Category: Foundation and Alumni Engagement

As we approach the end of our fiscal year, remember the following important deadlines to ensure all transactions are processed in time for FY25. Meeting these deadlines is crucial for accurate financial reporting and budget management.

Requisitions:

To meet the campus departmental deposit deadline of June 23, Wichita State University Foundation and Alumni Engagement (WSUFAE) requisitions to reimburse WSU Restricted Use accounts from foundation funds are due by noon on Tuesday, June 17. All other requisitions for FY25 processing must be received by end of day, Tuesday, June 24.

WSUFAE does not encumber funds, and it cannot write any checks for fiscal year 2025 after June 27.

For questions, contact Yen Nguyen at foundation.ap@wichita.edu or 316-978-3813.

Deposits:

Deliver all gifts to the WSUFAE by noon Friday, June 27.

For questions, contact Lily Tran at lily.tran@wichita.edu or 316-978-5191.

Nominate a Shocker today for the 2025 Alumni Awards. This is the chance to recognize outstanding Wichita State alumni for the impact they are making on campus or around the world, whether they’re at the start of a promising career or celebrating a lifetime of accomplishments.

Join Shocker alumni, family and friends for an afternoon of Shocker celebration at the Outfield Tailgate at noon Saturday, May 17 at the Eck Stadium Outfield Pavilion. The party will kick off the last home baseball game of the season against the Memphis Tigers as we cheer on the Shockers, reconnect with fellow alumni and enjoy a day of food, drinks and fun.

The tailgate starts at noon and the first pitch is at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids and include a game ticket, ballpark food buffet, music, yard games and lots of Shocker Spirit. Alcoholic beverages are BYOB and must adhere to outfield beverage rules.

Join Shocker alumni and friends for an afternoon of knowledge and networking at Wichita State Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s first event in the Elevate Speaker Series. The event runs from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at Social Tap at Braeburn Square, with the panel discussion beginning at 4 p.m.

Host Troy Tabor, director of innovation intelligence in the College of Innovation and Design, will be joined by a panel of professionals from different industries as they discuss the future of artificial intelligence and what it means for your career.

Featured panelists include Mandy Fouse, executive director of public affairs and executive communications for WSU Tech; Dyane Smokorowski, coordinator of digital literacy for Wichita Public Schools; and John Jones, executive director of the Media Resources Center.

The WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement will be closed from Monday, Dec. 23 to Jan. 6, 2025. Checks without a postmarked envelope will need to be delivered to the Foundation Finance Team Office by noon Friday, Dec. 20. Checks with an envelope postmarked by Dec. 31 need to be at WSUFAE no later than 4 p.m. Jan. 10, 2025.

For questions, contact WSUFAE at foundation.acct@wichita.edu or call 316-978-5191.⁠

As the year draws to a close, note the upcoming requisition deadline. The WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement will be closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 5, 2025. To ensure timely payment of invoices, all requisitions must be submitted by noon Tuesday, Dec. 17 for processing.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact WSUFAE at foundation.ap@wichita.edu or call 316-978-3813.

The WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement team was pleased to welcome more than 100 familiar faces back to campus for the annual Retired Faculty and Staff breakfast, featuring a campus update from President Rick Muma. Additionally, 33 faculty and staff members were honored at the Bender of Twigs ceremony, which recognizes individuals who have served the university for 25 to 50 years.

Dr. Shirley Lefever, executive vice president and provost, was also recognized as the 31st recipient of the Laura Cross Distinguished Service Award. Named in honor of Laura Cross, a 1925 graduate of Fairmount College who served WSU for more than seven decades, this award honors faculty and staff who have dedicated themselves to enriching the university through their service. WSUFAE is thrilled to celebrate the contributions of Dr. Lefever, who will be retiring after the conclusion of the fall semester.

Today is Wichita State’s annual Founders’ Day of Giving, and we want to invite you to participate in supporting student success alongside all of Shocker Nation. With more than 80 programs seeking support this year, there are many ways your gift can make a difference. 

Join us today and help create even more opportunities for the students who need it most. There are several matching gifts committed today that will make your generosity go even further. 

Every gift, no matter the size, helps shape the future of Wichita State.  

We hope you’ll be a part of this year’s success story! 

The WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement team is looking for spirited volunteers to support the many exciting events planned for Shocktoberfest this year. Join in the festivities Oct. 5 for the Entrepreneur Market, Brew Garden + Fan Fest and the Shocktoberfest Parade. There will be a variety of roles and flexible time slots to choose from.

A volunteer training will take place the week of Sept. 23. If you have any questions, reach out to Josh Woods, associate director of alumni programming, at joshua.woods@wichita.edu.

WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement’s third annual Founders’ Day of Giving is nearly here, and WSUFAE can’t wait to see how all of Shocker Nation shows their support. Since it began this tradition in 2022, more than 700 individual donors have given to the colleges, departments, teams and programs they love, and everyone on campus plays an important role in growing impact.

In the next two weeks, explore the giving opportunities on the Founders’ Day homepage, spread the word on social media and consider making a matching gift. Your support makes all the difference.