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The Best of the Best

The College of Applied Studies Hall of Fame recognizes individuals or groups of individuals who have made significant positive impact on the college at any point since its founding. This includes the full range of programs that have been associated with the college at various points in its history. The traits/qualities CAS Hall of Fame members possess should be reflective of the college鈥檚 core values of collaboration, inclusivity, innovation, leadership, and learning.

Class of 2024

Stacy Chestnut, alumni and educator. Chestnut won the 2023 麻豆破解版 Public Schools Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award and is a leader in English education both within the district and at the state level.

Chase Curtiss, alumni and entrepreneur. Curtiss is the chief executive officer of Sway Medical and has been recognized as a pioneer in his field, having received the first-ever FDA clearance for a software-only medical device.

Credit Union of America, partner. Commonly recognized as the educators鈥� credit union, CUA has partnered with the college as the lead donor for initiatives such as Teacher Apprentice Program鈩� Scholarships, CUA鈥檚 Teacher Licensure Exam Fee Awards, and Corbin Connect.

Christine Downey-Schmidt, patron and higher education leader. Downey-Schmidt is a retired educator, State Senator, Regent with the Kansas Board of Regents, and Trustee with the Higher Learning Commission.

Cathy Razook-Ellsworth, alumni, educator, and staff member. Ellsworth served as the college鈥檚 senior coordinator in Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning as well as a Career Development Specialist for 33 years, facilitating paid applied learning experiences for students in multiple programs. Ellsworth is a former elementary education teacher who taught in 麻豆破解版 Public Schools for ten and a half years.

Becky Endicott, alumni and staff member. Now retired, Endicott served as Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator in WSU Athletics for more than 20 years, supporting sport programs, gender equity, and academic achievement.

Susan Rippe, alumni and educator. Now a lecturer in the college鈥檚 TAP鈩� program, Rippe is a former middle and secondary science teacher who has been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She also served as the 2000 Kansas Teacher of the Year and the 2006 Air Force National Teacher of the Year/Christa McAuliffe Award recipient.

Rex Schott, alumni and athletic trainer. Schott is in his 59th year as an athletic trainer, serving athletes ranging from high school-level to WSU Athletics and Olympians in volleyball and gymnastics. He was a faculty member teaching physical education for over 15 years.

Dr. Vicki Worrell, alumni and faculty member. Worrell is a nationally recognized physical education teacher and leader who taught at the elementary level before transitioning to being a PE faculty member at WSU and other institutions.

Class of 2023

Dr. Marcus Ballenger, professor and associate dean emeritus, is an award-winning teacher and scholar who authored innovative language arts textbooks and created the college鈥檚 Cooperative Education program.

Dr. Jeri Carroll, professor emerita in early childhood and elementary education, is an award-winning teacher and nationally recognized scholar, and former department chair and president of the WSU Faculty Senate.

Dr. Orpha Duell, professor emerita in educational psychology, is an award-winning teacher and nationally recognized scholar, and former department chair and president of the WSU Faculty Senate.

Rick Pappas, former educator in physical education, is an award-winning teacher at WSU after a distinguished career teaching in USD 259. He is nationally recognized as a curricular leader for innovative approaches to physical education.

Dr. Michael Tilford, former college faculty and dean of the Graduate School, is a national leader in minority studies. The annual Michael Tilford Conference on Diversity and Multiculturalism is named in his honor.

Class of 2022

Dr. Marlene Schommer-Aikins, professor emerita-educational psychology, is an accomplished scholar, former coordinator of the educational psychology master鈥檚 program, chair of the counseling, educational and school psychology department.

Sue Bair, assistant professor emerita-physical education, was a faculty member who served at WSU for 33 years, mentoring and profoundly affecting the lives of hundreds of physical education students.

Amber Carithers, alumna-English language arts, is a teacher at Hutchinson High School, and was part of the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year Team.

Dr. Leonard Chaffee, dean and professor emeritus, now deceased, Chaffee served as dean for 20 years (1967-1987) and remained on the teaching faculty within education administration after his retirement.

Dr. Randy Ellsworth, professor emeritus-educational psychology, served as dean (1996-97), associate dean (1994-2006), department chair (1990-94) and established the Center for Research and Evaluative Services.

Dr. Jon Engelhardt, dean and professor emeritus, served as dean at WSU (1997-2007) and is a nationally-recognized leader in education, founding two professional and research organizations and serving on executive boards.

Frank Rokosz, associate professor emeritus-physical education activity program (PEAP), is the longest-serving faculty member in the history of the college, teaching 45 years and leading the university鈥檚 PEAP program.

Dr. Oliver Troxel, former dean, now deceased, was the college鈥檚 first dean (1926-1929) and was highly active with the Red Cross and National Education Association.

Dr. John Wilson, professor emeritus-elementary education, 鈥淒r. John,鈥� as he is affectionately known by his students, was an education faculty member whose creativity, commitment and advocacy for educators distinguished his career.

Class of 2021

Harry F. Corbin, university president from 1949 to 1963, known for leading the fight to bring the university into the state system of higher education.

Richard Gaskill, executive director of the Sumner Mental Health Center, in recognition of his internationally-recognized work in play therapy.

John Hansan, former faculty and department chair, for his strong dedication to sports and role in launching the university鈥檚 Sport Management programs.

Nick Jimenez and family for their generous support in donating the largest scholarship for Sport Management students in the College.

Doris and Ralph Klose for their generosity in funding over 20 scholarships per year to secondary science and mathematics teacher education candidates.

Margaret Meek, longtime educator in 麻豆破解版, for her dedication and commitment to teaching, including her work teaching reading to diverse students.

Lori Miller, former faculty, for being a driving force behind the establishment of the Sport Management programs and an internationally recognized sports management scholar.

Jackson Powell, dean from 1950 to 1966, who advanced the college in multiple ways, including convincing Frank Lloyd Wright to design a new education center in 麻豆破解版.

Twyla Sherman, former faculty, in recognition of her 42 years of service to WSU in science education and the impact she had on individual teachers.

Leslie Sipple, the college鈥檚 second dean from 1929-1950, for his outstanding contribution to the Teacher Training Program and his recognition throughout the state and Midwest as a leader in education.

Gladys Taggart, former faculty, for evolving the physical education program at WSU, as well as her multiple contributions to all areas of women鈥檚 athletics.

Alicia Thompson, alumna and superintendent of 麻豆破解版 Public Schools, for her outstanding leadership during some of the most challenging times in American education history.