Author: Caelin Bragg

Situated between the main campus and the Innovation Campus is WSU’s iconic Food Truck Plaza, featuring different local food trucks from Wichita for students to choose from, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Stop by for a surprise or check out wichita.edu/foodtruckplaza ahead of time to see what’s scheduled for the week.

The schedule is also posted in Shocker Blast every week, so make sure to keep an eye out for that.

Wichita State faculty and staff can get even more out of Shocktoberfest with the official faulty/staff Shocktoberfest button. Purchase your button and unlock exclusive discounts and perks throughout Shocktoberfest.

Your button gets you:

• 10% off at the Shocker Store – Save 10% on WSU-imprinted items at both the Shocker Store at the Rhatigan Student Center and Braeburn Square.
• 10% off for on-campus dining – Enjoy 10% off at participating on-campus dining locations including RSC locations, Shocker Hall Dining and the Market at GroundHouse.
• One free Shocker volleyball ticket – Cheer on the Shockers as volleyball takes on Tulsa at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2. with one complimentary ticket per button presented at box office.
• One free Shocktoberfest branded tote – Stop by the Shocktoberfest Brew Market to collect your tote from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.

Buttons are $12 and can be purchased online and picked up at Woodman Alumni Center.

Twelve outstanding Wichita State students have been selected as the 2026 Shocktoberfest Court, recognizing their leadership, campus involvement, academic achievement and commitment to the Shocker community.

Voting is open now through Oct. 1, and faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate. Cast your vote to recognize the exceptional student leaders who represent the best of Wichita State.

The members of the 2026 Shocktoberfest Court are:

• Nabaa Alamood – senior, communication sciences and disorders and applied linguistics
• Bella Alderman – senior, media arts (game design) and dance
• Hayley Boatright – senior, hospitality
• Lilly Centeno – senior, health science (pre-physician associate)
• Jayden Island – senior, philosophy (ethics concentration)
• Anoushka Raju – senior, biomedical engineering and biology
• Teja Samuelson – senior, business management
• Chloe Strecker – junior, forensic science
• Nolan Tauer – senior, elementary education
• Israel Torres – junior, mechanical engineering
• An Tran – senior, accounting and business administration
• Erin Wilson – junior, elementary education

Members of the 2026 Shocktoberfest Court will be recognized during Shocker Madness as part of Shocktoberfest and Family Weekend festivities. Following the voting period, two members of the court will be crowned 2026 Shocker Royalty.

Visit wichita.edu/royalty to learn more about the court members and cast your vote today.

Shocktoberfest is Wichita State’s celebration of Shocker pride. Join in all the festivities Sept. 28-Oct. 3. View the full list of events and activities at wichita.edu/shocktoberfest.

Wichita State University invites the community to show its black-and-yellow spirit during 2026 Shocktoberfest, a weeklong tradition of Shocker pride, Sept. 28-Oct. 3.

Shocktoberfest has been a Wichita State tradition since 1991 and offers something for everyone, with events for students, alumni and the greater Wichita community.

Below is a sampling of the week’s events:

• The bonfire — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Braeburn Square — Revel in the spirit of Shocktoberfest with WSU Cheer, Marching Band and a few of your favorite athletes. Special performance by Shock Rock, featuring Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost, on lead vocals; and on guitar, Andrew Schlapp, vice president for government relations.
• Shocker Pride. Nationwide. Celebrate the Arts — 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 the Ulrich Museum’s outdoor patio — The university is putting a spotlight on the creativity, talent and innovation that define the university’s vibrant arts community. This free, come-and-go event invites the public and campus communities to connect, explore and enjoy live performances and artistic discovery.
• Wu’s Birthday Bash — 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at Braeburn Square — The big guy is turning 78 years old! Join the party with food trucks, face painting, games and music.
• Brew Market — 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Corbin Education Center — Enjoy an afternoon on campus filled with food, drink, and crafts from your favorite local vendors. This family-friendly campus experience will feature music, breweries and food trucks.
• The parade — 4 p.m. Oct. 3 — Floats, cars and the Shocker Sound Machine marching band will showcase the very best of Shocker Nation. Get info on parking, the parade route and the best places to sit.

A full list of the week’s events is available at wichita.edu/shocktoberfest.

Water to Neff Hall will be temporarily shut off as repairs are made to a struck water line.

The water line to Neff Hall was struck by construction contractors working at the building on Wednesday, Sept. 23, which temporarily caused flooding in the Shocker Success Center basement. Facilities shut off the water flow to Neff Hall and the surrounding buildings to mitigate the flooding.

Water access has since been restored to Ablah Library, Wallace Hall Annex, the Shocker Success Center and the Media Resources Center. The Office of International Education is open, and staff in the Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance will be working remotely while facilities assesses the space.

Nearby buildings can be utilized at this time. Thank you for your patience.

The Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker, located on the lower level of the Shocker Success Center, offers a number of free resources to students facing food insecurity or who need access to other essentials, such as clothing, toiletries and baby/family products.

If you have items you would like to donate to the locker for your peers, donations can be dropped off at the Student Government Association office in 219 Rhatigan Student Center.

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.

Need help setting up your online professional footprint? The Shocker Career Accelerator has a number of resources that can get you started:

The Career Closet in the lower level of the Shocker Success Center has free professional attire available for students. After you have your career fit, come get a free professional photo any time from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Marcus Welcome Center, when the university is open.

From there, you can start setting up your LinkedIn profile using this helpful guide from SCA, which goes over the things you need for your profile, how to start networking with others and posting regular content. Additionally, you can start putting together your resume and cover letter using these templates developed by SCA.

Want to walk through creating your profile or resume with someone more experienced? Or do you already have a LinkedIn account you want help optimizing? You can schedule an appointment with an SCA career coach through Shocker Central, emailing sca@wichita.edu or calling the office at 316-978-3688.

The 56th anniversary remembrance ceremony of Memorial ’70 will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at the memorial sculpture at the university entrance at Memorial Drive (18th Street) and Hillside. A reception will be held immediately following the ceremony in the lobby of Duerksen Fine Arts Center across from the memorial.

The ceremony will honor the 31 people – WSU football players, administrators, supporters and flight crew — who died in the crash in Colorado.

Other Memorial 70 tribute locations on campus include:

• 202 Rhatigan Student Center, Shocker 70, has Shocker memorabilia. There will be floral tribute on display.
• The Memorial ’70 display case on the Charles Koch Arena concourse has pictures of the deceased and the certificate for the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame.

Those interested in making a tax-deductible contribution in memory of the crash victims can give to the Football ’70 Memorial Scholarship, the only endowed scholarship at WSU dedicated in collective memory to those who died in the tragedy.

The scholarship is awarded each year to a student of any major with at least a 3.0 GPA who demonstrates financial need. Contributions can be made through the WSU Foundation, 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, KS 67260-0002, for the Football ’70 Memorial Scholarship. Contributions also may be made online.

The Heskett Center pool remains closed as the comprehensive assessment of the pool facility continues. This proactive work will ensure that the pool remains safe, reliable and well-maintained.

We anticipate the pool will remain closed for the next 10 weeks. However, depending on the nature and extent of work identified — especially if substantial repairs are required — that timeline may need to be extended, and administration will determine whether the necessary work is financially feasible. We will continue to keep campus informed throughout the process.

Additional updates will be shared as more information becomes available. For the latest information, visit wichita.edu/heskett.