Dr. Robert Lane - Distinguished Career Award

Dr. Robert Lane served Wichita Public Schools in multiple administrative roles for over 30 years before joining Wichita State in 1995. At WSU, he taught school law and founded the Transition to Teaching (T2T) program for secondary education, which has since trained and licensed nearly 500 new teachers. Lane’s focus on building community, fostering mentorship, and supporting educators laid the foundation for the in-person cohort model still used by the program today. His dedication to students, colleagues, and the teaching profession has left a lasting legacy on the School of Education and the College of Applied Studies.

Mary Myers - Service Award

Mary Myers worked in the College of Education for nearly 14 years beginning in 1999. She held administrative specialist roles across multiple departments including Kinesiology and Sport Studies (KSS), Sport Management (SMGT), and Educational Leadership (EL), and even returned from retirement to assist Curriculum and Instruction. Myers played a critical role in developing staff onboarding, professional development, and daily administrative processes for academic programs across the college. She was known for providing stability during times of departmental transition and was widely respected as a campus resource. In addition to her work at WSU, Myers served as administrative assistant to the Executive Director of the Sport and Recreation Law Association (SRLA), where she supported executive directors, guided organizational changes, and helped manage national conferences. Her steady presence and dedication to faculty, staff, and students made her an invaluable behind-the-scenes leader throughout her career.

Korey Torgerson - Alumni Award 

Korey Torgerson earned his Master of Education in Sport Administration from Wichita State in 1996, after serving as a graduate assistant in the athletic director’s office. Now in his 24th year at the university, he serves as Associate Athletic Director for Student Services with WSU-ICAA. His previous roles include Assistant AD for Compliance and Student Services, and Compliance Coordinator. Torgerson has overseen all aspects of the university’s athletics compliance program, including eligibility tracking, practice and playing schedule monitoring, NCAA rules education, and National Letter of Intent administration. He is also the sport administrator for Shocker Softball and a first responder for student-athletes through the Real Response system. An engaged supporter of the Sport Management program, Torgerson has served as president of the Sport Management Alumni Association, helping to raise scholarship funds and mentor students through practicum and internship experiences.

Bonnie Bing Honeyman - Community Engagement Award

Bonnie Bing Honeyman is a two-time Wichita State graduate whose career has spanned education, athletics, journalism, and public service. She began her career as a physical education teacher and later served as assistant athletic director of women’s athletics at WSU, empowering students and fostering a culture of inclusion and excellence. She went on to become a longtime staff writer for The Wichita Eagle and continues to write as a freelancer for both The Eagle and Active Age. A champion of the arts and education, Bing Honeyman is actively involved in fundraising efforts for Mark Arts, serves on the board and committees for Music Theatre Wichita, and is a board member for the 4-Wichita KU School of Medicine. She is a member of the CAS Dean’s Advisory Board and volunteers with The Pando Initiative and the annual “Gridiron” journalism fundraiser. Her lifelong commitment to service and storytelling has left a lasting impact on the Wichita community and Wichita State University.

Dr. Shirley Lefever - Distinguished Career Award

Dr. Shirley Lefever recently retired from Wichita State University, where she most recently served as Provost and Executive Vice President. During her tenure as dean in the College of Applied Studies, Lefever led the development and launch of the Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP), which has grown to become the university’s largest undergraduate program. She also played a pivotal role in reshaping the Professional Development School (PDS) model to better serve urban communities—an approach recognized nationally by the Council of Great City Schools and the Association of Teacher Educators. Her leadership brought remarkable enrollment growth and program innovation to the college. Lefever’s dedication to students, faculty, and the mission of CAS has left a lasting legacy that continues to shape the college’s impact on educators and communities across Kansas and beyond.

Dr. Joseph Wei-Cheng Mau - Distinguished Career Award

Dr. Joseph Wei-Cheng Mau served Wichita State University for over 29 years as a professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations, including two years as Associate Dean in the College of Applied Studies. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to counseling education, research, and leadership both within the college and internationally. Dr. Mau was an active member of the counseling program committee from 1991 and served on the university’s Strategic Planning Activation Team beginning in 2018. His international scholarship includes service as a Fulbright Senior Scholar and visiting scholar in Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, as well as over 29 global publications. He was honored with the National Career Development Association’s Quarterly Article of the Year and WSU’s post-tenure review recognition in 2018. Named emeritus faculty in 2021, Dr. Mau is recognized for his outstanding leadership, scholarship, and dedication to advancing the field of counseling and the mission of the College of Applied Studies.

Aliyah Funschelle - Recent Alumni Award

Aliyah Funschelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Wichita State in 2020 and went on to complete a Master of Science in Sport Management from Columbia University. While at WSU, she founded her own brand, Sports with Aliyah, with the goal of connecting casual sports fans to their favorite teams and athletes. Funschelle actively pursued applied learning experiences, covering high school, university, and minor league games while working at the Kansas Food Bank. Now based in New York, she has built a successful career as a sports content creator, collaborating with major brands such as Nike and Google Pixel. She has reported on WNBA athletes, interviewed sports icons like Venus Williams, and was recently featured by New York Sports as one of the city’s premier content creators. Funschelle continues to use her platform to inspire young women pursuing careers in sports journalism and media.