Author: Caelin Bragg

The HR Total Rewards team reminds staff and faculty that the application window for summer 2026 Tuition Assistance will be open from Sunday, Feb. 15 through April 15.

Just a reminder, Tuition Assistance applications for summer 2026 are submitted through the Online Application Form.

Due to the volume of applications received each semester, requests to submit late applications will be automatically denied. There will be no exceptions.

Full program details can be found at wichita.edu/tuitionassistance.

Questions may be directed to tuitionassistance@wichita.edu.

The Shocker women’s tennis team was ranked No. 24 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) top 75 rankings Feb. 18.

The No. 24 ranking is the highest for the Shockers since March 6, 2018, when the team was ranked No. 23. Wichita State owns wins over two other ranked teams: SMU (No. 23) and Iowa (No. 37).

In addition to the team ranking, Wichita State’s Giorgia Roselli and Xin Tong Wang are ranked No. 9 in doubles, breaking their own record for the highest doubles ranking in program history. 

Wichita State’s College of Engineering has named the latest group of high school seniors to join the Wallace Scholar program.

• Taylor Barringer — Augusta, Kansas
• Genevieve Jensen – Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
• Matilda Olinek – Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
• Lane Parthemer – Mount Hope, Kansas
• Hannah Marie Payumo – Omaha, Nebraska
• Rishi Rathi – Edmond, Oklahoma
• Jameson Russell – Wichita
• Kayla Spoors – Charles, Missouri
• Camdyn Sybert – Smithville, Missouri
• Shahrin Tajree – Wichita

Each of the 10 Wallace Scholarship recipients will receive $30,500 to attend WSU in the College of Engineering for four years. Wallace Scholars comprise a community of more than 40 College of Engineering students, representing every class and almost every major in the college. Wallace Scholars are involved in the College of Engineering, across the WSU campus and in the greater Wichita community.

The URCA Hub research grants can be used for travel in direct support of the research project (e.g., books, field sites, museums, historic sites), as well as most materials and equipment. All materials and equipment must stay at WSU once the project is complete. Grants may be used as participant incentives with proof of appropriate IRB approval.

Students who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply:

• Must be a sophomore, junior, or senior (by credit hour)
• Must have at least two semesters remaining at WSU, including the semester in which they apply for the grant (i.e., a senior graduating spring 2024 would be eligible to apply in fall 2023).
• Must have a faculty research mentor who is willing to submit a statement in support of the project
• Has not received funds from this program in the past
• Must present this project at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Forum, held annually in the spring

Note: Preference is given to students whose projects are not currently receiving funding from another source (e.g., faculty mentor grants).

More information:

• Application deadline: March 9 for grants to begin in the fall
• The grant amount is up to $1,500 per application

Learn more about the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Grant Program and encourage your students to apply.

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, members of the Barton School of Business visited Belle Plaine High School to surprise senior Alyssa Pace with the 2026 Clay Barton Scholarship. The $50,000 award is one of the largest business scholarships in Kansas and will cover four years of tuition support at Wichita State.

Pace, who will be a first-generation college student, earned the scholarship after advancing through the highly competitive Allen, Gibbs and Houlik Scholarship Competition. She was previously named one of eight finalists for the prestigious award. The remaining seven finalists will each receive $20,000 scholarships in recognition of their achievements.

“I was completely surprised,” Pace said after receiving the news. “This scholarship means everything. I know it sounds cliché but this is truly life changing for myself and my family. This scholarship will give me the ability to live on campus and fully immerse myself in student life and all of the opportunities that accompany a degree at Wichita State.”

Wichita State’s Jose Miguel Ramirez posted the second-best individual round score in program history on his way to a runner-up finish, leading the Shockers to a fourth-place team result on Tuesday at the Border Olympics at Laredo Country Club.

The Shockers posted rounds of 300, 276, and 283 for an 859 (+7) team score to earn their fifth consecutive top-five finish. No. 50 Houston won the team title with an 850 (-2) team score. Houston’s No. 76 Hudson Weibel earned the individual title with a 205 (-8) performance, edging Wichita State’s Ramirez by two strokes.

The Shockers struggled in the opening round, sitting in last place at 16-over-par.

Instructors are continuing to use the Student Early Alert System (SEAS) to provide feedback on student progress. This includes areas such as attendance, participation and coursework.

If you’ve received an alert, the best next step is to respond and communicate with your instructor. They are your best resource for success.  

If you have questions or need support, reach out to your instructor or a Success Coach, who are here to help you succeed.

College life can be overwhelming between family, friends, classes and studying that you may feel you’re missing out. That’s why ShockerSync is your hub for student organizations and sports clubs for a variety of majors, hobbies and interests.

Beat the FOMO and check out all the events coming up on campus and find your community at wichita.edu/shockersync.

Do you and your friends want to compete against other students from across the university? Wichita State has several intramural sports for you to participate in, including 6v6 soccer, pickleball, dodgeball and more, or even games such as Madden, NBA2K and EAFC. Learn more and sign up at imleagues.com/wichita.

Join the Student Government Association Student Senate for a meeting at 7:30 p.m. today in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail room. Meetings will also be livestreamed on the SGA YouTube.

Where students come first, the Wichita State Student Government Association 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, administration and elected officials.

To learn more about SGA, visit wichita.edu/sga, email sga@wichita.edu or stop by the offices in 219 Rhatigan Student Center.