WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Winter 2002

Director's Corner

BRAD S. BEETS '87 - ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR

The events of the last year-and-a-half have created some unique situations in our national and state economies. Endowments of all kinds have been hit hard with lower than expected returns — and those in higher education are no exception.

As I write this message, our state government officials are wrestling with a huge budget shortfall, a gap of about $1 billion over the next 18 months. Times are tough, but with the right leadership we will make it through. Here at wsu, President Don Beggs has shown us positive, effective leadership, leadership that has prepared us to continue — or even improve — our quality of institutional programming with less financial support. His enthusiasm and passion for higher education at Wichita State has kept morale high and challenged us to see these hard economic times through.

But we need your support, as well. Scholarships are sorely needed to assist future Shockers in their academic pursuits. If you live in Kansas, it is important for you to voice your opinions regarding the importance and funding of higher ed to your local state representatives as they work through the difficult process of dealing with our budget shortfall.

Your alumni association officers and staff are working overtime to deal with these fiscally-driven challenges. Our goal is to provide you and your fellow Shockers needed alumni and university services and programming, without major downsizing. We welcome your support as a dues-paying member, as a volunteer or through your contributions — as together we support higher education at Wichita State. Thank you!


AT THE CENTER

On Their Marks

This year marks the 47th Annual WSU Alumni Association Award ceremony, at which six stellar Shockers will be recognized for their many and diverse accomplishments.

Blair Wu Project

Shockers dared the deep, dark Blair Wu woods for a frightfully fun night in support of higher education at Wichita State.

Shocker Faces

?Sam Ramey '68, Richard "Bud" Markley '82 and Steve Hedden, WSU dean of fine arts, get together during a Lyric Opera of Chicago event. Taking a breather during flag football action Sept. 27 between YAC and SAA teams are, from...

Director's Corner

The events of the last year-and-a-half have created some unique situations in our national and state economies. Endowments of all kinds have been hit hard with lower than expected returns — and those in higher education are no exception. As I...

President's Corner

As the year 2003 gets under way in earnest, I’d like to take this opportunity to review a few of the alumni association’s major events of 2002 — and invite you to join us for our 2003 alumni activities. On Oct. 26, we celebrated ou...

Happenings

ARIZONA Shocker Open Tue., Mar. 18; 7:30 a.m. — Arizona Shocker Open, Dobson Ranch Golf Course, Mesa, Ariz. Vic Heckart '62 and other Phoenix-area alumni invite alumni and supporters to tee off with fellow Shockers at this annual tourname...