Runners set off for a 5K

Join Campus Recreation for its annual 5K Pumpkin Run starting at 9 a.m. Oct. 19 on campus. Early signups receive a discounted rate to register.

Participants will receive a free Pumpkin Run T-shirt, and everyone who crosses the finish line will receive a finisher medal. Registration for the 5K Pumpkin Run is $27 through June 30, so sign up now. Get a personal referral code to sign up your friends, family and/or coworkers, and if five people sign up with the code, you get $15 off your race fee.

Additionally, signups are also open for the Little Pumpkin Fun Run 1K and Virtual 5K events:

  • The Little Pumpkin Fun Run 1K, which is from 10:19 to 10:45 a.m. Oct. 19, is designed for children 10 years old or younger. Signups cost $17 through June 30.
  • The Virtual 5K registration is $37 and allows participants to run from anywhere.
Sierra Marie Bonn in her Shocker regalia

Sierra Marie Bonn struggled to balance her work and education, but with the help of scholarships from the Miss Kansas Organization, she was able to earn an undergraduate and graduate degree from Wichita State University. She graduates with her Master of Innovation Design and following graduation, she will compete in the 2024 Miss Kansas Competition and continue working on the non-profit organization she founded while she was a student, Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead.

Christen Brouillette

Christen Brouillette came to Wichita State University from Texas, which they found hard to transition to, but with the help of peers, faculty and the resources available at WSU, they were able to find success. They hope to work as a historian or archivist following graduation.

Morgan Campbell in her Shocker regalia

The military brought Morgan Campbell and her family to Wichita, and she decided to make it her home. She has earned a master’s degree in social work, and she plans “to promote safety, growth and opportunities” for families in her practice.

Gabriel Fonseca

As a full-time employee of Wichita State University, Gabriel Fonseca struggled to balance work, classes and a personal life while he pursued his doctoral degree; but, ultimately, the support of the university community helped him persevere.

Jade Driggs presents at her dissertation defense

With two young children at home, U.S. Air Force Major Jade Driggs needed to learn to ask and accept help from others while she was working toward her Ph.D. in human factors psychology. She chose Wichita State University for its impressive human factors psychology program and the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Amanda Schmalzried

Wichita State University’s Amanda Schmalzried has won the 2024 Bela Kiralyfalvi Student Playwriting Competition for her play, “The Angel of Death.”

Schmalzried’s play was among 29 scripts submitted from 24 colleges and universities across the nation. She is the seventh Wichita State student who has won the competition in its 49-year history.

“The Angel of Death” will be presented as a staged reading in March 2025 at the Welsbacher Theatre in the WSU Hughes Metroplex.

Last night Wichita State Police officers were able to investigate and clear a non-credible bomb threat within a few short hours, restoring campus to normal operations.

The call indicated the presence of an explosive device at Wallace Hall and the 21st Street Starbucks. While police quickly suspected the threat was not real, immediate action was taken by our emergency response team, in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, to ensure that there was no credible danger to our community.

The WSU campus community was alerted of the reported threat through the RAVE system. All individuals were asked to evacuate and avoid these areas.

The all-clear was issued at 12:45 a.m. on Friday morning.

As operations return to normal, now is a good reminder that false threats like these are a crime and tax the time and resources of many people, including our first responders.

The safety and security of our campus community are of the utmost priority. Though there is no threat to campus, diligence is always important.

Remember, if you see something, say something by calling 978-3450 or 911.

Photo of storm clouds over campus

In the event of inclement weather and/or an emergency event, the university shall take all reasonable measures to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff.

Should such an event occur, the university may implement a temporary adjustment to its class and/or operations, including late start and moving class instruction and non-critical operations to remote delivery, where possible. Critical campus operations will continue to operate on-campus to the fullest extent possible.

In order to facilitate the university’s decision making and communication process, and to recognize potential childcare challenges faced by university students and employees, the university will typically align with USD 259 in closing campus facilities or moving to remote learning/operations due to inclement weather or national, state or local emergencies.

See the full WSU inclement weather guidelines. In the event of a weather emergency, refer to the list of tornado shelters on campus.

Please take a moment to read how you will be informed of changes to normal on-campus operations:

  • We strongly encourage you to sign up for the ShockerAlert System, which will send weather and class alerts to your phone and email.
  • In the event of a change to normal on-campus operations, you will also receive a message to your WSU email account.
  • The Wichita State website will be updated with a warning message during a inclement weather or emergency situation that impacts classes or activities on campus.
  • WSU’s official X account and Facebook page will be updated with pertinent information.

For more information about the weather outlook at any time, consult the National Weather Service forecast for Wichita.

Shocker baseball will face Tulane April 26 though 28 at Eck Stadium, and each day is a special event for fans:

  • Friday night is for the kids. All kids wearing their Youth League uniform receive admission to the game at no additional charge, and additional family and friends can purchase tickets for only $5.
  • It’s Bark in the Park at Eck Stadium Saturday, April 27. Bring your dog and enjoy the game from Coleman Hill. First pitch is at 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 28 is National Superhero Day at Eck Stadium. Shocker baseball supports local heroes with admission for all military, police, fire, EMS and health care workers at no additional charge. Kids can receive a WuShock superhero coloring book before the game and run the bases after the game. First pitch is at 1 p.m.