Author: Carmen Hytche

You’re cordially invited to the James J. Rhatigan Tree Dedication ceremony at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 on the north side of the Rhatigan Student Center.

The dedication ceremony will be at the James J. Rhatigan tree. The tree was donated by President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case in honor of the former dean of students and vice president for student affairs emeritus for his unwavering advocacy for students at Wichita State.

A reception with cookies and coffee will immediately follow the dedication ceremony in the lounge north of the Cadman Art Gallery in the Rhatigan Student Center. Confirm in-person attendance by April 15.

Note: In case of inclement weather, the dedication ceremony and reception will be in the lounge north of the Cadman Art Gallery in the Rhatigan Student Center.

Join a come-and-go retirement celebration in honor of Dr. Anthony Vizzini from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center, Harvest Room. Remarks begin at 4:30 p.m.

You are cordially invited to join the National Employee Appreciation Day celebration with President Rick Muma and his executive team from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 7 east of Rhatigan Student Center.

Confirm attendance by RSVPing online by Monday, March 3 to meet the executive team, have a hamburger or hotdog and enjoy yard games.

WSU faculty and staff are cordially invited to meet Dr. Monica Lounsbery, the incoming senior executive vice president and provost, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. Remarks by President Rick Muma and Dr. Lounsbery will be at 3 p.m.

Please respond to the Monica Lounsbery meet and greet RSVP by Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Lounsbery will take over the SEVP and provost role from Dr. Shirley Lefever, who after 20 years at Wichita State retired in December.

The F1RST GEN Coordinating Council (FGCC) at Wichita State is composed of Wichita State individuals who are involved in efforts to support first-generation (FGEN) students that:

• Create awareness related to the needs and success of first-generation students
• Encourage involvement and support of faculty and staff with first-generation students
• Review data and outcomes to make recommendations for systemic change that leads to better experiences and outcomes for first-generation students
• Promote a campus culture that contributes to the overall well being and persistence of first-generation students

An FGEN college student is a student whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have not completed a bachelor’s degree.

The FGCC cordially invites you to become a member of the F1RST GEN Coordinating Council to enhance the campus-wide approach to serve F1RST GEN SHOCKERS through the culture of research, awareness, celebration and support. You do not have to be a first-generation student to be a member of the council and advocate for first-generation students.

For more information, email Dr. Bobby Berry, assistant dean for students and experience for the College of Applied Studies and chair of the FGCC, at bobby.berry@wichita.edu.

The annual remembrance of Memorial ’70 will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at the memorial sculpture at the university entrance at Alumni Drive and Hillside (18th and Hillside). The reception will be held immediately after in the lobby of Duerksen Fine Arts Center northeast of Memorial ’70.

In an annual ceremony of remembrance, a wreath is placed at Wichita State’s Memorial ’70 each Oct. 2. The brief ceremony honors WSU football players, administrators and supporters who died in a plane crash Oct. 2, 1970.

The WSU “Gold” plane, a Martin 404 carrying 36 passengers and a crew of four, crashed at approximately 3 p.m. on a mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado while enroute to Logan, Utah for a game with Utah State University. Twenty-nine persons died at the scene, while two others died later after receiving medical attention for their injuries. The WSU “Black” plane landed safely in Utah.

This time of remembrance is to acknowledge the changes that the plane crash made in the lives of the victims, their families, their friends and the university. 

Wichita State asks employees to take a brief survey about the 2023 Fall Address from Aug. 16. The survey will be open to responses until 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31.

The President’s Distinguished Service Awards will recognize faculty and staff for exemplary, dedicated and caring service to the Wichita State community.

The Shocker Pride Celebration will be held at 9:30 a.m. on May 5 in the Frank A. Boettger Auditorium of Woolsey Hall. The reception to meet and greet the honorees is at 9 a.m. in the Koch Atrium.

Honorees were selected by their peers from the university’s Staff Senate and Faculty Senate. RSVP on the Shocker Pride Celebration homepage.

The 2023 President’s Distinguished Award honorees:

Faculty Senate

• Suzanne Hawley
  • Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Professions.
• Justin Rorabaugh
  • School of Digital Arts, College of Fine Arts.
• Carolyn Shaw
  • Department of Political Science, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

University Staff Senate

• Jennifer Anozie
  • Health Professions Dean’s Office, College of Health Professions.
• Carley Enyart
  • Housing and Residence Life, Division of Student Affairs.
• Sheri-Lyn King
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Health Professions.
• Kevin Wedan
  • Fine Arts Dean’s Office, College of Fine Arts.

University Staff Senate – Wayne Carlisle Award

• Jana Henderson
  • Office of Research and Technology Transfer (Pre-Award), Division of Industry and Defense Programs.

The 2023 Ad Astra Conference will be held at Fort Hays State University from March 31 to April 1. The event is open to all first-generation students, and the first 30 students who register by Tuesday, Feb. 28 are provided with meals, a T-shirt and housing for the conference. Transportation to the conference is provided by the F1rst-Gen Student Organization.

The Ad Astra Conference brings first-generation students from universities across Kansas together for a common experience with a desired outcome of greater persistence to graduation and a better prepared future.

The annual Strategic Communication Seminar was held Jan. 26 in the Rhatigan Student Center. Attendees were able to choose to attend three of six sessions to gain additional insights, tools and tips to help improve marketing and communication efforts in their university departments.

Materials from the seminar are now available to view.