The Hopkins family legacy of ten Shockers lives on through scholarship
For Rebecca Miller, Wichita State University is more than where she earned her degree — it’s a shared thread connecting her entire family.
That connection began with her father, Frank F. Hopkins, who moved his family from upstate New York to Wichita after retiring from the service to pursue a career in the medical field. Wichita State offered the programs he needed at a cost that made sense for a family of six. That decision would shape generations to come.
Today, ten members of the Hopkins family have attended Wichita State.
- FRANK F. HOPKINS ’73/80, NURS
- ABBY HOPKINS ’85, ACCT
- VERA SUE PETERS ’92, ART
- KERRI FORSBERG ’93/97, ELEM ED/SPEC ED
- REBECCA MILLER ’94, MKT
- JOSHUA CODY FORSBERG ’08/10/17, BIO/NURS/NURS
- KELSI HOPKINS ’09, ACCT
- JILLIAN FORSBERG ’12, HIST
- KIMBERLY HOPKINS ’16, MKT
- FRANK DARREN HOPKINS ’21, WRK LD
“I think Wichita State is a great option,” Rebecca said. “It’s affordable, it has a strong reputation, and it really meets people where they are. You can go full time, part time, during the day, at night or online. They help people get where they want to go.”
Rebecca’s own path reflects that flexibility. After starting classes and stepping away, she eventually returned to complete her marketing degree from Wichita State in 1994 — what she jokingly calls her “13-year plan.” The lessons she learned at WSU carried into her career and later into running a business with her husband.
Now, she is giving back.
Rebecca recently established the Frank & Carolyn Hopkins Scholarship in honor of her parents, creating a $3,000 annual award to support students. The gift comes after a period of personal loss, including the passing of her mother, her sister — also a Wichita State graduate — and a lifelong friend. “When you go through things like that, it makes you reflect,” she said. “It feels natural to want to give back.”
Her hope for the scholarship is simple: to help students move forward. “I just hope it helps somebody get where they want to go in life,” she said. “Whether that’s finishing their degree or working toward something bigger.”
Rebecca knows firsthand how meaningful that support can be. As a scholarship recipient herself, she sees this gift as a way to complete the full circle. “Helping someone else reach their goals gives you a sense of purpose beyond yourself,” she said. “It’s a way to honor what you were given.”
While education is at the heart of the Hopkins family’s connection to Wichita State, it’s also reflected in shared traditions — like cheering on Shocker basketball. Over time, what began as one person’s decision has become a lasting family legacy.
“Wichita State gives people a chance,” Rebecca said. “And that makes all the difference.”
