Steele, Holthaus named WSU Man and Woman of the Year

Nathan Steele and Gretchen Holthaus were recently named 2010 Shocktoberfest Man and Woman of the Year at Wichita State University.

Steele, a graduate of Belle Plaine High School, is a senior double majoring in finance and entrepreneurship. Holthaus, a graduate of Salina South High School, is a senior majoring in psychology.

The Shocktoberfest Man and Woman of the Year are two students who encompass campus pride and are role models for future and current students in and out of the classroom. For winning the title, Steele and Holthaus will each receive a $500 scholarship.

Steele is involved in many campus organizations, such as Barton International Group and Student Ambassador Society. He also is president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He has been a recipient of many scholarships for his academic success.

Holthaus has a goal of becoming a child psychologist. She is working on a project funded by the Center for Disease Control to aid in bullying prevention. Her university commitments include the Student Ambassador Society and president of the Delta Gamma sorority.

Students who were runners-up each will receive a $100 scholarship.

The runners-up are:

Mary Anne Leftwich, a junior majoring in psychology. She is vice president of selections for the Student Ambassador Society and is passionate about running for president in December. Leftwich is a Dean’s Scholar and an active member in her church.

Amy Nichols is a senior majoring in strategic communication. She is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and vice president of outreach for the Student Ambassador Society. Nichols also is on the Dean’s Honor Roll and volunteers with Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Erin Waggoner is a senior aerospace engineering major and a minor in mathematics. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, where she coordinates several events for the society. Waggoner excels in studies, receiving several awards for her exemplary academic achievement.

Cooper Hanning is finishing his final year at Wichita State as a senior majoring in entrepreneurship with a minor in marketing. He excels in the classroom and on the field as a member of the university’s track team. He also is actively involved on campus with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Benjamin Knoblauch is a senior majoring in computer engineering. He is president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Knoblauch can be seen out in the community volunteering his time with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Michael Staab is a senior majoring in aerospace engineering with a double minor in mathematics and physics. As an engineering major, he is on the Engineering Council and a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Staab is in the university’s Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program, working with NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center.