Author: Caelin Bragg

Brandon Bonta and Spencer Robarge grew up wanting to bowl for Wichita State. Now as they prepare to finish their collegiate careers as Shocker bowlers, they’re thrilled with their experience and happy to join a long line of Shockers guiding the next generation.  

“Leadership is always about, ‘How can I help the next guy up, as well as teach them the ways of Shocker bowling,’” Bonta said. “You become more of an asset to a team. Hopefully, for the guys who are here, I’ve created a path for them that can make them successful [so] they’re on the right track.” 

Robarge had a family connection to Shocker bowling. Even with that background, the transition to college challenged him. As his WSU career winds down, he savors giving advice that helps the freshmen navigate their new world, academically and athletically. 

The College of Engineering is hosting an Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) event, commonly known as Girl Day, for high school students from Wichita and the surrounding area. The event will be from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 in the Rhatigan Student Center.

“The purpose of an annual IGED event is to inspire and empower students to pursue careers in STEM fields,” said Ana Montanez Chacon, the director of student support for the College of Engineering. “Surveys after the event last year showed that out of 140 students who attended, more than half ultimately pursued engineering or computing at WSU.”

WSU is planning to have about 200 participants for the IGED event. The students will participate in hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities, listen to inspirational speakers, and meet mentors from the engineering and computing industries, including local professionals, WSU faculty and students. There will also be an opportunity fair featuring companies from STEM fields. Breakfast pastries and lunch will be provided.

Looking for something fun to do on campus? Check out the ShockerSync calendar for a variety of events hosted by the nearly 300 student organizations on campus: wichita.edu/shockersync.

Shocker women’s bowling’s remarkable first NCAA season came to an end April 11 as the Shockers competed in the NCAA Championship with losses to Jacksonville State and Nebraska at Suncoast Lanes.

The Shockers end their inaugural NCAA campaign with an 87-38 record, a conference championship, and multiple CUSA All-American and NTCA All-American honorees.

Wichita State congratulates the Shocker women’s bowling team for its incredible first season in the NCAA.

The Kansas State High School Athletics Association 5A state baseball and softball championships will be held on Wichita State’s campus May 29-30 and state track May 30-31. These events bring thousands of visitors to campus.

Volunteer opportunities for faculty and staff will be shared soon in WSU Today, so keep an eye out if you are interested in signing up.

Campus parking lots will be busier than usual during these dates. Faculty and staff are encouraged to plan ahead and arrive early those days to avoid delays.

If you know of any businesses or organizations that may be interested in having an exhibitor booth or sponsoring the state events, reach out to Trish Gandu, director of marketing and advertising in the Office of Strategic Communications, at trish.gandu@wichita.edu or Kayla Jost, director of events for Shocker Athletics, at kjost@goshockers.com.

Shocker cheer and dance teams traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, April 9-13 to participate in the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and National Dance Alliance (NDA) National Championships.

The cheer team won the National Championship in Intermediate Large Coed Division I. In the preliminary round, the Shockers had a raw score of 87.8333 and an event score of 24.3357 with just 0.25 in deductions. In the final round, the Shockers scored 88.0667 for a total event score of 97.5371. WSU finished almost two points in front of second place VCU.

The dance team finished 11th overall in Pom Division I. In the preliminary round, the Shockers had an event score of 86.8286 to earn a trip to the finals. In the final round, the Shockers scored 86.4857.

An archaeological field school in the piney woods of east Texas is giving Wichita State students a rare opportunity to bring history to light — and their futures into focus.

Led by Dr. Crystal Dozier, assistant professor of anthropology, students spent several months during summer 2024 excavating the Boxed Springs site in east Texas, thanks to the generosity and vision of Wichita State alumnus Marc Rowland. Boxed Springs is known for its ties to the early Caddo peoples, an Indigenous group who developed complex agricultural societies, constructed elaborate ceremonial centers, and thrived in the region for centuries. The site became the focus of extensive geophysical surveys, excavation and artifact analysis, with students contributing both in the field and back on campus.

Join the Student Government Association (SGA) Student Senate for a meeting at 6:30 p.m. today in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail room. The meeting will now be livestreamed on the SGA YouTube.

The Wichita State SGA is the governing entity for the student experience at the university. SGA is charged with promoting and stimulating student participation in the university’s activities and providing an official channel of communication between the students, faculty, staff and administration.

History department faculty at WSU and the WSU Chapter of the AAUP/AFT present a “Teach-in on Higher Education and the Current Political Situation” from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17 in 211 Hubbard Hall. Faculty members will elaborate on key issues facing universities and colleges, including threats to academic freedom, the defunding of research and banning of DEI, and will provide status reports on the latest developments. Speakers include history faculty members Dr. Laila Ballout, Dr. George Dehner and Dr. Robert Weems. The event is moderated by Dr. Rannfrid Lasine Thelle.

A Q&A period and discussion will follow the presentation.

The event is open to faculty, staff, students and the public and is offered as a part of the National Day of Action in Higher Education.

If you were unable to watch the spring 2025 student town hall live, you can catch the livestream recording and hear from your student and university leaders.

President Rick Muma; Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost; and Teri Hall, vice president for Student Affairs, answered a number of questions from students on topics including:

• Challenges facing universities in Kansas, including enrollment, budget and legislation
• Projects happening around campus, including the 10-year Master Plan
• Policies at Wichita State, including on inclement weather, accessibility and parking

Stay tuned in Shocker Blast for information on the fall 2025 student town hall.