Trinie Sanchez-Gietzen Endowed Nursing Scholarship

John Gietzen, a World War II veteran, earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M University. He moved to Wichita where he joined the Project Engineering department at Vulcan Chemicals. After his retirement in 1997, he returned to college earning his degree in philosophy from WSU in 1999. Also in 1997, he married Trinie Sanchez on Valentine’s Day. The two were avid theatre fans attending numerous performances at WSU, especially music theatre and opera. A previously established scholarship in fine arts by Mr. Gietzen inspired the couple to create a new fund in 1999, the Trinie Sanchez-Gietzen Endowed Nursing Scholarship. Mrs. Sanchez-Gietzen, a nursing graduate, recalled attending college only with the assistance of scholarships and wanted to ‘return the favor.’ Mr. Gietzen passed away in 2001 leaving a lasting legacy in both fine arts and the health professions.