And the winners of the Wichita State Man and Woman of the Year are . . . junior Sarah Thompson and senior Darren Beckham.

“I was surprised,” Beckham said. “I knew I had a shot, but there was some steep competition.”

Thompson said she too was surprised. 

“I was standing next to Diana [Carbajal], Laura [Schlapp], and Amber [Hopkins], all of whom are incredible, hard-working leaders,” she said. 

The award, which is meant to identify students who are actively involved with WSU, academically outstanding and engaged in the community, is awarded annually. 

In order to be nominated, participants must meet the 3.5 GPA and class standing requirements. Nominees must be in good academic standing and be a junior or a senior. Thompson was the only junior amongst the finalists. 

The selection process for Man and Woman of the Year requires participants to submit applications, resumes, write essays and recommendation letters after being anonymously nominated by a WSU faculty or staff member or a student. Then, four finalists are chosen and the winner is announced at a banquet held for the participants and their families. Each of the finalists received a monetary prize. The winners received $650 each and the finalist received $300.

“I was happy to have my family there with me,” Beckham said. “I felt their support throughout the whole process.”

The winners are responsibility for being representatives about what is best about WSU, Beckham said. Thompson said her duty is to represent and support WSU in a positive light. 

Beckham is the president-elect of the Student Ambassador Society, legislative director of the Student Government Association, chairman of the College Republicans and a member of Phi Delta Theta. 

Thompson is involved in Cross Campus (jesusloveswu.com), a member of Delta Gamma, a member of the Student Organization of Social Work, a member of the Emory Lindquist Honors Program as well as a part of the Student Ambassador Society. 

Both were honored to accept the award, and encourage those who are eligible to apply to get involved next year.