Wichita State University alumnus Dwane Wallace will be enshrined at the National Aviation Hall of Fame on Friday. He will be joining the likes of Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and the Wright Brothers, just to name a few.

Since graduating from Wichita State in the 1930’s, Wallace led the Cessna Aircraft Company as president and chairman for more than 40 years. Wallace died Dec. 21, 1989 in Wichita.

His legacy has lived on through contributions to the university.

One of these contributions is the Dwane L. and Velma L. Wallace Endowment, which has awarded engineering students with scholarships since 1976.

Elizabeth King, President and CEO of the WSU Foundation, said the Wallace’s are the highest total lifetime givers, having donated $15.8 million to the University.

“What Mr. Wallace and Mrs. Wallace did for Wichita State and the College of Engineering is hard to put into words,” Megan Smith, Director of Development for the College of Engineering, said. “It’s one of the greatest legacies this University has.”

Smith said that as well as supporting the College of Engineering, the Wallace’s were major contributors to music, athletics and fine arts at the University.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Anthony Vizzini called the Wallace’s legacy “tremendous.”

As an aerospace engineering major himself, Vizzini recognized Wallace’s legacy for not only the University, but his field as well.

“You go back, and go ‘wow, this is a person who has really advanced [aerospace engineering],” Vizzini said. “This is a part of my heritage.”

Vizzini will attend the sold out enshrinement ceremony in Dayton, Ohio Friday along with other WSU faculty and students.