Category: Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Mary Liz Jameson, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was elected to be one of the 2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. The AAAS Fellows are recognized for their extraordinary contributions to the sciences.

Dr. Jameson has been with Wichita State since 2008. She joins two other members of the WSU community who have been previously elected: Dr Coleen Pugh, dean of the Graduate School, who was elected in 2010; and Dr. Susan Sterrett, Curtis D. Gridley Distinguished Professorship in History and Philosophy, who was elected in 2016.

The School of Music is pleased to announce the winners of the 87th annual Naftzger Young Artists Auditions. Among the competitors, two Wichita State students were division winner and runner up.

Pulip Han, a soprano vocalist at WSU, was the vocal division winner; and Isabel Blakewell, a soprano vocalist from WSU, was the vocalist runner up. Each of the area winners received a $2,000 prize, and each runner up earned $500 in prizes.

Zachary Costello, a saxophonist from Eastman School of Music, is the 2025 Naftzger Young Artist, earning an award of $5,000. The remaining division winners from the weekend’s competition were Jiyeon Lee, pianist from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Dylna Kinneavy, a cellist from the Yale School of Music. The remaining three division runners-up were Ethan Stahl, pianist from the University of Colorado-Boulder; Runqi Weng, violinist from Michigan State University; and Riley Bender, flutist from the University of Texas at Austin. The total prizes awarded were $13,000 overall.

While eight students eventually moved on to the finals, 64 students from all over the nation were invited to compete in the first round of the auditions. The finals recital took place at Wiedemann Hall March 23. Judges for the auditions were David Cangelosi, voice; Dr. Thomas Keck, SMU Meadows School of the Arts, winds/brass/percussion; Jodi Levitz, Frost School of Music at the University of Miam, strings; and Dr. Caorline Oltmanns from Youngstown State University.

The Naftzger Yong Artists Auditions and Music Awards are administered by Wichita State University’s School of Music and are made possible by The Naftzger Fund for Fine Arts, Inc. Created by the M.C. Naftzger in memory of L.S. Naftzger, Ida L. Naftzger and Lee Southwell Naftzger II. Continued support for these Awards come from Caesar and Michelle Naftzger.

The College of Fine Arts (CFA) will hold its 2025 Hall of Fame at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 10 in Wiedemann Hall. A reception will follow in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. The event is not ticketed and is open to all members of the WSU and greater Wichita communities.

This year, five recipients are being recognized for their achievements and contributions to the College of Fine Arts:

• Bikki Bevelhymer, Inaugural benefactor for Digital Arts Scholarships and graduate of the Barton School of Business.
• Martin H. Bush, Nationally recognized art historian, educator, consultant and gallery director, and founder of the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection.
• Alan and Sharon Fearey, Award winning community art patrons; are deeply engaged in the arts, both through their personal collection and their ongoing support of institutions like the Ulrich Museum. Alan is a 1968 graduate of Wichita State with a degree in chemistry.
• Javier Ignacio, Nationally renowned Broadway performer, who trained in the musical theatre program at Wichita State.  
• Linda Starkey, Nationally recognized musical theatre educator, musician, performer and director, and a distinguished figure in the Wichita arts scene, particularly at WSU, where she taught for forty years. She was instrumental in forming the Musical Theatre Degree program and served as director of the School of Performing Arts for more than a decade before retiring in 2022.

The College of Fine Arts congratulates the recipients of the 2025 Hall of Fame awards and thanks all of those who support the college’s efforts to advance the interests of the arts at WSU and the greater Wichita community.

For additional information, contact Wendy Hanes, assistant dean in the College of Fine Arts, at 316-978-6002 or wendy.hanes@wichita.edu.

Do you know a member of our campus community who has made a meaningful impact on the Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA)  community at Wichita State and beyond? The Lotus of Progress Award Series is a chance to recognize their leadership and advocacy.

This award honors individuals and organizations who uplift and inspire through their contributions — whether by fostering inclusivity, leading impactful initiatives or serving as mentors. Their efforts deserve to be celebrated.

Nominations are open now through Friday, March 28. Don’t miss the opportunity to shine a light on someone making a difference!

Stefanie Coronado, success coach, has been selected by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Success Coach Knowledge Community to receive the 2025 Success Coach of the Year Award.

The award recognizes a success coach that has shown innovation above and beyond the role as a coach within the student affairs field, including but not limited to student support, student impact, program assessment and evaluation, community building, marketing, research and more. Stefanie will receive this award at the NASPA Annual Conference March 17.

“Stefanie’s dedication to student success has had a transformative impact on the College of Engineering,” said Dr. Anthony Muscat, dean, College of Engineering. “Through her innovative and holistic approach — particularly in first-year retention initiatives — she has played a critical role in closing equity gaps and equipping students with the support they need to persist. Her ability to build meaningful connections, combined with her leadership in student support services, makes her an invaluable asset to Wichita State and a truly deserving recipient of the Success Coach of the Year award.”

Two student teams and an individual graduate student from the Department of Industrial, Systems and Manufacturing Engineering within the College of Engineering placed in competitions during the Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) South Central Regional Conference. The event was the weekend of Feb. 22 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and the students were accompanied by Dr. Cindi Mason, associate teaching professor in the department.

Saurabh Sanjay Singh, a graduate student, won first place in the poster competition. His poster was titled, “Energy Conscious Job Shop Scheduling Integrating Optimization and Actor-Critic Architectures,” and Dr. Deepak Gupta, department chair, was his faculty advisor. Undergraduate students Jasmine Carlucci, Jacob Mayne and Paula Nguyen won first place in the technical paper competition. Undergraduate students Hayden Henderson, Bo Miller and Colton Pound won third place in the technical paper competition.

The Carlucci, Mayne and Nguyen student team will compete in the IISE National Conference in May in Atlanta.

The Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP) have recognized Sgt. Efrain Rueda and Officer Tate Tilley-Bedick with Silver Valor Awards, one of the state’s most prestigious awards given to officers for service to their communities.

Sgt. Rueda and Officer Tilley-Bedick will be recognized for their exceptional service to the Shocker community and for keeping students, staff, faculty and visitors safe at a banquet in honor of the 2025 awardees Wednesday, April 16.

Kim Sandlin, director of Student Success, has been selected by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Technology Knowledge Community to receive the 2025 Outstanding Contribution/Contributor to Technology Programs Award.

The award recognizes an individual NASPA member who demonstrates innovative use of technology within higher education and utilizes technology to support strategies and programs in new and groundbreaking ways at their institution or within the fields of student affairs and student success more broadly. Kim will receive this award at the NASPA Annual Conference March 17.

Sarah Schlottman, a speech and drama teacher at Abilene High School, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Kansas Horizon Award. Sarah, a second-year teacher in the Wichita State Transition to Teaching Program (T2T), was recognized for her exceptional dedication and passion for teaching.

The Transition to Teaching program is a two-year alternative licensure program that combines graduate-level coursework (in-person, hybrid and online) with full-time, paid teaching as the teacher of record in a specific subject area. Participants will fulfill teacher licensure (KSDE) course requirements while enrolled in the T2T program with an option to complete a Master of Arts in teaching degree with an additional seven credit hours.

On Jan. 9, Dr. Randy Watson, the Kansas Commissioner of Education, called Schlottman to announce the exciting news.

“We have thousands of outstanding teachers in their second year,” Dr. Watson said. “Only 32 across the state are selected for this honor, and Sarah is one of them.”

The recognition places Sarah among the best new educators in Kansas and earns her a place in the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN). As part of the award, Schlottman will be invited to the KEEN Conference and an honorary banquet in February, where she will be celebrated for her educational contributions.

Sarah’s commitment to her students and the Abilene community has not gone unnoticed. Known for her tireless work ethic, her dedication to providing students with a transformative experience in speech and drama, and her constant drive to inspire others, Sarah has become a true role model for her peers and students alike.

“We are incredibly proud of Sarah and the remarkable work she does each day to help her students succeed,” said Greg Brown, Abilene High School Principal. “This recognition is a testament to her dedication, and we are thrilled to see her being acknowledged on a state level.”

Sarah’s passion for teaching and her unwavering commitment to student success make her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

The Wichita Eagle has announced the winners of its annual Best of Wichita competition, and Wichita State was voted gold in best college/university in Wichita. This is the third year in a row where Wichita State has been named the best college/university.

We thank Shocker Nation for their participation in the voting process.