Author: Caelin Bragg

Riding a five-match-long win streak, the Shocker women’s tennis team slotted in at no. 49 in the April 1 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) computer rankings.

The Shockers (11-6) have been ranked in each top 75 rankings so far this season and this is its second time breaking into the top 50. The Shockers have won 10 of its last 12 matches after a 1-4 start, with its most recent victory being a 4-1 win over the UTSA Roadrunners March 30 at the Wichita Country Club.

Wichita State has wins over three teams ranked in this week’s poll in Kansas State (61), Tulsa (45) and Kentucky (42). Among teams in the American Athletic Conference, the Shockers have the fifth highest ranking behind Florida Atlantic (29), Charlotte (40), Tulsa (43) and Rice (48).

In singles, sophomore Xin Tong Wang was once again ranked in singles, slotting in at No. 94. Her highest ranking since Feb. 5 when she was ranked No. 89. Wang is one of only two AAC players to be ranked in singles.

The Shockers are set to play its final home matches of the year in a doubleheader against North Texas at 10 a.m. and Creighton at 4 p.m. Friday, April 4.

The Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance (CTAC) is offering training for volunteers interested in serving as advisors and/or hearing decision-makers. Advisors and hearing decision-makers play an integral role in Title IX investigative and hearing process.

What is an advisor?

Advisor means a person chosen by a party, or appointed by the university, to accompany the party to meetings related to the resolution process, to advise the party on that process and to conduct cross-examination for the party at the hearing, if any.

What is a hearing decision-maker?

Hearing decision-makers are those with decision-making and sanctioning authority within the university’s Formal Grievance process.

When will this training occur?

Participants will have the option to attend one of the following:

• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 (location TBD)
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8 (virtual option on Zoom)
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 11 (location TBD)
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26 (virtual option on Zoom)

To RSVP, contact Stephanie Hearnen at stephanie.hearnen@wichita.edu or 316-978-5184.

Listen to Dr. Nick Solomey, professor of physics, as he sits down with Dr. Austin Nelsen, post-doc in the Jefferson Lab at the University of Virginia and graduate from Wichita State, to discuss what he’s been up to following his time at WSU.

The College of Fine Arts (CFA) will hold its 2025 Hall of Fame at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 10 in Wiedemann Hall. A reception will follow in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. The event is not ticketed and is open to all members of the WSU and greater Wichita communities.

This year, five recipients are being recognized for their achievements and contributions to the College of Fine Arts:

• Bikki Bevelhymer, Inaugural benefactor for Digital Arts Scholarships and graduate of the Barton School of Business.
• Martin H. Bush, Nationally recognized art historian, educator, consultant and gallery director, and founder of the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection.
• Alan and Sharon Fearey, Award winning community art patrons; are deeply engaged in the arts, both through their personal collection and their ongoing support of institutions like the Ulrich Museum. Alan is a 1968 graduate of Wichita State with a degree in chemistry.
• Javier Ignacio, Nationally renowned Broadway performer, who trained in the musical theatre program at Wichita State.  
• Linda Starkey, Nationally recognized musical theatre educator, musician, performer and director, and a distinguished figure in the Wichita arts scene, particularly at WSU, where she taught for forty years. She was instrumental in forming the Musical Theatre Degree program and served as director of the School of Performing Arts for more than a decade before retiring in 2022.

The College of Fine Arts congratulates the recipients of the 2025 Hall of Fame awards and thanks all of those who support the college’s efforts to advance the interests of the arts at WSU and the greater Wichita community.

For additional information, contact Wendy Hanes, assistant dean in the College of Fine Arts, at 316-978-6002 or wendy.hanes@wichita.edu.

The eighth cohort of Rudd Scholars includes 14 Kansas high school seniors who have chosen to attend Wichita State.

• Ke’Ahjahnae Rice – Highland Park High School
• Juan Flores-Hernandez – Wichita North High School
• Nayeli Andrade – Wichita South High School
• Conner Huddleston – Goddard High School
• Jailyn Millar – Little River High School
• Kailee Mendoza – Winfield High School
• Lily DiNuzzo – Saint John High School
• Jeena Moore-Kirby – Wichita Heights High School
• Jordan Prue – Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
• Cristofer Correa-Sandoval – Wichita Northwest High School
• Arizvel Tavarez – Wichita East High School
• Erica Thompson – Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
• Lillian Delgado – Valley Center High School
• Brody Anderson – Burlington High School

Each Rudd Scholar will receive a full-ride scholarship, which includes tuition, fees, on-campus housing and considerable networking and coaching support along the way.

Shocker rowing will celebrate its 50th anniversary April 26-27 with activities honoring the history of the program at Wichita State.

Founded in 1975, Shocker Rowing has competed at home on the Arkansas River and across the nation in the sport’s most prestigious events. The celebration of five decades of excellence will include opportunities for alumni, current Shockers and the community to recognize the many achievements of crew at Wichita State.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University visited Valley Center High School to award senior Luke Hoy the 2025 Clay Barton Scholarship Feb. 26. The surprise included an announcement and presentation of a ceremonial check of $50,000, which is one of the largest business scholarships in Kansas.

“I was not expecting this, not at all,” Hoy said. “It’s not an everyday occurrence for people to come into your classroom and give you $50,000.”

The last candidate for dean of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences — Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock — will be on campus March 31-April 1.

Faculty, staff and students are invited to attend a public forum at 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 31 in 262 Rhatigan Student Center, Herrman Room.

Additional information regarding the candidate can be found on the Academic Affairs website.

The third candidate withdrew from the search process.

Join Zach Gearhart, chief of staff and executive director of government relations, for updates on the Kansas legislature relevant to Wichita State at 9 a.m. Friday, March 28 in 101 Morrison Hall.

The meeting is open to all faculty, staff and students. Legislative updates are held every other Friday.

As we look ahead to the second half of the semester, I want to share with you recent communication from our provost related to state and federal executive orders and actions that are impacting higher education.

You may wonder how this affects you and your classmates. Federal and state legislative, agency and administrative actions continue to unfold, and we are still learning their ultimate impact. There will likely be changes to some of our policies, programs, celebrations, awards ceremonies and events. The university is taking a systematic approach in addressing these actions to ensure compliance while focusing on the goal of supporting all students.

I know that you might have questions and concerns. My door is always open to talk, or you can reach out to members of my staff. As more information comes to light, we’ll meet individually with student groups as needed. We also have resources to support you if you’re struggling: The CARE Team is here to help.

I encourage you to participate in the upcoming virtual SGA town hall at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, April 10 via YouTube, where you can ask questions about any topic.

Above all, I want to emphasize that we are in this together as a campus community, and we remain dedicated to being here for all Shocker students. Thank you for being a part of our university.

Dr. Teri Hall, vice president of Student Affairs