CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Victory and Vittles
Bob Schutte ’67/69 and members of the Central Illinois Alumni Chapter welcomed special guests WSU President Don and First Lady Shirley Beggs and members of the women’s basketball team for a Jan. 17 reception and dinner in Bloomington, Ill.
Event attendees included Winnie Hui ’92/95, See-Long Wong ’92, Kevin and Diana ’79 Roberts and Amy Wiens ’98. The next day both WSU men’s and women’s teams went on to defeat Missouri Valley Conference foes, the Illinois State Redbirds.
LOS ANGELES
Angelic Alumni
David Eads ’84/86 and members of the Los Angeles WSU Alumni Chapter hosted a special university event March 22 in Los Angeles. Watch for the event wrap-up in the summer issue of The Shocker.
SAN FRANCISCO
Cold, But Warm
WSU President Don and First Lady Shirley Beggs served as special hosts of more than 50 university alumni and friends at a Jan. 11 gathering sponsored by the WSU Alumni Association at the Pan Pacific Hotel in San Francisco. Those in attendance visited with the first couple, WSU Association President Jeff DeGraffenreid ’88 and Dean Emeritus Jim Rhatigan, among other campus guests. Bay Area residents attending included Jed ’59 and Jo Hurley, Elvin ’71/71 and Bruce Ambler, Mark ’76/76 and Laurie ’75/75 Finucane, William ’65 and Loretta Shay and John Weatherby ’74.
TOPEKA
Mighty Shockers
Alan ’88 and Holly ’91 Cobb hosted Topeka-area Shockers for a basketball watch party Feb. 22. Guests included Steve Naylor ’69, Melissa Wangemann-Maag ’90, Thad and Marlee ’96 Carpenter, Ed ’72 and Katy Field, Jim Mullins ’71, Ken Groteweil fs ’98 and Melanie Hill ’82/82. Those who attended were treated to a rousing rendition of the WSU fight song by Patrick Hill fs ’83. Attendees also had the chance to nab some great door prizes and to watch WSU defeat Indiana State, 72-63.
WICHITA
Banding Together
Alan Lazarus ’69/70 and Dana Hamant ’78/83 threw a basketball watch party for former Wichita State band players and members of the WSU Bands Alumni Club. Alumni and friends were treated to door prizes, appetizers and a smashing Shocker victory over Southwest Missouri State. Attendees included Jeff Yearout ’91/91, Kirk Postier ’69, Allen Laramore ’83/89, Denita ’85 and Doug ’91 Stemet, Rita ’83 and Ken ’80/84 Bradfield and Jeanne Vance ’75/77/98.
Night of the Nurses
WSU Nursing Alumni Society President Victoria Mosack ’80/92, WSU Alumni Association Executive Director Brad Beets ’87, College of Health Professions Dean Peter Cohen and WSU President Don Beggs welcomed a new class of 40 nursing students to Wichita State during a breakfast reception on Jan. 10. Incoming students each received a WSU lapel pin to wear on future nursing uniforms.
Other society events include the group’s annual meeting, which was held May 9 at the Woodman Alumni Center. In addition, members of the classes of 1973, 1983 and 1993 gathered for reunions the second weekend in May. Watch for these event wrap-ups in the next issue of The Shocker.
Bowling Blowout
May 3 was the day for the Young Alumni Connection’s Bowling Blowout at Northrock Lanes. The event, a fundraiser for both WSU’s bowling teams and future YAC programming, featured a Shocker bowler playing as the fifth player on each participating team. Watch for a wrap-up on all of the fun in the next issue of The Shocker.
Class of 1953 50-Year Reunion
The University of Wichita’s class of 1953 reunion weekend was May 15-17. Class members reunited on WSU’s campus and enjoyed such activities as a welcome reception, campus tour, class brunch, commencement ceremonies and a special luncheon during which all returning 1953 graduates were inducted into the university’s 50-Year Club and awarded commemorative medallions.
Distinguished Speakers
Plans are under way to confirm six stellar Shockers as headliners for the 2003-04 Distinguished Alumni Speaker Breakfast Series. Although all personalities and dates are not finalized, excitement is building as the series is set to feature mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato ’92; Jim Rhatigan, WSU dean emeritus of students; radio program director Thurston Briscoe ’74, engineer Julie Acosta ’80/84 and Rebecca Ediger ’76/83, a WSU-trained physician assistant and Secret Service agent who helps direct protective services at the White House.
Each eye-opening breakfast will again begin at 7:30 a.m., wrap up by 8:30 and be held at the Olive Tree Banquet Hall. The cost is $80 for a series subscription (all six) and $125 for a patron package (which includes reserved seating and a special patron gift). Individuals may also attend a breakfast at a cost of $15.
Shocker Open: CaddyShock III
CaddyShock III, the 2003 Shocker Open golf tournament, was played April 18 at Willowbend Golf Club. Watch for all the winners (and losers) in the next issue of The Shocker.
