Wichita State UniversityWichita State University unveiled the newly named Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker during its annual Heritage Gala on Oct. 9, hosted by the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement in celebration of the 2025 alumni award recipients.
The support locker honors the legacy of Kiah Duggins ’17, who died earlier this year aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita to Washington, D.C. At the gala, Duggins was also posthumously awarded the 2025 Young Alumni Award.
As a student leader and co-founder of the original Shocker Food Locker, now located in the basement of the Shocker Success Center, Duggins was a passionate advocate for student support services during her time as chief of staff in student government. She went on to graduate from Harvard Law School in 2021 before beginning her career as a civil rights attorney in Washington, D.C.
To commemorate her legacy of promoting social justice, the 2024-25 administration of the WSU Student Government Association requested the university name the Shocker Support Locker in her honor. The naming was approved as of Oct. 8.
“Kiah was a remarkable Shocker whose passion for justice and care for others left a lasting mark on this university,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma. “She helped create the Shocker Support Locker because she believed every student deserved the resources to thrive. Naming it in her honor is a powerful reminder of her legacy, and it ensures her impact will continue to be felt by students for years to come.”
Outstanding alumni
The Heritage Gala celebrated a number of outstanding alumni alongside Duggins, including fellow Young Alumni Award recipient Landon Huslig ’15, who was acknowledged for his outstanding leadership both in his role as operations manager at Stand Together and as the founder of Wichita Life, the not-so side hustle he and his wife, Candace, launched in 2017 to highlight the businesses, individuals and goings-on that make ICT special.
Marquetta Atkins-Woods ’14 was honored with the Social Impact Award, recognizing her meaningful contributions to Wichita State and the wider community through her organization, Destination Innovation, Inc., which focuses on youth empowerment and civic engagement.
The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Joan Wagner ’99/04, whose active dedication to the mission and future of Wichita State is clear through her ongoing service to the university. Currently, the alumna is a member of the WSUFAE National Advisory Council, the College of Engineering Industry Advisory Board and the Cohen Honors College Advisory Board, where she recently completed a term as board chair.
Dan Peare ’82/85, owner and member at Hinkle Law and much-lauded board member for organizations across the Wichita community and beyond, was recognized with the Alumni Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed upon Wichita State alumni by the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement. This recognition is given to a WSU alum for their exceptional professional accomplishments and contributions to society at large.
In addition to Wichita State’s alumni awards, the Heritage Gala also recognizes the WSU Board of Trustees’ Award recipient. This year, Kevin Strecker, ministry market CEO for Ascension Via Christi, was recognized with the honor, which is awarded to an individual who has made significant contributions to advancing the vital and rewarding partnerships between Wichita State and the Wichita community.
About Wichita State University
Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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