Author: Caelin Bragg

Read about the newest research and innovation coming out of Wichita State by checking out the August 2023 edition of Research & Innovation News.

Learn more about a $100 million contract NIAR secured for digital transformation, the impact WSU and WSU Tech have on the Kansas economy, how engineering students are using their skills to help an Ecuadorian village, and more.

Research & Innovation News publishes every other month. Subscribe to the mailing list.

The campus community is invited to a film screening of “The Silent Cries of Unborn Ghetto Children” directed and co-produced by Dr. Kevin Harrison, assistant teaching professor and director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Riccardo Harris, executive director of Wichita GEAR UP, from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 in the CAC Theater.

“The Silent Cries of Unborn Ghetto Children,” explores trauma, tragedy, racial segregation, and healing centered around a tragic plane crash that occurred on Jan. 16, 1965, just blocks from the campus. In fact, as the plane was losing altitude and jettisoning fuel, some spilled on the campus. Less than four hours later, with jet fuel still on the arena roof, Shocker fans packed onto campus to witness the Shockers defeating St. Louis to claim its first ever Missouri Valley championship. The film was funded through a grant from Humanities Kansas.

The screening event is co-sponsored by the Cohen Honors College, Fairmount College, the School of Digital Arts and Shocker Studios.

Labor Day is coming up Monday, Sept. 4, Shockers, and that means classes will not be in session, and certain services on campus will have adjusted hours.

Keep in mind the following availability of services for Labor Day:

• Housing and Residence Life: The front desks will remain available to help with services like mail, lock outs and emergencies 24/7. Phones will be monitored, but emails will not be responded to until Tuesday, Sept. 5. For emergency requests, students can contact the front desk of their building or the resident assistant on duty: Shocker Hall, The Suites, The Flats.
• University Police Department: Officers and dispatchers will still work as normal. Use the intercom at the front door of UPD’s office or call 316-978-3450 to contact dispatchers.
• Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: Open 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Sesame Mediterranean Kitchen: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Jersey Mike’s: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Shocker Dining Hall: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Wichita State University’s campus continues to evolve, guided by a commitment to the people, businesses and economy of our state. As you return to campus, you will notice construction cranes, dirt moving and updates to existing buildings.

While libraries underwent significant transformation, Kathy Downes adapted without changing the focus of her job.

“They do a lot of listening to our students,” said Dr. Shirley Lefever, executive vice president and provost at Wichita State University. “She reads a lot, and so she is always looking ahead for ‘What’s the next big thing,’ and what is the role of the university?’”

Downes, dean of University Libraries since 2017, came to Wichita State in 1979 as a biomedical librarian. She also served as assistant dean, associate dean and senior associate dean. She will retire in September.

Several Wichita State University engineering students are bringing Shocker innovation to a tiny village in Ecuador.

Through the WSU chapter of Engineers without Borders, three students recently began the process of working with the rural community of Mercedes de Agua Sucia in Manabi, Ecuador, to build a pedestrian bridge that will give residents safe passage to the main road and nearby cities to sell the goods and products from their farms, shop in nearby El Carmen, and for children to attend school.

Three students — Julian Vasquez, a sophomore in electrical engineering from Wylie, Texas; Austin Rempel, a junior in product design and manufacturing from Hillsboro, Kansas; and Nicolas Reyes, a senior in computer engineering from Oklahoma City— traveled to Ecuador over the summer to begin assessing the community’s needs.

Shockers, did you know about the numerous student organizations you can join on campus? From sports clubs to cultural and international clubs, there’s an organization for you to get involved on campus and collaborate with your peers.

This week’s student organization is the WSU Rocket Club, where students of all backgrounds can contribute to and have fun designing, building and launching rockets.

Organization name: Wichita State Rocket Club
Meeting times: Tuesday at 7 p.m. in 134 Woolsey Hall
Social media:
Instagram: @wsu_rocketclub
YouTube: WSU Rocket Club
LinkedIn: Wichita State Rocket Club
TikTok: @wsurocketclub
Facebook: Wichita State Rocket Club

• What is the mission of your organization?
  Our mission is to promote and inspire a passion for high-powered rocketry at Wichita State. We sponsor rocketry design projects for members that showcase engineering and innovation as well as STEM outreach events on and off campus for all ages. We also compete in collegiate competitions like the Argonia Cup, NASA Student Launch and The Spaceport America Cup. We are open to all majors, and absolutely no experience is needed to join.
• Why should students join your organization?
  We design, build and launch rockets. The Wichita State Rocket Club is for all majors. Everyone can build a rocket and we can find a way to use your talents and your major in our club competition rocket. We need members to help design, build, budget, promote and manage. Then you can use your experience in the Rocket Club to help build your resume. We also go on trips to the Cosmosphere and host movie nights. The Rocket Club is for students who want to gain applied learning while having fun by being part of a community.
• What events does your organization host throughout the year?
  The Wichita State Rocket Club goes down to the Rocket Pasture in Argonia, Kansas monthly to launch rockets. Our goal is for the team or members to be launching a rocket every month during the school year. The Rocket Club will be hosting “Rocket-A-Day,” or “RAD,” for our members. This is where, after a month of our weekly meetings where we teach our new members the basics of rockets, we will help everyone build a small rocket within a weekend at the end of September. Each semester, the club also goes on a team bonding activity, whether going to the Cosmosphere, hosting a game night or playing paintball. The club will also help support the Wichita community through a Trunk or Treat activity and a STEM service learning event in the spring with students between K-12.
• What is something you want the campus community to know about your organization?
  Another big aspect of the Rocket Club is helping students receive their Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Certifications in High-Power Rocketry. For members to receive their Level 1 Certification, members will build and safely launch a small high-powered rocket. The club will help sponsor members to receive their Level 1 Certification Kits through the Tripoli Rocketry Association. For a Level 2 Certification, members will design their own rocket and launch the rocket on a larger motor after passing a technical test. The size of the project just gets bigger and more complicated for a Level 3 Certification.
• What are your hopes for your organization in the coming school year?
  For the first time, the Wichita State Rocket Club is planning to compete in the Spaceport America Cup. This is an international collegiate competition held out in the New Mexico Deseret in the summer, where there are over 150 other collegiate teams. The mission is to launch a scientific payload up to exactly 10,000 ft. and have the rocket safely return. This mission will require a lot of help from members of all different majors and we could use your help!
• Julian Chee, an aerospace engineering alum, had this to say about being a member of the Rocket Club:
  “The Wichita State Rocket Club was been indispensable in developing my personal, academic and professional career. As an AE student, conceptualizing and executing many end-to-end scaled rocket missions provided valuable experience in design, manufacturing and leadership, which is vital for junior and senior course build projects. The ability to frequently test designs with monthly access to one of the best professional launch sites in the country is unmatched compared to any other collegiate rocketry club. Personally, this has given me an opportunity to design build, and launch my own rocket projects and eventually network/mentor other students and schools at major competitions.”

Tune back in every week to learn more about a student organization on campus. Student organizations are housed under Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership (SEAL); visit SEAL’s website to learn more about student organizations and other ways to get involved.

Welcome back to campus, Shockers! We hope you enjoyed the first week on campus and have started settling into your classes.

You showed us your spirit as members of Shocker Nation, and we’re still not done helping you get involved with your peers. Check out all of the upcoming Welcomefest events, designed to connect you with other Shockers, the campus and the rest of the community, and find more ways to get involved through Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership (SEAL).

And make sure to utilize some of the services Wichita State has to support you as a student of WSU:

• Office of Student Success – Get the support you need to succeed during your time with Shocker Nation.
• Student Health Services – Find assistance through a variety of medical services offered to you as a Shocker.
• Counseling and Psychological Services – Take care of your mental help through CAPS.
• Shocker Career Accelerator – Develop everything you need to prepare for your career.

Shockers, did you know about the numerous student organizations you can join on campus? From sports clubs to cultural and international clubs, there’s an organization for you to get involved on campus and collaborate with your peers.

This week’s student organization is the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, or HALO, which strives to become a staple in the representation of the Hispanic American community on campus.

Organization name: Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO)
Meeting times: Every other Wednesday at 7 p.m. in 262 Rhatigan Student Center
Social media:
Instagram: @wsuhalo
TikTok: @wsuhalo
Facebook: WSU Hispanic American Leadership Organization – HALO

• What is your organization mission?
  HALO’s mission is to strengthen, educate, empower and develop leaders within the community.
• Why should students join your organization?
  Students should join HALO to have fun, make friends and develop their leadership skills.
• What events does your organization host throughout the year?
  We host professional development and community service events, paint nights, general meetings, a baile and a cookout.
• What is something you want the campus community to know about your organization?
  We are happy to welcome anyone and everyone. You do not need to be Hispanic/Latinx to join our organization.
• What are your hopes for your organization in the coming school year?
  We hope to grow our membership and continue to empower to Hispanic/Latinx community on and off campus. The community can find us on our social media pages or reach out to wsuhalo@gmail.com.
• Natanya Ordoñez, a pre-dental alum, had this to say about being a member of HALO.
  “My time in HALO began in my sophomore year of high school and, by the end, I became president my senior year. I truly loved the organization and was excited to hear WSU had an organization too, so, as an undergrad, I got involved with HALO as soon as I got to campus, which gave me the space to grow and gain more cultural insight all while making new friends that looked like me. HALO raises awareness about the Latino culture and festivities that we celebrate. The organization had more of a family feel to it where we could come together at every meeting. It left me feeling full of comfort knowing I could spend time with this group of people and feel less homesick as we shared a lot in common. On top of that, I was given the opportunity to attend the national United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in Chicago as a student representative of WSU, which was an amazing weekend full of networking, workshops and empowerment from many amazing Latino/Latina leaders from across the country.”

Tune back in every week to learn more about a student organization on campus. Student organizations are housed under Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership (SEAL); visit SEAL’s website to learn more about student organizations and other ways to get involved.

Shockers, did you know about the numerous student organizations you can join on campus? From sports clubs to cultural and international clubs, there’s an organization for you to get involved on campus and collaborate with your peers.

This week’s student organization is 3D Printed Prosthetics, designed by, and for students to acquire real world experience with 3D printed prosthetics. Students will be given opportunities to work with and assist those who may need assistive devices.

Organization name: 3D Printed Prosthetics WSU
Meeting times: Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Social media:
Instagram: @3dprintedprosthetics
Facebook: 3D Printed Prosthetics WSU
X: @Prosthetics3d
LinkedIn: 3D Printed Prosthetics

• What is your organization’s mission?
  Our mission is to provide students with real life experience towards the development of prosthetics and assistive devices for members of our community.
• Why should students join your organization?
  Students will be able to gain valuable experience in the research, development, prototyping and delivery of prosthetics.
• What are your hopes for your organization in the coming school year?
  Our priority is to aid members of our community through the efforts of our organization. We hope to be able to deliver prosthetics/assistive devices that will make an impact to members of our community.
• How can the community learn more about or join your organization?
  Members can remain updated by visiting our website and browsing through our projects, and our general meetings will be open to all students for organization and project updates.
• Austin Rempel, junior product design major, had this to say about being a member of 3D Printed Prosthetics:
  “This club has allowed me to understand the enjoyment and fulfillment of engineering outside of just classes. The ability I’ve had to learn through real world problems and applications in this club is what has given me hope for a future in engineering, and I will always be incredibly grateful for that.”

Tune back in every week to learn more about a student organization on campus. Student organizations are housed under Student Engagement, Advocacy and Leadership (SEAL); visit SEAL’s website to learn more about student organizations and other ways to get involved.