Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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Being nominated for Homecoming Queen can be quite an honor, even if your name is not announced as the winner. Alice Velasquez, Overland Park senior, happily watches as the 1985 queen is crowned. — Dale Bratton The prairie grass of Kansas is one natural site that the state is noted for. Members of the University and Pittsburg communities attent a dedication of a tract of prairie land located south of Pittsburg. The Ernest Robb family donated the grassland to the University. — Buzz Palmer 6 0 pening

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With a mascot such as PSU's Gus the Gorilla, it is no wonder that students at Pitt State know how to swing, to adapt to changes, and to meet each confrontation as a welcomed challenge. Whether they are cheering on the Gorillas at a home football game, competing in the numerous Greek events or at home studying for a dreaded final, the students make the most of each new opportunity in order to enjoy life to the fullest. The 1986 school year brought a wave of incoming freshmen, all slightly starry-eyed with expectations of life away from home. Although they began their first week slightly lost and a little unsure of what Pitt State would offer them, they soon adapted. By the end of the semester the new students had all found their individual niche, their own way to enjoy life in Gorilla country. No cheering squad is needed in a sorority, especially when enthusiastic sistors are ready and willing to provide spirit. Members of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority urge on team members during the battles of Derby Days. — Ragan Todd in the 3 itts Operting 5

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What once was the livlihood of Pittsburg residents has become a form of recreation for them. The once dreary coal mininig pits surrounding Pittsburg are now a scenic array of greenery, — Dale Bratton Since the Raptor Reach program was established last fall, the PSU biology department has provided birds of prey with the correct environment for rehabilitation. This eagle, Aurora, came to Pitt State with a broken wing, and remains a regular resident. — Dale Bratton Swinging ittsburg State University, like the town it is P located in, is modest of population, but extravagant in culture and history. Although the coal mining days are over in Pittsburg, traces of the long-lost era are still evident. The mining pits that surround the city are no longer used for mining, but they are still teaming with activity. They have become one of the area's largest recreation sites. Whether students or community residents go fishing, swimming or simply sightseeing in the abandoned pits, the history and respect for Pittsburg's origin has not been lost. Pittsburg State is a small university with a student population of less than 6,000. There are few big-name concerts, famous entertainers or well-known personalities who come to visit PSU. Sometimes fewer than 10 students are enrolled in the same class together. Occasionally, the only entertainment to be found is at home on a rented VCR. But, these are not the downfalls of attending Pittsburg State, they are the advantages. With such a small, intimate campus, it is possible to stroll across the campus oval and see several good friends and acquaintances. Faculty members are able to provide their students with personal, individualized attention. Students are able to be creative and innovative with both their study time and their free time. Rumors that the moderate-sized campus at Pitt State offers little or no opportunities for diversion are all false. In fact, the students at PSU are Swinging in the Pitts. □ Ramona Vassar tn 7 itts Opening 7