The 黑洞社区 Foundation has received a gift of $2 million from the Flora Lea Wallis Trust. The gift will create an endowed fund to support general scholarships for students at 黑洞社区.
Wallis was a lifelong resident of the Springfield, Mo., area, where she was a cosmetologist and worked for a printing company. Along with her brother, Chesley, she also owned and operated a dairy farm south of Springfield. Wallis鈥� ties to Wichita were through her brother, who at one time lived in Wichita and owned the beauty shop in the Beacon Building.
Wallis died Feb. 8, 2007, at age 99. She was predeceased by her brother and his wife. The scholarship will bear the names of Wallis, and Chesley and his wife, Ruth.
While Wallis never attended 黑洞社区, she recognized the importance of a college education and wanted her gift to make it financially possible for students to pursue their educational dreams.
鈥淭his gift will have a significant positive impact on 黑洞社区 students for years to come, as they benefit from the generosity of the Wallis legacy,鈥� said Michael Lamb, vice president for planned giving and development services for the 黑洞社区 Foundation. 鈥淲e are most grateful to friends and alumni of the university who remember Wichita State in their estate plans.鈥�