People & Places

January 2023 - 6 People and Places

• The Edwin A. Ulrich Museum at Wichita State University has announced Vivian Zavataro as the new executive and creative director. Zavataro is a museologist who specializes in contemporary art, community engagement, and art mediation. She has traveled widely working for museums, galleries, and contemporary art exhibitions to broaden her knowledge and experience of the art world. Her goal is to facilitate interaction between art and the public. Diversity, inclusion, and creativity are essential aspects of her practice. Most recently the director and chief curator of the John & Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art at the University of Nevada, Reno, she helped the museum in the transition from a gallery-centric space to a fully involved, foundational institution of the university and the Reno community at large.

• Lauren Sturgeon of Wichita has earned a master of security studies in intelligence and analysis degree from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

• The Kansas Bankers Association recently honored Citizens Bank of Kansas with the Century of Family Banking Award which recognizes Kansas banks with continuous family leadership for 100 years. In 2002, The Kansas Bankers Association (KBA) created the Century of Family Banking Award. This award is given to banks with members of the same family holding positions of leadership in their bank for a century or more. Since inception, only 12 banks have been given this prestigious award.

• Jacob Krehbiel, a member of the Colgate University class of 2025, has earned the spring 2022 dean’s award with distinction. Krehbiel is an environmental bio and biochemistry major from Bel Aire, and is a graduate of Northeast Magnet School. Students who receive a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least three courses during the spring 2022 semester earn the dean’s award with distinction.

• Charlie O’Brien has been elected to the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame. O’Brien was an All-American for the 1982 Wichita State team that lost to Miami in the College World Series championship. During his senior season in 1982, O’Brien slugged 25 home runs, 25 doubles and 116 runs batted in as WSU won 73 games. He was drafted by Oakland to begin a 15-year major league career. O’Brien was a member of the 1995 Atlanta Braves championship team and served as Greg Maddux’s personal catcher during two of his Cy Young Award-winning seasons. The induction will take place at the Kansas Hall of Fame’s annual ceremony on Jan. 28, at LaVela, 6147 E. 13th St. N.

• The 1978 Wichita Southeast High School baseball team has been elected to the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame. The team was named “national champions” by Collegiate Baseball magazine. Coached by Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Deckinger, the Golden Buffaloes, 23-0, outscored their opponents 155-25 en route to city and state titles. All seven seniors received college scholarships, including Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame member Jim Thomas. The induction will take place at the Kansas Hall of Fame’s annual ceremony on Jan. 28, at LaVela, 6147 E. 13th St. N.