Betty Van Arsdale Burns Endowed Scholarship in Fine Arts

For Elizabeth Betty May Burns, the University of Wichita held many fond memories. After meeting and watching fireworks together on the former Crestview Country Club campus, Betty and Edward Burns fell in love and married in 1949. Following her college days, Mrs. Burns was well known as a Wichita philanthropist and avid supporter of WSU. In addition to volunteering for more than 25 years at the Red Cross and the American Cancer Society, she was a WSU President s Club member and an Alumni Association Life member. During the 1970s and 1980s and while Mr. Burns was president at Beech Aircraft, Mrs. Burns assumed the roles of chairwoman and president for the Wichita Center for the Arts. During her stay, she was instrumental in laying the foundation for what the center is today.

The Burnses have made many contributions to WSU including the Betty Van Arsdale Burns Endowed Scholarship in the College of Fine Arts and the Clock Tower at the Marcus Welcome Center. The Clock Tower is an especially meaningful gift, being situated just yards away from where they first met. Their generosity towards WSU stems from their belief in the impact of cultural institutions on the residents of Wichita.