Related: Donor Stories

When Robert Allen O’Bleness died in 2010 at the age of 48, his parents, Ann and Robert, wanted to honor his life in an everlasting way. So, despite having no connections with Wichita State University, they endowed a scholarship in his name in the WSU College of Health Professions.

“After Bobby passed away, many people shared how he was always ready and willing to assist anyone with anything,” says his sister, Kathleen Jenkins. “Mom and Dad wanted to assist those trying to earn a degree in the health field so they could assist others – thus keeping the spirit of Robert Allen alive.”

Today, the Robert Allen O’Bleness Scholarship has evolved into the O’Bleness Family Scholarship to reflect a substantial estate gift made by Ann and Robert upon their deaths, Ann in 2016 and Robert in 2020. The Wichita couple designated the estate gift should supplement the scholarship and strengthen its impact for generations to come.

Since the scholarship was first awarded in 2012 and including the estate gift, the total value of the O’Bleness family contribution to Wichita State is about $740,000, says Mike Lamb, WSU Foundation vice president.

“This is a special story of two people who wanted their son’s life and his kind ways to be remembered and have an impact,” Lamb says. “What better legacy than to help educate the people who will care for and nurture others in their professional lives.”

Robert Allen O’Bleness was the youngest of four children of Ann and Bob O’Bleness, with three older sisters. He was known through his life as Bobby, Bob, Bob-O, Robert and Roberta when his sisters would  playfully dress him up as the fourth sister, Kathleen Jenkins says with a laugh.

Robert Allen drove for a couple of trucking companies and eventually worked for an outfit known for driving semi-trailer trucks on concert tours for artists such as Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. He was driving an 18-wheeler for Carrie Underwood and was 10 minutes away from the concert venue in Connecticut when his rig crashed.

“Based on eyewitness reports, we believe he had a medical condition that left him slumped over his steering wheel,” Jenkins says. “Then, when the gas tank was ruptured and came into contact with the catalytic converter, the rig exploded. It was the worst day in his parents’ life and for everyone who knew and loved him.”

Among those attending his funeral service was Vince Gill, who performed the song “Go Rest High on That Mountain.”

Since Robert Allen was not married at the time of his death, his parents devoted the proceeds of his estate to the Robert Allen O’Bleness Scholarship at Wichita State. Ann O’Bleness passed away suddenly in 2016, a few weeks before her 82nd birthday. Her memorial was to the Robert Allen O’Bleness Scholarship. Shortly after, the scholarship was renamed the O’Bleness Family Scholarship.

Robert J. O’Bleness died in 2020 at age 87, on the third Saturday of March, the same day his son and his father, Ira O’Bleness, had died.

“Our family’s pain is also tinged with gratitude because we know this scholarship will assist deserving students for years to come,” Jenkins says. “The spirit of our parents and brother will live on in the ways these students will serve humankind in the healthcare industry.”If you would like to learn more about arranging an estate gift to help WSU students, contact Mike Lamb, WSU Foundation vice president, at 316.978.3804 or mike.lamb@wichita.edu.

Anyone who visits the WSU Baseball team’s facility will recognize there is one locker that remains unused. It belongs to a player who has made a lasting impact on the program.

Mitch Caster, a Wichita native, was tragically killed in a car accident as he drove back to Wichita for his senior season in 2010. But his love for WSU continues through a scholarship named in his honor.

Mitch grew up a WSU fan and, as a top high-school baseball recruit who caught the eye of many college programs, could have attended another school. He even told his mother after accepting a scholarship to WSU, “I just can’t imagine wearing anything but the black and yellow.”

“Mitch was sports 100 percent of the time,” says Susie Caster, Mitch’s mother. “He was hitting off a tee when he was 2 years old – baseball was a passion and an integral part of his life.” 

The love for WSU runs in his family. His father, Mike, played golf at Wichita State and his twin sister, Melissa, earned her nursing degree from the university.

Some of his parent’s favorite memories of Mitch on the field include his first start as a college player against KU at Eck Stadium and hitting a home run as a pinch hitter in the super regionals against Florida State, with Major League Baseball Allstar Buster Posey catching behind the plate.

After his death, the Mitch Caster Shocker Baseball Scholarship was established by his parents with the intent of supporting fifth-year seniors who had used their eligibility. A portion of their education would be paid for in Mitch’s name. “We wanted to help keep Mitch’s legacy alive,” says Mike Caster.

The first scholarship dollars raised in 2011 came from a combination of gifts and the sale of t-shirts during a memorial at Eck Stadium, an effort that yielded nearly $7,000. The goal now is to raise enough funds to endow the scholarship so that it will be awarded in perpetuity. The minimum amount required to endow a scholarship is $35,000.

The scholarship is currently $10,000 away from the goal, and one anonymous donor has already committed to matching the first $5,000 donated between now and the end of the year.

There have been 11 recipients of the scholarship so far and contributions large and small will help support WSU student-athletes for many years to come.

“Continuing his legacy through this memorial means so much to us,” Mike Caster says. “We’re all Shockers for life and the ongoing support of the WSU community is incredible.”

If you would like to learn more about supporting the Mitch Caster Shocker Baseball Scholarship, contact Aaron Winter, WSU Foundation director of development, at 316-978-3803 or aaron.winter@wichita.edu.

Junetta Everett and Susayn Brandes team up with a special gift

Junetta Everett and Susayn Brandes can recall the early days in their careers when neither had – nor could afford – the kind of attire their jobs demanded.

“Even during the interview process, I didn’t have access to professional clothes,” Brandes says.

“Going into corporate America, I didn’t have the wardrobe to fit into that world,” says Everett. “Had I been able to go someplace like the Career Closet, I would have been able to dress better, look better, feel better and do better.”

That’s why the two WSU graduates are jointly contributing $100,000 in support of Career Closet, a service giving WSU students access to free clothing like suits, jackets, skirts, slacks and accessories such as ties and scarves. Most of the items have been donated and are gently worn, second-hand pieces.

Career Closet is one of 16 student services that will be moved to one central location on campus to offer Shockers greater convenience and accessibility to those crucial services. That location will be Clinton Hall, now home to the W. Frank Barton School of Business. When the Barton School moves to its new building, Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall, Clinton Hall will be renovated and repurposed as the new Shocker Success Center, projected to open in 2023.

When Everett and Brandes first learned about the project and the need for private support during a meeting of the WSU Foundation board of directors, the two members looked at each other and said, “We should do this.”  

“I was always told to dress for the position you want, the career you want,” says Brandes, president of Great Plains Ventures and a 1981 WSU graduate. “So if we can help students look professional for their interviews or internships, we can help take away a little bit of the nervousness everyone feels in those times.”

Responds Everett, a 1979 WSU graduate and recently retired vice president at Delta Dental of Kansas: “I can remember that feeling. I would like to help someone else not have to go through that.”

The Shocker Success Center project is projected to cost $16.2 million, a portion of which will be privately funded. Naming opportunities are available throughout the four-level building to those contributing to the project.

When students visit the Career Closet in the new Shocker Success Center, they will see the names of two successful alumni who cared enough about their futures to invest in them philanthropically. 

“We both got our degrees from Wichita State, and that has helped put us in a position to make this gift,” Brandes says.

“It will be great to help future Shockers become the best versions of themselves,” says Everett.

Maryalice Birk gives to the project in memory of her partner, Denise Meredith

Before she passed away from a sudden ailment in 2019, Denise Meredith had already endowed two scholarships at Wichita State and made it known she intended to continue supporting her alma mater.

“She got a real thrill out of being able to help others, especially when she saw students putting in the work, graduating and going on to their own careers,” says Denise’s wife, Maryalice Birk.

That’s why Birk, in addition to increasing the two scholarships already endowed by Meredith, decided also to support students through the Shocker Success Center. Their gift of $75,000 will be recognized with a naming opportunity for the space housing Adult Learning Services on the new facility’s top level.

After serving several years as a U.S. Marine, Meredith returned to her hometown of Wichita to earn a master’s degree in business administration from Wichita State. She went on to a long career in aviation, first with Boeing and then Raytheon.

“She was always a mentor to women at work and sought ways to promote women and help them get ahead,” Birk says. “She made a list of things she wanted to do before she died, and so much of it was about taking care of others.”

Barbara McCune’s gift comes from a personal perspective

Barbara McCune has been supporting Wichita State for more than four decades, most of that period with her late husband, John, who died in 2019. Their biggest passion was for the welfare of students, particularly those with financial limitations. The McCunes established two scholarships and also stepped up with a generous gift to support students when Covid struck in 2020.

So McCune’s gift of $100,000 to the Shocker Success Center project aligns perfectly with her desire to give students resources that will help them succeed. To honor the couple, the TRIO Student Support Services office in the new facility will bear the names of Barbara and John McCune.

“It took John seven years to graduate from Wichita State because he was also working,” says Barbara McCune. “We always knew that college can be really hard for some students, and they need all the help they can get.”

Of the McCunes’ four children, three graduated from Wichita State and went on to successful careers. “Wichita State has been important to us for so many years,” Barbara says. “It’s something we’ve always wanted to help in whatever way we can.”

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To learn more about how you can support the new Shocker Success Center, contact Corey Saleh at 316.978.4483 or corey.saleh@wichita.edu.

This year more than ever, Wichita State University students are connecting with the WSU Foundation during Grati-WU Week to thank those who have made a direct impact on their lives.

“We have had 578 personal thank-you cards written thus far and they are still coming in,” says Kay Officer, donor engagement coordinator.

Due to the pandemic, Wichita State students found themselves stressed with financial struggles, isolation and having to adapt to virtual learning. For many, the financial support their scholarship provides has allowed them to stay in college and on course to graduation.

Grati-WU Week is a fun and convenient time for students to take a few moments to say ‘thank you’ to those helping with their college education. For two weeks each fall, the WSU Foundation invites students in each academic college to participate in writing letter of appreciation to the donors who provide their scholarships.

We visited with three scholarship recipients during Grati-WU Week who expressed what having a scholarship means to them.

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As we enter this time of Thanksgiving, the WSU Foundation wants to thank everyone who contributes to the success of Wichita State students. They need our help more than ever. Scholarships could make the difference between a student being able to attend college or not. If you are interested in learning more about need-based scholarships, click on the Opportunities tab. Or contact us at 316-978-(4483) GIVE or email at foundation@wichita.edu.

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