Educators, civic leaders, a doctor, an artist, a sports guru and a nationally-recognized name in security will be recognized for their achievements at the 48th Annual WSU Alumni Association Awards Banquet on Feb. 12, 2004.
Achievement Award Winner Ruth David ’75, is a former CIA deputy director for science and technology who now serves as president and CEO of ANSER, a nonprofit public service research institution based in Washington, D.C. In 2002, she was appointed to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, which advises the Department of Homeland Security.
Achievement Award Winner (Posthumous) Roberto Cruz ’64 died in 2002, but his commitment to education lives on. As a young educator, he started an after-school Spanish and math club, which attracted underprivileged children of all ethnicities. This educational success led to others, and he went on to found and serve as first president of the National Hispanic University in Oakland, Calif.
Achievement Award Winner (Posthumous) Jerry Bittle fs ’73, who died earlier this year, is remembered by fellow cartoonist Richard Crowson as a “WSU alumnus, nationally known cartoonist and world-class human being.” Bittle, whose comic Geech appeared in more than 175 newspapers worldwide, also authored two books and a musical comedy.
Alumni Recognition Award Winner Velma Wallace was presented WSU’s President’s Medal in 1992 for her unflagging support of the university and the wider community. Some 25 years ago, she and her late husband Dwane, aviation pioneer and 1933 graduate of the University of Wichita, founded the Wallace Scholars program, which has benefited scores of Wichita State students.
Service Award Winner Roland “Mr. B” Banks has been a key member of WSU’s athletics staff for nearly three decades, supervising the department’s equipment operations since 1976 and in 1998 being awarded the title of Special Assistant to the Athletics Director. Recognized as a person integral in maintaining relationships with former student athletes, he was inducted into the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Faculty Recognition Award Winner Greg Meissen ’77, WSU professor of psychology and executive director of the Self-Help Network of Kansas, is active in drug and alcohol counseling, the prevention of child abuse and with Huntington’s Disease research.
Alumni Recognition Award Winner Mike Burrus ’77, a former cable television executive, is president of Kapaun Mount Carmel High School, Wichita. A 1998 Distinguished Alumnus in Residence at WSU’s Frank Barton School of Business, Burrus is actively involved in many organizations, including the WSU Board of Trustees and the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation.
Young Alumnus Award Winner Dr. Sam Cohlmia ’89 is a physician and clinic director at Wichita Opthamology. His many strong ties to the university include the establishment of the Dr. Sam Cohlmia Outstanding Greek Man and Woman Scholarship.
