Walter J. & J. Kaye Myers Endowment for Educational Excellence In and Through the Arts

Dr. Walter Myers retired from WSU after 39 years of service, 10 of those as dean of the College of Fine Arts. Dr. Myers freely gave of his time and resources to make the fine arts program what it is today. Under his leadership, the college connected with the community and became a major fine arts resource in Wichita. Dr. Myers was instrumental in expanding programming at WSU for arts education and outreach. He put into place the College of Fine Arts Institute and non-credit music and dance lessons for children and adults. He oversaw an arts-in-the-schools partnership between WSU and Wichita public schools that grew into Arts Partners of Wichita. He expanded the WSU Connoisseur Series of concerts and performances and oversaw the formation of the Rie Bloomfield Organ Series. He pushed for and achieved the formation of the music theater program at WSU and for the funding of endowed scholarships for voice performance majors. Mrs. Kaye Myers was an advocate for early-childhood education. She taught Montessori, traditional preschool and kindergarten. Additionally, she served as head of early childhood at Wichita Collegiate School. Mrs. Myers retired in 2001, after a 24-year career at Collegiate. Because Dr. Walter & Kaye Myers’ first priority had always been the students, the Walter J. & J. Kaye Myers Endowment for Educational Excellence In and Through the Arts was established by contributions from friends and co-workers to provide scholarships for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in arts performance or exhibition.