PITTSBURG, Kan. — A sense of belonging and family filled the Wilkinson Alumni Center on Friday as the community and Pittsburg State University staff celebrated five decades of togetherness.
“Fifty years ago, the Wilkinson Alumni Center was envisioned as a place to celebrate our past and invest in our future,” Vice President for University Advancement Kathleen Flannery said. “Today we honor just not a building, but the people and the memories that have built them.”
The alumni center was built in 1975 thanks to a donation by Cecil and Eva Wilkinson. Although the husband and wife never attended college, the duo recognized the importance of education.
“They had a nucleus of friends and family, and family was very important to them,” Wendel Wilkinson, nephew of Cecil and Eva said. “They didn’t have kids, but they liked kids and supported young adults. To them, they were all part of the puzzle.”
More than 50 people gathered to honor Cecil and Eva’s contribution to the university and community. During the ceremony, Flannery and staff members unveiled renderings for new signage for the center.
PSU Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Danielle Driskill said the center is a special place to her and feels like home.
“The Wilkinson Alumni Center is the perfect place for alumni to gather when they return or when they are out and about around campus,” PSU Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations Danielle Driskill said. “So it’s really just a place for alumni to call home.”
The Wilkinson Alumni Center is used for numerous events throughout the year including reunions, memorials, fundraisers and many others.
“This building is being used for things that they never thought would be an event,” Wendel said. “It’s just amazing.”
Flannery acknowledged that Cecil and Eva instilled in their family the spirit of generational giving. Throughout the years, the Wilkinson family have continued to donate funds for building upkeep and remodeling. The family also gives scholarships to a variety of students.
“The story of my aunt and uncle is one of admiration and extraordinary acts of generosity,” Wendel said. “I believe this alumni center reflects their belief in the power of education, the importance of community and link to the other side of campus life. Despite not having the opportunity to pursue higher education themselves, they recognized the lifechanging potential it held for others.
“Let it remind us that the value of giving is not measured by personal gain but by the profound impact it can have on our society and community.”
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews
