top Gun theme song. Powering up his quad racer, he fingers the twin-toggled radio controls, and in the whisssssk of a split second the seasoned pilot — call sign BrainDrain — is whipping down the course inches above the weeds.

Wichita State anthropology professor and archaeologist Don Blakeslee was reading a new translation of an old account of a 1601 hostile encounter between Spanish explorers and Native Americans near the site of a “great settlement.”

Last Saturday (April 16), I visited WSU’s campus after almost 40 years. I had done my MBA from WSU in 1977.

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

Shocker Snapshots

The newly announced 2016-2017 academic year recipients of the WSU Alumni Association’s “Drive Your Pride” WSU License Plate Scholarship and the Legacy Endowed Scholarship were guests of honor at a reception on May 2.

Where has your WSU degree taken you?

Greetings Shocker Nation! Innovation is everywhere on campus, and the WSU Alumni Association isn’t to be left behind.

Members of Wichita State’s Class of 1966 returned to campus May 5-8 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation.

At the height of weeklong homecoming festivities back in February, WSU seniors Whitney Wilson and Tim Eichler were crowned Homecoming Queen and King on Feb. 13 during a halftime ceremony in Charles Koch Arena.

From New York City to California, WSU Alumni Association-supported Shocker get-togethers are becoming more frequent these days.

The WSU Alumni Association’s student alumni group, Shockers Forever, has chosen officers for the upcoming 2016-2017 academic year.

Lynessa Rico ’05/05/09, the founder and president of Bright Consumer Consulting, a Chicago-based consumer behavior consulting and marketing research firm, knows a lot about color.

WSUAA News and Events

President John Bardo introduces us to the Ideas Lab Leadership Council and updates us on all manner of innovative activity at Wichita State.

In 2011, Esra Buyuktahtakin, assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, founded the Systems Optimization and Analytics Laboratory, which, she says, “is designed to conduct theoretical and applied research on mathematical optimization.”

Darryl Carrington’s campus involvement extends beyond his role as a student and his position as community liaison.

The Shocker’s On the Hill Greek page celebrates WSU’s Greek-letter organizations, their members and alumni members.

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.

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

Wichita State’s public radio station KMUW has made the move from its 5,500-square-foot space at 3317 E. 17th Street to its new 7,000-square-foot space at 121 N. Mead. Let’s wander through their new digs.

Each year for 60 years now, the Wichita State University Alumni Association has honored excellence through its awards program, which recognizes the achievements and distinguished service of not only deserving alumni, but also faculty, staff and friends of WSU.

Media cameras and reporters awaited Rick Stephens ’71/86 and Paul Harrison ’71 as they pedaled to the completion of their nearly 960-mile trip from Wichita to Winnipeg, Manitoba, in May.

Julie Scherz ’69/71/89 is in her second three-year term as Wichita State’s faculty representative to Shocker athletics.

Before her death in 2004, WSU alumna Annette Daniels was in an ascendant trajectory in the opera world.

The late Pete Armstrong ’42 (died 2009) was a printing executive by profession.

A native of Kingfisher, Okla., Erna Prather Harris (1908-1995) was one of the few African American women to attend college during the Great Depression — and she chose to attend the University of Wichita.

When Gregg Marshall learned of Bruce Hornsby’s Wichita performance date, he called for fans to “show him a Shocker welcome!”

There’s no question the 2015-16 Wichita State Shockers wielded the talent and the experience to be one of the best teams in the country.

Brent Kemnitz stepped down from his position as pitching coach, and is taking up new duties in WSU’s athletics department.

The Wichita State softball team wrapped up a successful 2016 season this May with an NCAA tournament appearance, the third in program history.

Shocker Sports News and Notes

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

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

“Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker and Bassist.” Photo by Edward Armstrong ’42, Wichita, 1940.

In February 2015, Leanne Caret '90, was named president and CEO of Boeing’s $30 billion St. Louis-based Defense, Space & Security business.

Evan Funk ’04 is powering forward in his career in banking.

Daniel “Dan” E. Whisler ’09 enjoys conducting high school musicians.

Kate Garnes ’12 doesn’t need to conjure a spell to succeed in her chosen career fields.

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

The Shocker is published twice annually by the Wichita State University Alumni Association (WSUAA) for association members and other selected audiences.