ARIZONA
Arizona Heats Up
Arizona Shocker basketball fans got together in Tempe for two watch parties this winter.
The first was on Jan. 24, when the Shockers claimed victory over Evansville in a heated Missouri Valley Conference game, and the second was Feb. 21, when the Shockers posted another win, this time over Austin Peay State in an ESPN Bracketbusters contest.
Attendees included Vic Heckart ’62, Ellie and Rex ’60 Higgins, Bill Osmun ’90, Max Steinbuchel ’70 and Lanny Van Eman ’62/65.
Playing the Greens
The Arizona Alumni Chapter’s annual Arizona Shocker Golf Open was March 13. Watch for tournament results in the next issue of The Shocker.
GARDEN CITY
Gather Ye Shockers While Ye May
WSU’s director of governmental relations, Eric Sexton ’87/92, hosted a Shocker men’s basketball watch party Dec. 13 in Garden City. Attendees included Rodney ’74 and Paula ’93 Van Norden, Mark ’80/82 and Paula Steadham, Wesley ’84 and Julie Allred and John ’77 and Leslie Petz.
KANSAS CITY
Jazzin’ It Up
Wichita State’s Jazz Arts Ensemble, under the direction of Tom Fowler ’68/79, jazzed it up for area alumni during a Feb. 18 performance at B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, Kansas City, Mo.
Behind You With Our Battle Cry
KC-area alumni rallied behind the Shockers during a March 1 watch party. Among those cheering as Wichita State battled and beat Creighton to clinch second place in the MVC were Spike Anderson ’93/95, Jenny ’94 and Brian Barnhart, April Beaty ’88, Dana and Craig ’01 Compagnone, Lance Emerson ’95, Jon Maack ’94, Vicki and Ron ’67 Tennissen and Jason Walton ’95.
Alka-Seltzer Breakfast
Special guest speaker James Rhatigan, WSU dean emeritus of students, addressed alumni and friends during a breakfast get-together March 16 at the Overland Park Marriott. Rhatigan spoke about his “Alka-Seltzer years” as dean of students during the 1960s. Attendees included April Beaty ’88, Joyce ’62 and Myron ’63 Hultgren, Arlita fs ’88 and Charles ’88 Hummelke, Eric Kraft ’95, Nicole ’96 and Shad ’99 Rockstad, Gaylord Smith ’70, Mike Taylor ’91/91, Vicki and Ron ’67 Tennissen and Leroy Unruh ’71.
MANHATTAN
On the Road
Seven charter busloads of Shocker fans — that’s more than 350 alumni, students and friends — trekked north to Manhattan, Kan., to watch the Dec. 10 men’s basketball battle between WSU and K-State. Attendees included Roland Banks, Steve Boleski ’85, Leonard Clark ’65, Bryan Frye ’87/88, Jenni Gluszek ’02, Chad Green ’93, Jeremy Hurt ’00, Gene and Jo Ann Hutto, Sam and Jacque Kouri, Cleo ’55 and Eloise Littleton, Billie Lively ’77, Don ’59 and Arlene Moore, Bernie ’61 and Alberta Nichols, J.D. Patton ’02 and Bob Pope.
TOPEKA
Home Is Where The Shocks Is
Capital-area alumni and friends cheered on the Shockers during a Jan. 11 watch party — complete with food, beverages and Shocker prizes — at the home of Alan ’88 and Holly ’91 Cobb. Attendees included Ed ’72 and Katy Field, Pete Bodyk ’88, Pat Egan ’92 and Melissa Wangemann ’90.
ST. LOUIS
MVC Tournament Trip
More than 400 basketball fans cheered on the Shockers in St. Louis during the annual Missouri Valley Conference men’s tournament, March 5-8. Among those gathering for WSU Alumni Association-sponsored rallies at the Sheraton City Center Hotel’s Jacques Sports Bar before each WSU game were Lisa ’77 and Lance ’78 Barker, Reena Crisler ’94, Sheila and Bryan ’87/88 Frye, Joan ’55 and Tom ’59/67 Gilley, Jenni Gluszek ’02, Joy ’00 and Brian ’96 Heinrichs, Lois ’56 and Max ’57 Hubbard, Andy King ’01, Donna and Marty Perline, Kirk Postier ’69, Lisa and Steve ’74 Sutherland, Lisa Waupsh ’02 and Sheryl ’82 and Doug ’80 Wohlford.
WICHITA
The Band! The Band!
Former Shocker band players regrouped for their annual Alumni Bands Club Bash on Feb. 14. Guests enjoyed a melodious reception at the Woodman Alumni Center before heading over to Charles Koch Arena for a cacophonous men’s basketball game against MVC rival Evansville.
For the game, Bands Club members had the option of playing with the university’s pep band. Later, the group enjoyed a medley of food and drinks at Buffalo Wild Wings. Those who tuned up for the event included Heather ’92 and Michael ’97 Alumbaugh, Brad Bone ’76/79, Dana Hamant ’78/83, Amy and Greg ’84 Keith, Alan Lazarus ’69/70, David Wormus ’83 and Jeff Yearout ’91/91.
Barton Alumni Society
Members of the W. Frank Barton School of Business Alumni Society hosted a VIP reception March 4 for area alumni and friends in conjunction with the school’s Business Week 2004. Guests enjoyed visiting with Business Week keynote speaker Jim Mann ’56, chairman of Sunguard Data Systems, Wayne, Pa. Attendees included Gayla and Dan ’53 Carney, Paula and Richard ’59 Kunkle, Bill Moore ’74, Clay Nickel ’96, Steve Overstreet ’68/69, Scott Scrogin ’02, William Watts ’52/52 and Jackie Williams ’67.
Activities slated for Business Week 2004 ranged from lectures given by former professors to presentations from community leaders to interactive alumni panels. Among the many WSU alumni contributing their time and expertise were Roni Gordon-Campbell ’94/98, Darin Cartwright ’02, Darin Dredge ’97 and Cindy Sandoval ’00, who participated in the March 2 panel “Unwritten Rules of the Workplace,” and Susan Pompeo ’79, former senior vice president, Emprise Bank, Wichita, who presented “Networking: Using Your Circle of Influence.”
Breakfast Speakers
Shocker Hall of Famer Lanny Van Eman ’62/65 took the podium Jan. 21 at Wichita’s Olive Tree Banquet Hall as the fourth of six presenters in the 2003-04 WSU Distinguished Alumni Speaker Breakfast Series. Among the breakfast attendees were Fran Jabara, Leonard Clark ’65, D. Cramer Reed ’37 and Van Eman’s former WSU roommate Gerry Sibley ’60, of Rockford, Ill.
Electrical engineer Julie (Stallard) Acosta ’80/84, the director of Quality and Process Improvement for Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group, was the featured speaker Feb. 24.
April 23; 7:30 a.m. — Thurston Briscoe ’74 steps up to the mic to share a few stories about his professional journeys through the world of public radio. Briscoe is currently the program director for WBGO, a consistently top-rated jazz radio station that serves the New York City area.
Calling All Nurses
April 30 — Annual Nursing Alumni Society Meeting at the Woodman Alumni Center. Nursing alumni are encouraged to attend and participate in this general meeting, which will feature university and nursing school updates as well as the presentation of the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Coleman Hill Cookout
Sun., May 16; 12 p.m. — Coleman Hill Baseball Cookout, Eck Stadium Home of Tyler Field. Sponsored by Pepsi Bottling Group and the House of Schwan, this alumni event features food, fun, drinks and the excitement of Shocker baseball. Wichita State takes the field against Southwest Missouri State. The admission cost per person covers lunch and a game ticket.
Rumble in the Jungle
Sat., May 22; 11 a.m. — Spring Fling at the Sedgwick County Zoo, with lunch from 12-1 p.m. and special educational presentations starring some of the zoo’s most special animal residents. Guaranteed fun for the whole family. Cost: $15 per person for adults; $10 ages 4 through 11; free for kids 3 years old and younger. Reservation deadline is Fri., May 14.
Senior Breakfast
April 7; 8-9 a.m. — Join university friends and alumni in congratulating WSU’s graduating class of 2004 during the Fifth Annual Senior Breakfast. To be held in the Rhatigan Student Center Ballroom, the breakfast is sponsored by Capitol Federal Savings and hosted by the WSU Alumni Association and the Division of Student Affairs.
Welcome Aboard, Nurses
Members of the WSU Nursing Alumni Society hosted a breakfast orientation for new, spring-semester undergraduate nursing students, who were each presented a WSU lapel pin and treated to remarks from WSU President Don Beggs, Society Vice President Theresa Cooper ’93/94/01, College of Health Professions Dean Peter Cohen and alumni association Executive Director Brad Beets ’87.
WSU Anthropology Reunion
Fri.-Sat., April 23-24 — For details, contact either Robert Lawless or Jerry Martin.
