Author: Caelin Bragg

The School of Performing Arts is hosting a screenwriting workshop for your students with Los Angeles-based screenwriters, Derick and Rebecca Otto, from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room.

Students will learn:

• The structural basics and elements of a feature screenplay 
• How to construct an idea into a one to two sentence logline and develop that into a first draft 
• The collaborative nature of writing with producers, executives and directors 
• How to navigate the business side of the industry 

This is a good opportunity for your students to enhance their skills and understanding of screenwriting outside of their normal classes.

President Rick Muma, first gentleman Rick Case and WuShock stopped by Landscape and Ground Maintenance at Gaddis Physical Plant to recognize them as this month’s Rick Rewards recipient. President Muma and Case wished to celebrate their work in keeping the campus beautiful for our students, employees and visitors, and for all of their hard work making sure our community is safe during inclement weather, like during the winter storms the campus experienced in January.

Rick Rewards is awarded each month by President Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of the campus community.

As we learn more about the Jan. 29 plane crash, we know the profound effect it has had on many in Wichita, including Wichita State University. As a tight-knit community, this hits especially close to home. 2017 graduate Kiah Duggins was tragically one of the passengers aboard the American Airlines flight. Read more about Kiah and the legacy she leaves behind.

Nearly a week since the accident, we anxiously await confirmation of the full passenger list. Until then, we are unable to confirm if anyone else with ties to Wichita State University was on the flight. We are keeping the families and loved ones of all those affected in our thoughts.

Dr. Rick Muma, president

Dr. Monica Lounsbery, Wichita State’s new senior executive vice president and provost, brings with her a wealth of experience in higher education leadership. Learn more about Dr. Lounsbery, her early impressions of WSU and what she hopes to accomplish during her tenure.

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What started as a work study position in the costume shop of her university’s theater department has propelled Melissa Penkava Koza’s sewing hobby into guiding the next generation of costume creators.

Penkava Koza, who was recently promoted to assistant teaching professor of design and technical theatre at Wichita State, always enjoyed helping others grow and sharing her passion. So for her, it seemed like the natural evolution to work in higher education.

“I’ve always known I would be an educator,” Penkava Koza said. “But after connecting with my mentors in undergrad, it was clear that working in costuming would allow me to apply the skills I loved in a way that could be transformative to not only the performers, but the technicians and the industry at large.”

Wichita State has selected the 2025 recipients of the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships. Each student will receive a $64,000 scholarship to attend WSU in August 2025.

The 2025 Gore Scholars are:

• Beckett Sollars, Park Hill Senior High School (Missouri)
• Mei-Li Hunt, Wesclin Junior-Senior High School (Illinois)
• Aidan Thibodeau, Herington High School

We are keeping the families and loved ones of those affected by the devasting plane crash in Washington, D.C. in our thoughts. As a close-knit community, this incident has shaken the entire Shocker community.

We want to remind students that they have numerous support systems available as members of our community.

• You can schedule an appointment with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). It offers individual and group therapy, and no student will be turned away for the inability to pay. Learn more and schedule an appointment.
• The CARE Team offers proactive support to the entire Shocker community. If you or someone you know is struggling during this time, you can submit a concern at: wsu.news/careteamreporting
• Student Health Services can help a number of physical and mental health related issues that can result from difficult situations, such as treat acute symptoms like headaches, prescribe mental health medications after consultation with CAPS and more.

After such tragedies, it is more important than ever to come together and support your fellow peers.

As we learn more about the tragic Jan. 29 plane crash, we know the profound effect it has had on many in Wichita, including our campus. As a close-knit community, this hits especially close to home. As Shockers, we all need to support each other.

We also want faculty and staff to know that there are resources available to support you through these difficult times.

• The Employee Assistance Program is available to all employees at Wichita State through the state of Kansas and offers a variety of services, including personal counseling. Learn more about the Employee Assistance Program.
• The CARE Team offers proactive support to the entire Shocker community. If you or someone you know is struggling during this time, you can submit a report at: wsu.news/careteamreporting

During times like this, it is more important than ever to lean on your colleagues.

We are deeply heartbroken to share with our community and friends that Kiah Duggins was aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita to Washington, D.C.

Kiah was a proud alumna of the Barton School of Business and Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, graduating in the spring of 2017 with degrees in international business, economics and Spanish. A recipient of the prestigious Clay Barton Scholarship in 2013, she joined a distinguished group of exceptionally talented students. During her time at Wichita State, Kiah cofounded the Shocker Food Locker, an initiative that continues to support students facing food insecurity. Her unwavering commitment to building more equitable communities is a legacy we can all carry forward within Shocker Nation.

Born and raised in Wichita, Kiah was the daughter of Dr. Maurice and Gwen Duggins, who instilled in her a deep commitment to social justice through their own dedication to serving underserved communities in education and healthcare. After graduating from Wichita State, she went on to earn her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she served as president of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. It was no surprise that after law school, Kiah became an attorney with the Civil Rights Corps in Washington, D.C., continuing her family’s legacy of advocacy and service.

During her tenure as an attorney, Kiah litigated on behalf of movements challenging unconstitutional policing and money bail practices. She studied prison industrial complex abolition and movement lawyering as a Law 4 Black Lives Fellow and integrated those concepts into her daily work.

Her family remains active in the Wichita community, and this tragedy has profoundly impacted all who knew her. Today, we mourn the loss of one of our own. To those who had the privilege of knowing Kiah, our hearts are with you during this incredibly difficult time.

Kiah was a beacon of light, a testament to perseverance and an inspiration to all who dream big and work tirelessly to achieve their goals. We hope her legacy continues to inspire our students, serving as a reminder of what is possible through determination, passion and purpose.

Shocker Financial Wellness is hosting a come-and-go workshop all about eating on a budget from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center, Harvest Room. As a bonus, students who attend the workshops this semester and fill out the entry/exit surveys are entered in a raffle for a full in-state fall tuition scholarship.