Wichita State News: Greek Life

Campus involvement was key to success for Wichita couple

Fri, 3 May 2013 15:18:00 CST

There are many parallels in the lives of Wichita State alumni Kris and Leslie Wessel.

They were both Jabara scholars. Both real estate majors. Before even graduating, they managed to get part- and full-time jobs in their field. And today, they're both working as real estate agents in Wichita.

Oh, and they're married to each other.

With such similar experiences, it's not surprising that Kris and Leslie also agree on the most valuable part of their time at Wichita State: campus involvement.

"I'd say the biggest influence on my experience at WSU and success since would be being involved on campus while I was there, including on-campus housing, different organizations and our Greek system," Leslie said. "Our best friends and quite a few of my clients still come from those connections that Kris and I wouldn't have made otherwise."

The student experience

Leslie graduated in 2006, and since then she's worked for The Carnahan Group at J.P. Weigand & Sons Inc. Kris, who graduated in 2005, works for The Martens Cos. He started there when he was a junior and has been there since.

They've been married for seven years and have a 2-year-old son, Kasten.

There's a bit of disagreement on where they met: Kris said it was at an event for Jabara Scholarship winners. Leslie said they first met as part of the same student organization, SIFE.

"I like to tease her, because I was apparently not too memorable the first time, and she does not remember our first introduction," Kris said. "We met again through SIFE, and I was apparently more memorable the second time."

Regardless, they said, it was more than just attending classes that made the difference.

Leslie is a big proponent of living on campus for at least a year. She lived in Fairmount Towers and Wheatshocker Apartments, and Kris lived in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house.

"I think it is very important to be involved on campus," Kris said. "Education is your purpose for being there, but the college experience is what makes you a whole person.

Taking part in the campus life opportunities is what helped Kris become a well-rounded person and not just a good student.

"I cured a lot of my shortcomings over those four years," he said. "In my campus involvement, I met a lot of other students who didn't fit into the same mold I did. You can learn a lot from someone who has different talents than you do."

Stepping stones

Also vital to their career success was the ability to find a related job in real estate while they earned degrees. It got their foot in the door of the industry, helped build their resume and gave them experience beyond the classroom.

It's one of the benefits of going to college in an urban environment, Kris said.

"There are tons of degree-holding college grads out there, so it is important to have some kind of advantage over the other candidates," he said. "In a city like Wichita, there are a lot of opportunities that you don't get in a smaller college town."

The job he had as appraisal assistant at The Martens Cos. was the perfect complement to his coursework, Kris said.

Midway through her junior year, Leslie got a job at Ritchie Development as a new home sales consultant assistant. She worked there until shortly after graduation.

She worked full time while taking classes at night.

"The position was key in giving me real estate sales and management experience, getting my Realtor's license and a great stepping stone to where I am now."

Senior found opportunity for involvement, success at WSU

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:11:00 CST

To have a well-rounded university experience, students are often encouraged to participate in activities outside of classes. Senior Laura Schlapp has heeded the advice, taking advantage of the opportunities that Wichita State has provided her.

Schlapp, an integrated marketing communications major and management minor, has been an active student at WSU for four years. She is the marketing and media director for Barton International Group (BIG), a member of Delta Gamma sorority, a mentor in the Emerging Leaders program and Order of Omega treasurer. She was also involved in Student Government Association.

Through BIG, she traveled to China in August 2012 for two weeks. The group of 11 students visited Beijing and Shanghai for exposure to international business and a different way of life.

"I think the most impactful thing for me was the culture," said Schlapp. "I also really enjoyed learning about the businesses we visited because they were more on the manufacturing side of companies."

During the trip, they also spent time at famous locations such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tienaman Square.

Preparing for the future

Besides involvement in student organizations, Schlapp, who will graduate in December 2013, also gained valuable experience through jobs and internships.

Schlapp is now the part-time communications assistant for U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo and the Fourth District of Kansas office. She runs his Facebook and Twitter pages and sends out media advisories and press releases to various publications. When Pompeo is in town, Schlapp accompanies him around the community to schools, chambers of commerce and media interviews.

"It has been a great experience because it directly ties with my major," she said.

After graduation, Schlapp is considering graduate school.

During summer 2012, Schlapp held an internship in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas. There she answered phones, spoke with constituents, gave tours of the Capitol to visiting Kansans, sorted mail, answered letters, attended and summarized briefings, and worked on special projects.

"I really enjoyed working with Sen. Roberts," Schlapp said. "Also, his staff was so nice and was really great about letting me do things with them so I could experience new things."

While in D.C., Schlapp recalled a few memorable sightings of politicians.

"I brushed shoulders with John Kerry, so that was exciting," she said. "Also, John McCain almost ran me over when he was jogging off to the Senate floor."

Schlapp has also been working in the Vice President for Administration and Finance office for four years.

The Wichita State experience

At Wichita State, Schlapp said she has learned a lot and grown as a person, especially through the help of WSU faculty.

"I have personal relationships with a lot of faculty here, not just in the Elliott School of Communication, but also in the business school, and through my job and other organizations," she said.

Schlapp also loves the energy and pride that people have for the university. For example, she traveled to the Final Four in Atlanta, and was impressed by the hundreds of students willing to drive 15 hours to watch their school play for a chance at the national championship.

"It speaks about the community at WSU, and if you get involved and really buy into the WSU life, you can have an amazing college experience and meet some great people," she said.

Schlapp said that in her experience at Wichita State, she doesn't see strangers on campus because of the school's close community and her involvement at the university.

"I have met mentors, my best friends and some great people who I love working with," she said. "I love being at WSU and take pride in where I come from."

Internship helps WSU business graduate land marketing job

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:22:00 CST

Seth Rongkawit

Seth Rongkawit knows he was fortunate to land a job in his desired career field right after college. Two things that helped him were real-world experiences he received as a student and his involvement in campus activities at Wichita State.

Rongkawit, who graduated from WSU in May 2012 with a business administration degree, majored in entrepreneurship and marketing, with a minor in management.

Upon graduation, he was hired as director of marketing at Specs Eyewear in Wichita, where he is responsible for print advertising, social media, promotional items, brand management, design administration and donations.

"Every day brings something new," said Rongkawit. "I help make big decisions that can directly affect the company."

As a WSU student, Rongkawit was a student brand manager for Red Bull North America. In the internship position, he worked with professionals from across the country and built relationships with local companies in Red Bull's distribution channel.

"My experience working for Red Bull helped give validity to the things I claimed I could bring to the table with the new position at Specs," he said. "I had a track record of success that led to a vote of confidence with the owners."

Involvement and experience
Rongkawit said that, because of WSU's urban setting, students have many opportunities to gain work experience in any career field.

"Being in a bigger city allowed me to work in a market that is larger than other college towns," he said. "I was able to learn a lot because of this."

In addition to his internship with Red Bull, Rongkawit also was involved in campus organizations and activities, such as Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Student Government Association, and was a new-student orientation leader.

"Join a student organization or get some like-minded friends together and start your own," he said. "It's not hard and will be worth so much once you have that degree in your hands."

Rongkawit said that in any career employers value people who have experience being part of a team, taking direction from superiors, settings goals and achieving desired outcomes.

"I would stress to any college student, freshman or senior, that being actively involved is just as important for your future as your classes," he said. "Experience isn't just in a job or office; it's gained through professional human interaction."

WSU student wins second in national volunteerism competition

Thu, 1 Nov 2012 11:49:00 CST

Wichita State University's Rhatigan Student Center (RSC) will celebrate National Student Day winner Laura Schlapp as she receives a check for $2,000 to apply toward future volunteerism efforts. Schlapp will accept a check on behalf of the charity Heather's Camp Inc. at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, in the RSC's University Bookstore.

Schlapp was in competition nationwide with students who could submit their story online on how they give back to their community. Stories were then voted on by students across North America.

Heather's Camp provides an opportunity for blind and visually impaired children to experience the joy of a camp program where they can acquire skills, gain confidence, find support and encouragement, and have fun.

The program was established by the staff of Envision Rehabilitation Center, Via Christi, and the women of Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Delta Gamma Sorority at Wichita State the Wichita Alumnae Chapter of Delta Gamma.

Heather's Camp honors the memory of WSU and Delta Gamma alumna Heather Muller, her love of children and her desire to help those with special needs. More information about Heather's Camp is available at www.heatherscamp.org.

The three most popular stories of student volunteerism win scholarships of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000; seven additional stories will be selected at random to win iPads. Online voting started Oct. 4, at www.nationalstudentday.com.

For information on National Student Day, go to www.nationalstudentday.com.

For more information on the RSC, contact Shelly Coleman-Martins at (316) 978-7008, or email shelly.coleman-martins@wichita.edu.

Help stop gender violence and 'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes'

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:33:00 CST

"Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence" will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, in Wichita State University's Rhatigan Student Center courtyard.

Admission is free.

The event is sponsored by the WSU Student Activities Council and Greek Life, in conjunction with The Cowboy Boot Shop.

Around the world, at least one in three women will be a victim of sexual violence in her lifetime. In the United States alone, an estimated 683,000 women are forcibly raped each year, which equates to 1.3 women being raped every minute.

"Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence" is an opportunity for men to raise awareness in their community about the serious causes and effects of sexual violence.

The event asks men to literally walk one mile in women's high-heeled shoes, and while this is no easy task, it gets the community to talk about these difficult issues.

There are two main ways in which people can participate in this event: Men are encouraged to sign up as walkers, while anyone else can show support by cheering them on.

Local organizations will be present to distribute information on sexual violence and to provide related resources. This is an engaging and educational event, and a great way to show your support for this serious issue.

For more information about this event, contact the RSC Activities Office at (316) 978-3495 or visit www.wichita.edu/sac or www.walkamileinhershoes.org.

Hippodrome still going strong after 83 years

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:58:00 CST

Hippodrome 2011, "Huxley's Got Game," has come to an end after a week of activities, talented individuals and skit performances. After 83 years, Hippodrome is Wichita State University's longest-running tradition and is still going strong.

Five groups competed in this year's skit competition, as well as 10 special attractions.

There was a tie for third place for special attractions between "7Seven" and "Yes!"

"Roy Moye" took home second place, and "Shocker Shakthi" placed first, winning the $150 cash prize.

Delta Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon took home the awards for Best Actor and Best Actress; the winners were Katelynn Snyder as Barbie and Ben Balleau as Troll.

The Hippodrome Spirit Award, which is given out at the discretion of the Campus Traditions Committee, was awarded to Gamma Phi Beta and Beta Theta Pi.

Alpha Phi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon won the award for best use of the mystery item, which was a life-sized cut-out of Justin Bieber.

The first place overall performance award for Division II went to Pi Iota Chi and Kappa Sigma.

For Division I, third place went to Gamma Phi Beta and Beta Theta Pi. Second went to Phi Delta Theta and Delta Delta Delta. And the first place overall performance award and coveted traveling trophy went to Delta Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon for their performance of "Beauty and the Troll."

Miss America brings speaking tour to Delta Gamma in Wichita

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:23:02 CST

Miss America 2009 Katie Stam will bring her national speaking tour promoting the Miss America organization and her personal platform of community service to Wichita State as part of the Delta Gamma Lectureship Series at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. N.

Admission is free.

Stam's presentation is titled "Passion for Service: Promoting Community Service and Involvement."

An aspiring news anchor, Stam also is a goodwill ambassador for the Miss America organization's national platform partner, Children's Miracle Network. In this role, she travels the country raising awareness about CMN and visiting children's hospitals across North America.

The Delta Gamma chapter at WSU is one of 11 chapters nationwide that holds the prestigious lectureship series funded by Akron Alumna Dorothy Garrett Martin. Martin donated funds for matching grants of $50,000 to begin a lectureship in values and ethics.

In 1994, the WSU chapter met the challenge of raising $50,000. The money was matched and placed in an endowed fund through the WSU Foundation. Interest earned from the fund pays for the lecture series.

Motivational speaker to speak at Wichita State

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:36:19 CST

MTV celebrity and internationally renowned youth motivational speaker Jeff Yalden will present a lecture titled "About Life" at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in the CAC Theater at Wichita State University. Admission is free.

The lecture is sponsored by the Delta Gamma chapter at WSU.

Yalden has spent the past 12 years touring the world, coaching and delivering his highly motivational speech to youth, educators and parents to make better life and family choices. He challenges youth to live a life of purpose and commitment.

The National Speakers Association has awarded Yalden its highest honor.

In 2002, the organization granted him the title of Certified Speaking Professional. Less than 7 percent of professional speakers worldwide carry the designation.

Also, MTV called his show their best show in the six seasons of taping "MTV Made." His was the longest running show seen by more than 70 million youth.

To encourage young people to think before they act, Yalden also created the popular Take Time to Think wristbands.

Formerly a two-time Marine of the Year and Mr. New Hampshire Male America, Yalden draws upon his own life experiences to reach out to students.

African American Greek community hopes to grow

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 15:03:53 CST

Wichita State junior Marcus "Ace" Crump is the only member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Delta Mu chapter, at Wichita State University, and he strolls to inform the campus about his organization.

The African American Greek community held a traditional "Stroll Off" event Nov. 13 in the Shocker Square at the Rhatigan Student Center, where African American Greeks performed dances together to support their chapters.

"A Stroll Off is when different fraternities and sororities do their own individual strolls," Crump said, "and showcase them in front of an audience."

A fraternity or sorority will pick a song, develop a routine and perform their dance, said Vitaly Eldani, graduate intern for Greek life at WSU and coordinator for the event.

"In other words, it's a dance off," Eldani said.

The Stroll Off was designed to unite the African American Greek communities.

"It's something fun," Crump said. "And it's eye-catching."

Crump's favorite dance is the Ape Stroll, where the dancing is hip-hop. He strolls with a whistle because, he said, it is an "Alpha thing," and it is used to draw attention and guide the other dancers.

"And the Ace always blows the whistle," he said.

Crump used to dance for the Power 93.9 hip-hop dance team. When the team opened for Marques Houston, Avant and Ray J, Crump forgot the dance in the middle of the performance. But that didn't deter his desire to stroll.

"I love strolling," he said. "It's pure fun."

Crump learned many dances in St. Louis, where fraternity chapters met for leadership and business workshops. However, no competition was held. Students were just showcasing their talents.

Crump joined Alpha Phi Alpha because of its history. In 1906, it was the first intercollegiate African American organization with goals of developing leaders, promoting brotherhood and academic excellence while providing service to the community.

"I really cherish the purpose of the organization," Crump said.

Crump is an integrated marketing communication major, a discipline not offered by many universities. IMC prepares students for advertising, public relations and marketing careers.

Students involved are trained to work with media, market research or serve as an agency account representative.

"I like the fact that the major has a variety," he said. "It's very broad, however, specific, at the same time. Plus, I love advertising."

Commercial advertising is most appealing to Crump. He wants to work, specifically, for the Omnicom Group Advertising Agency based in New York City.

"They are the biggest advertising agency in America," he said, "which means there are a tremendous opportunities for me."

The Stroll Off was the first at WSU and the first showcase Crump has participated in, but he has stroll experience and will continue to present his originality and talent to support his fraternity and his style.