Donor Stories

Hear From Our Donors

Every gift to Wichita State creates opportunities that shape the future of our students, campus and community. Behind each scholarship, campus building and innovative program, is a donor whose generosity fuels Shocker success. These stories celebrate the individuals and families who give back, sharing their motivations, impact and the lasting legacy they are building at Wichita State.

Marty & Donna Perline

When Marty and Donna Perline arrived in Wichita in 1965, they saw it as a temporary stop. More than 50 years later, Wichita State feels like family. To give back, they are leaving the bulk of their estate to fund scholarships, ensuring future students have the support they need to succeed.

Debby ’81 & Eddie Aleman

Each year, the Shocker Support Locker provides essential resources to Wichita State students facing food insecurity, distributing over 18,500 items to more than 1,500 students. This vital service ensures that Shockers can focus on their education without the burden of basic needs. Thanks to the generosity of donors like Debby and Eddie, the locker’s impact continues to grow—helping more students access the support they need to thrive.

Give to the Shocker Locker

6.7.24

Planning ahead: Young alumna creates estate gift for future students

Jessica Stitt ’08/09/22

When Jessica Stitt was a student, she knew she wanted to be able to give back and make a difference someday. Since then, she’s found many ways to give back to the university over the years, speaking to classes and at events and serving on the Alumni Advisory Board and the Shocker Pride Scholarship selection committee. In 2024, she took her investment in WSU a step further, designating a planned gift of $100,000 to create a scholarship supporting study abroad opportunities for STEM students.

Impact in Action

Read more about how your gifts affect students

Student Stories