Author: Caelin Bragg

Students from Wichita State University’s Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences got the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in their fields at the annual Kansas Academy of Science (KAS) and Central States Entomological Society (CSES) meetings April 4-5 at Friends University.

Among the students who presented, two groups were awarded first place honors for their research:

• Brooks Hartsock — graduate student in physics with Dr. Nick Solomey, professor of physics — was awarded $300 for best oral presentation by a grad student.
• Vee Disbro, junior; Syd Downey, junior; Melissa Hernández, senior; and Leónidas Reyes, senior — with Dr. Mary Liz Jameson, professor of biological sciences — were awarded $150 for best poster presentation from CSES.

Additionally, the following students presented their research at the annual meeting:

Oral presentations:

• Mason Moore, senior with Dr. Leland Russell, professor of biological sciences
• Tiffany Bass, graduate student with Russell
• Jonathan Folkerts, graduate student in physics

Posters:

• Daniel Reichart, senior with Solomey
• Theophilus Eshun, graduate student with Dr. Mark Schneegurt, professor of biological sciences
• Ethan Higginbotham, a recent graduate in physics and mathematics

John Mark Koontz is graduating with a Bachelor of Music in double bass performance. He credits Wichita State’s faculty and ensembles for shaping his growth. His advice: stay consistent. Progress takes time, but it adds up.

President Rick Muma and WuShock crashed the Office of Human Resources’ monthly staff meeting to recognize the staff as this month’s Rick Rewards recipient. The staff was celebrated for the implementation of WuHire, a new system that streamlines the process of hiring staff and students for departments, making it easier for departments to support students on campus.

Rick Rewards is awarded each month by President Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of the campus community.

The Shocker community gathered April 22 to remember Dr. Jim Rhatigan, Wichita State’s former dean of students, at a tree dedication ceremony just outside of the Rhatigan Student Center, named in Rhatigan’s honor.

At the ceremony, President Rick Muma spoke to Rhatigan’s lasting legacy to the campus and culture of WSU, and Rhatigan’s wife and daughter, Beverly and Becky, were present, and Rhatigan’s son-in-law, Joe Linot, shared a few words.

“This is a beautiful occasion and we really really appreciate the dedication that Jim has given to the fabric of Wichita State University,” Linot said. “It will always be a part of our lives as long as we live and we thank you so much for having us here today for this dedication.”

Rhatigan came to Wichita State in 1965 as the university’s first, and one of the nation’s youngest at 30 years old, dean of students. He became vice president for student affairs in 1970, holding that position until 1996 and going on to serve as senior vice president until his retirement in 2002.

Lindsey Mendenhall was able to get more than just an education at Wichita State. Through the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), she got to work in her field while getting her degree and has a job lined up with the NIAR Advanced Materials Lab. Beyond the classroom, Lindsey found that the lessons she learned from teaching her dogs set her up for success in her academic and professional lives.

Missourian Adam Key was drawn to Wichita State for its welcoming community, affordability and emphasis on applied learning. Adam has built an impressive resume through internships, leadership roles and hands-on experiences with local businesses and startups. 

Tyler Winn’s journey at Wichita State has been shaped by perseverance and applied learning. After transferring from a community college to WSU in 2023, he quickly connected with faculty and gained valuable internships, including with the Wichita Thunder and NCAA March Madness.

After putting together the second-best finish by any Shocker at the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship, Shocker women’s golfer Kate Tilma was named to the 2025 AAC Women’s Golf All-Conference team April 22.

Tilma’s All-Conference honor was earned by finishing in the top seven on the individual leaderboard last week at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Florida. Her round two 18-hole score of 67 was the best of any competitor in any of the tournament’s three rounds.

The Wichita native is one of only two Shockers to finish in the top ten at the AAC Championship, surpassed only by Taryn Torgerson’s win in 2018. The 67 score tied the second-best 18-hole score by any Shocker all-time in any tournament, only surpassed by Torgerson’s 64 at the 2018 AAC Championship. Tilma became the first Shocker not named Torgerson to record a round score of 67 or better since Bryce Schroeder shot a 67 at the Johnie Imes Invitational Sept. 29, 2015.

Tilma is only the second Shocker to earn all-conference honors since Wichita State joined the American for the 2017-18 season. Tilma led the Shockers to an eighth-place finish at the AAC Championship, the second-best finish in team history.

Looking for ways to support students on campus? Check out the ShockerSync calendar for events hosted by the nearly 300 student organizations at WSU. Many events are also open to faculty and staff.

The Wichita State men’s bowling team took home another top three finish and championship appearance by placing second at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) intercollegiate Team Championships in Las Vegas. The finish marks the fifth year in a row that the team has finished in the top three in the championships.