Author: Caelin Bragg

The University Faculty Awards recognize faculty who are setting the gold standard for teaching, research and creative activity at Wichita State University.

• Excellence in Teaching – Fred Eilts, senior educator in the Department of Finance, Real Estate and Decision Sciences, W. Frank Barton School of Business
• Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching – Daniel Bergman, professor in the School of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
• Young Faculty Scholar – Akmal Mirsadikov, association professor in the Department of Finance, Real Estate and Decision Sciences, W. Frank Barton School of Business
• Academy for Effective Teaching – Robin Folkerts, assistant educator in the Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
• Excellence in Research – Moriah Beck, Talaty Endowed Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Excellence in Creative Activity – Sam Taylor, professor in the Department of English, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Excellence Award for Community Research – Suzanne Hawley, professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Professions
• Faculty Risk Taker – Abu Asaduzzaman, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Young Faculty Risk Taker – Chris Proppe, assistant professor in the Department of Human Performance Studies, College of Education
• Excellence in Accessibility – Raina Rutti, clinical associate professor in the Department of Management, W. Frank Barton School of Business
• Excellence in Online Teaching – Ryan Terry, assistant professor in the Department of Management, W. Frank Barton School of Business

Several outstanding employees through the University Staff Senate and University Faculty Senate were recognized with the President’s Distinguished Service Award at the Shocker Pride Celebration May 8.

These employees have demonstrated outstanding service to Wichita State and the campus community:

• Robin Henry, associate professor in the Department of History, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Alexander Ziegler, assistant professor in the Department of Marketing, W. Frank Barton School of Business
• Mandy Harmon, director of events and marketing in Undergraduate Admissions, Strategic Enrollment Management
• Scott Jensen, assistant vice president of Housing and Residence Life, Student Affairs
• Jacob Mendez, assistant dean for student success, College of Engineering dean’s office
• Naquela Pack, director of K-12 Connections and Special Projects, Wichita State Connect
• Debra Franklin, associate vice president for Strategic Initiatives and Industry Engagement, Industry and Defense Programs received the Wayne Carlisle Distinguished Service Award for her exceptional service to the university.

Shocker baseball coughed up a two-run lead in the ninth inning but came back with three runs in the 10th to claim an 8-5 win over South Florida May 16 at USF Baseball Stadium.

With the win, the Shockers (28-27, 12-15) earn the #7 seed in the American Conference Championship beginning next week at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. Wichita State will take on #6 seed Florida Atlantic at noon Wednesday, May 20 in a single-elimination contest. If the Shockers win, the team will advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket against #3 seed Rice Thursday, May 21.

The Shocker men’s track and field team claimed its third American Conference Outdoor Championship Saturday at Norma Knobel Hunt Stadium.

Josh Parrish led the Shockers with 26.5 points, the most by any athlete in the competition, to be named the American Conference Championship Most Valuable Performer.

Learn more about CES for the summer 2026 semester:

• The evaluations are administered according to the course’s part-of-term dates.
• All CES email communication will come from WSU Evaluations. Every email includes information about the CES process and informs instructors of any action that needs to be completed.
• The CES Administrator programs the pre-determined dates for each process. This pre-determined schedule cannot be modified. The CES tasks are sent at midnight on the scheduled start date and will end at 11:59 p.m. on the scheduled end date.
• CES results will be available at the end of the semester and will continue to remain accessible afterwards. Results will only be available if there are four or more responses.
• There is a dedicated CES website that includes additional information.

President Rick Muma and First Gentleman Rick Case’s annual Christmas tree at the President’s Residence has been replanted on Wichita State’s campus in dedication to Lowell Kaufman, maintenance supervisor, and Logan Alexander, arborist, with Landscape and Ground Maintenance.

The tree, a blue atlas cedar, was dedicated in honor of Kaufman and Alexander for their joint efforts in supporting sustainability and maintaining the green spaces on campus. It now sits on the east side of Morrison Hall.

Vivian Zavataro, executive and creative director of the Ulrich Museum of Art, was recognized with the Mid-Career Professional Award from the American Alliance of Museums.

Established in 2026, the AAM Mid-Career Professional Award recognizes museum professionals with between 11 and 19 years of experience who are making an impact in their institutions, communities and the museum field. Awards recognize a specific achievement or body of work that has benefited the honoree’s home institution, community or broader museum field.

Dr. Nickolas Solomey, professor of mathematics, statistics and physics, was featured in “‘Like putting a microscope into the core of the sun’: World’s 1st space-based neutrino detector launches to orbit” on Space.com.

More than 2,400 Shockers were eligible for graduation in spring 2026. As they graduate from Wichita State University, they will share the story of Shocker Nation through their work.

Learn more about some of the graduates and their time at Wichita State and what they are looking forward to in their futures.

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships is closely monitoring federal aid changes resulting from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by congress last year. There are sweeping changes to Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans. The office asks that campus partners help encourage Shockers to get enrolled and stay enrolled by its priority date of July 1 to prevent delays with their fall financial aid.

With changes to federal regulations on aid offers effective July 1, starting in the 2026-27 school year, students in part-time status (11 to six credit hours in the semester for undergraduates, eight to five for graduate students) will receive a reduced amount of federal loan offers than students in full-time status (12 credit hours and over for undergraduates, nine or more credit hours for graduate students). Students who withdraw from hours during the semester may have their loans adjusted.

By finalizing their schedule by the priority date of July 1, students ensure they receive the correct loan packages, Pell Grants and other financial aid offers. If not, they may miss out on potential aid or face delays in receiving their aid.