Introducing our 2025 Alumni Award recipients

Since 1955, the WSU Alumni Awards have been a beloved Shocker tradition honoring the individuals that constitute Shocker Nation and whose outstanding contributions, service and character make our university, and their communities, a better place.

We are thrilled to continue this tradition and announce the peer-nominated 2025 Alumni Award recipients.

With decades of experience in estate planning and a ream of accolades to accompany his tenure, Dan Peare ’82/85, owner and member at Hinkle Law and chair of the firm’s trusts and estates practice group, has helped Hinkle Law gain recognition as a top estate planning practice in the state. Among many professional recognitions, he was named a Top 100 Attorney in the U.S. by Worth magazine in 2008, the first in Kansas to earn the distinction. He serves various organizations across the Wichita community and beyond, including the Board of Directors for the YMCA Foundation and the Wichita Metropolitan YMCA and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the WSU Barton School of Business.

Dan is being recognized with the Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon Wichita State alumni by the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement. This recognition is given to a WSU alum for their exceptional professional accomplishments and contributions to society at large.

Marquetta Atkins-Woods ’14 – Social Impact Award

Ask anyone in the Wichita community, and they’ll tell you Marquetta Atkins-Woods ’14 is a fierce advocate for all initiatives centering education, youth empowerment, liberation, equity, justice and community transformation. After graduating from WSU, she launched Camp Destination Innovation, a program introducing youth to entrepreneurship, STEAM careers and civic engagement, and has since expanded her purview by launching several other community-oriented programs including Progeny, Root the Power and Cure Violence ICT.

Marquetta will be honored with the Social Impact Award, which recognizes the alumni, faculty, administrators or businesses who have made meaningful contributions to Wichita State and the wider community through public service.

Joan Wagner ’99/04 – Volunteer of the Year Award

Joan Wagner ’99/04, technical fellow for Systems Engineering, has not wavered whatsoever in her involvement with Wichita State since graduating with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering. Currently, the alumna is a member of the WSUFAE National Advisory Council, the College of Engineering Industry Advisory Board and the Cohen Honors College Advisory Board, where she recently completed a term as board chair. She is also involved as a mentor for current WSU engineering students and a champion for young alumni early in their careers. On campus, Joan is regarded as an exemplar in servant leadership and selfless volunteerism.

The alumna was selected for the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing her active dedication to the mission and future of Wichita State and its students.

Landon Huslig ’15 – Young Alumni Award

Lifelong Wichitan Landon Huslig ’15 has learned to balance his role as operations manager at Stand Together, a non-profit aimed at tackling complex national issues, and keeping up with Wichita Life, the not-so side hustle he and his wife, Candace, launched in 2017 to highlight the businesses, individuals and goings-on that make ICT special. Today, Wichita Life reaches more than 100,000 social media followers and tens of thousands of newsletter subscribers.

This year’s Young Alumni Award recipient, Landon will be acknowledged for his outstanding leadership in his field and positive contributions to the community.

Kiah Duggins ’17 – Young Alumni Award, presented posthumously

From childhood, Kiah Duggins ’17 was instilled with a deep commitment to promoting and advancing causes for social justice. While at Wichita State, she served her community—local and national—by volunteering with Alternative Spring Break, serving as chief of staff for student government and helping to co-found the Shocker Support Locker. Graduating from Harvard Law School in 2021, she went on to serve as a civil rights attorney with the Civil Rights Corp in Washington D.C., where she challenged unconstitutional policing and money bail practices.

Her passion for justice, her resolute joy and her exceptional character left an indelible impression upon all those she met. Kiah will be recognized at the 2025 Heritage Gala with a Posthumous Young Alumni Award.

Kevin Strecker – Board of Trustees’ Award

As ministry market CEO for Ascension Via Christi, Kevin Strecker well understands the need for dynamic collaborations between the health care sector and educational institutions. In his more than two decades of health care leadership, he has helped expand Ascension’s presence in the city of Wichita, including a strengthened partnership with Wichita State University.

Kevin is this year’s Board of Trustees’ Award recipient, an honor first presented in 1989 and traditionally given to an individual who has made significant contributions to advancing the vital and rewarding partnerships between Wichita State and Wichita community.

Join us in celebrating these individuals and their outstanding accomplishments at our 2025 Heritage Gala.