Author: Caelin Bragg

Jackson Caldwell was named the American Athletic Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the Men’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday afternoon.

Caldwell is the second-straight Shocker to be named the AAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, after Brock Rodden (baseball) claimed the honor last year, and is the Shockers’ first Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year since Wichita State joined The American in 2017.

Addison Barnard can add another “first” to her resume. Barnard has been named the 2023-24 American Athletic Conference Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. It was announced by the league July 10.

She is the first Shocker softball student-athlete to earn scholar-athlete of the year honors since Wichita State joined The American in 2017. The Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) annually select 22 student-athletes (10 males, 12 females), one from each American sponsored sport, who will receive a post-graduate, post-eligibility financial scholarship of $2,000 and a trophy.

Paul Edwards, vice president of finance and administration at Western Illinois University, is the second candidate for the senior vice president for administration, finance and operations position. He will be on campus for a public forum from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11 in 261 Rhatigan Student Center, Olive Room.

In an alternate universe, Tom Luhring’s interest in biology might have led him to a career in medicine, where he would be working indoors at a medical office or hospital.

“I am a first-gen student, so I thought if you liked biology, you have to be a medical doctor,” Luhring said. “It wasn’t until I started to take some classes that I saw that there were other career paths. When I took herpetology, I realized that I could work with frogs, salamanders, snakes and turtles — and actually do that for a living. That was the moment for me when I was finally passionate about doing something as opposed to just feeling like I have to make a living.”

That passion helped Luhring, assistant professor of biology, secure nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation to study the effects of drying and warming on aquatic systems, such as lakes, rivers and streams, and how these changes impact the waterbodies themselves and the organisms that dwell within them.

You’re reading Shocker Blast, Wichita State’s newsletter made just for students. Shocker Blast gives you regular updates about Shocker Nation every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, sent directly to your official student email.

We know no one likes to read emails — but there’s a lot of information in Shocker Blast that’s useful to you as a student.

On the first Monday of every month, expect to find a Special Edition of Shocker Blast just like this one, focused on a topic we think you’ll find interesting.

In this month’s edition is everything you need to know about campus so you can succeed from orientation to graduation. If you keep the email or web version of this newsletter saved, it can be a handy reference throughout the semester.

Find the support you need to navigate college life.

• Student Support Services
• Office of Disability Services
• TRIO Disability Support Services
• Office of Diversity and Inclusion
• Military and Veteran Services
• Student Ambassador Society

Gain professional work experience, learn resume writing and interviewing skills and more through Shocker Career Accelerator.

• Shocker Central
• Career Events
• Career Management
• Career Closet
• Professional Student Photos

The Student Wellness Center in the Steve Clark YMCA on campus supports your physical and mental health needs.

Student Health Services serves all students and treats your medical concerns. Visit studenthealth.wichita.edu to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Counseling and Psychological Services offers mental health resources to all Shockers through its Counseling Services and HOPE Services.

College is more than just classes. We want you to enjoy the tons of recreational and academic events hosted on campus. That starts with Welcomefest, a series of events starting right before the first week of school to welcome Shockers to campus. Check out the schedule of events on the Welcomefest webpage, and register to represent your college in the headlining event, Clash of the Colleges — a field day full of events and competitions with your fellow Shockers — by Aug. 21.

You can also attend on-campus Wichita State Fine Arts and Shocker Athletics events at no additional charge with your Shocker ID, thanks to the Student Government Association. Check out the Fine Arts calendar and learn more about Shocker Athletics.

See the events calendar for upcoming events of the week or look out for Shocker Blast in your email throughout the week for more events to attend. And check out the Campus Recreation webpage for other programs on campus, including aquatics, intramural sports/sports clubs, Shocker Rowing and Shocker Fit, or make use of the Heskett Center or our top-tier Steve Clark YMCA on campus for even more recreation and fitness opportunities.

Get involved with your peers and give back to the campus community with Student Engagement & Belonging: Join a student organization (we have more than 200) or create your own; participate in fraternity and sorority life; volunteer through the Community Service Board; become a member of the Student Government Association; and more.

Enjoy the many dining options available across the entire campus, from the Rhatigan Student Center to the Innovation Campus.

The Shocker Dining Hall in Shocker Hall hosts cafeteria-style dining with many different options to choose from. Pay, grab a plate and dig in to food from around the world.

Visit the Rhatigan Student Center Food Court and enjoy eating at a multitude of restaurants, including Freddy’s Frozen Custard, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Starbucks and the recently opened FujiSan. Or head downstairs to the Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes for food and bowling. Check out the WSU Dining Services website for more information.

Over on the Innovation Campus is the Cargill Café in Woolsey Hall; the Food Truck Plaza; the NetApp Café in the NetApp building; and Braeburn Square with Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Social Tap, Sungrano Pizza, Wheatly’s Burgers, Sesame Mediterranean Kitchen, Jersey Mike’s, Two Hands and Starbucks.

Don’t want to walk across campus? Download the Starship delivery app (Apple, Android) on your phone and have food delivered straight to you anywhere on campus from many of the restaurants above.