The crash of American Airlines 5342 has had a devastating and profound effect on many people and communities around the world. Here in Wichita – and at Wichita State University – it has sadly hit too close to home as we have learned over the past three weeks about individuals with ties to WSU who were on the flight to Washington, D.C.
We deeply mourn their loss, along with those from Wichita and all involved in this tragic crash.
Kiah Duggins – Kiah was a 2017 graduate of Wichita State, having graduated from the Barton School of Business and Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with degrees in international business, economics and Spanish. She was a recipient of the prestigious Clay Barton Scholarship, co-founded the Shocker Support Locker, and had an unwavering commitment to building more equitable communities. Kiah was a White House policy intern, working under First Lady Michelle Obama. After graduating from WSU, she went on to graduate from Harvard Law School, becoming an accomplished civil rights attorney. She was preparing to become a law professor at Howard University. Kiah leaves an incredible legacy and will never be forgotten.
Lori (Girard) Schrock – Lori was born in Topeka, Kansas. She attended Wichita State and graduated in 1990. In 1998, Lori married Robert “Bob” Schrock, and they lived in Kiowa, Kansas. Together they embodied the entrepreneurial spirit of Shocker Nation as president and vice president of Premium Grain in Kiowa, where they were recognized for their innovative farming practices. In 2014, they also established Freedom Gates Boys Ranch, an alternative to foster care in Hazelton. Lori and Bob were on the plane together to Washington, D.C. They leave behind their daughter, Ellie Schrock.
Grace Maxwell – Grace had taken classes at WSU Tech while she was in high school. She had been flying back to Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, after attending her grandfather’s funeral here in Wichita. While she hadn’t been with WSU Tech for long, we consider all of our students, both current and former, as members of our Shocker family, and we mourn her loss alongside Cedarville University.
Lindsey Fields – Lindsey was a member of WSU’s former Biomedical Engineering Department Advisory Board. She was professor and department chair of biology at Butler Community College. As a higher education community, we share in the loss of one of our own and extend our heartfelt condolences to the Butler Community College family.
Christopher Collins and Melissa Nicandri – Christopher and Melissa were colleagues at Moody’s Investors Service in New York City. On the day of the crash, I, along with several university officials, had the immense pleasure of spending the day with them as part of the university’s regular credit rating update. Chris has worked on the university’s credit rating for several years. Both were incredibly kind and accomplished people with bright futures ahead of them. Their sudden loss is truly hard to comprehend, and we hold their families, colleagues and loved ones in our thoughts.
Brian Ellis – Brian worked at Deloitte and was visiting the Deloitte Smart Factory @ Wichita on our Innovation Campus. Brian made frequent trips to Wichita and had become part of the Wichita community.
Brian didn’t travel alone. He was with a colleague from Deloitte. In addition, our innovation partner Dassault Systemes’ had a valued employee in town that day visiting our National Institute for Aviation Research. Because neither individual has been publicly identified, and out of respect for their loved ones, I am keeping their names private. We consider all our innovation partners to be part of the university family, and we join in mourning these exceptional people.
As we reflect on this tragedy, our hearts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those we lost. Their impact on Wichita State, our community and beyond will not be forgotten.
