By Jane Anderson
Director of Alumni Relations

Kansas Wesleyan University Alumni Association has been active on campus the past several years. One of the issues that the Association has begun to address is the lack of historical documentation on the campus. Researching past pictures and creating a wall of photos of Kansas Wesleyan presidents was a major undertaking in 2002.

In 2003, another project of hanging current and past buildings was a gift to the campus for President Philip Kerstetter’s inauguration. Both of these projects hang on the second floor of Pioneer Hall, and have prompted many positive comments from alumni, students, faculty, and staff. We also filled the Admission’s Office with pictures from different time periods of the university’s history. The display has allowed prospective students and their families to see that Kansas Wesleyan has a proud past.

In 2004, the Association paid for cabinetry to be built to house part of the fossil and rock
collection in the Peter Science Hall Lobby. Part of the collection had once been housed in our museum that had been located in Carnegie Science Hall, and this new display will help beautify Peters and provide educational opportunities.

Finding a safe storage space for the University Archives is also a top priority for the Association, and providing the acid free folders, storage boxes, and volunteer hours to help file information will be a project for years to come.

Part of the mission of the Alumni Association is “to further the interests of Kansas Wesleyan University in the cause of education.” The Association has had several outreach projects to the students. One such outreach was a dinner party for the fall graduates last December to help make their graduation from KWU a special one. On May 15, 2004, the association sponsored a reception after the commencement ceremonies in the Salina Bicentennial Center. We also have given every graduate a gift from the Association: a KWU mug and license tag that both have “KWU alumni” on them. For two years we have provided for several Buck Meals, a Sunday night meal offered in the
University United Methodist Church for any student who wants to eat for an offering of $1.

The Association has handled receptions after band concerts, and provided snacks at

Homecoming in the Student Center for alumni. It also provided parties for both the band and the choir as a thank you for all the music they provided for both former President Marshall Stanton’s retirement party and President Kerstetter’s inauguration. Additionally, because it is important for the Association to help preserve the institution’s
history, we helped support the Lilac Fete this year, an event that was not in existence for the previous several years.

Another part of the Association’s mission says, “and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship between the University and its Alumni.” The Association has tried several outreach events in the past several years, from sponsoring a tailgate party for a football game and inviting alumni, to hosting a hors d’oeuvres party for the first Soccer Alumni Gathering.

In 2004, we also tried an outreach to the alumni teachers who are teaching in the public
schools in Salina and Goodland, Kansas. Each teacher received a KWU Alumni mug filled with KWU pencils. We wanted to say “thank you” to all those in education, and also to create an awareness in the students about KWU. The response to the mugs was tremendous. Some of the “thank you” letters the association received included responses such as:

“Jane, what a surprise when I went to my mailbox and found the pencils and mug!!! The

pencils were quite a hit as I simply walked through the halls!!! (I mean that!!) I had about a dozen 1st graders just staring at them. I will probably share them with my class (your
intention, I’m sure!). Excellent PR work!!
— Bette Sue Wachholz (’88)

“What a fun surprise! The KWU alumni mug with the bound pencil bunch was just delivered to my room. I hope you realize what it means to be recognized in ANY way, and this is just a pleasant reminder that you know we’re out here and still appreciate us. Thank you so much, and I hope your year is nothing but GREAT! Again, thanks!”
— Becky Patrick (’95)

Alumni membership dues funded all of the above-mentioned projects, so please consider
joining us for the Kansas Wesleyan University Alumni Association meeting at noon on every second Thursday of the month in Stewart Dining Room. Come and have lunch on us and help us plan for the projects for next year.

For information about joining the Kansas Wesleyan University Alumni Association, please contact Jane Anderson, Director of Alumni Relations, at 785-827-5541 ext. 1129 or via email at janea@kwu.edu.