Author: Caelin Bragg

Wichita State University graduate student and high jumper Marissa Jensen loves staying busy, so she starts her days at 4 a.m.

She works as a coach at a cross-fit gym from 5 to 7 a.m. Then it is time for class and studies. Track and field practices takes up her afternoons.

Some WordPress websites hosted by Wichita State University will be temporarily unavailable for scheduled maintenance starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 23.

These websites, including those for the Shocker Blast newsletter, will be inaccessible while the server’s operating system is upgraded. These updates are substantial and could require up to four hours to complete.

The websites that will be unavailable while the updates are being made include, but are not limited to:

• news.wichita.edu
• ulrich.wichita.edu
• wichitastate.tv
• learn.wichita.edu
• police.wichita.edu
• openrecords.wichita.edu
• airlinequalityrating.wichita.edu
• badges.wichita.edu
• eoc.wichita.edu
• itstraining.wichita.edu
• kcee.wichita.edu
• kfbf.wichita.edu
• ksarn.org
• nasainkansas.org
• realestate.wichita.edu
• servicelearning.wichita.edu
• shockeripe.org
• somos.wichita.edu
• digiproj.wichita.edu
• wsubridges.org
• suspenders4hope.com

As noted previously, the Shocker Blast newsletter will be inaccessible during the scheduled time, which includes submitting items to the newsletters. Shocker Blast questions or submissions can be sent to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

For more information or questions on the scheduled maintenance, reach out to ITS at helpdesk@wichita.edu or 316-978-4357.

Some WordPress websites hosted by Wichita State University will be temporarily unavailable for scheduled maintenance starting around 8 a.m. Thursday, May 23.

These websites, including those for the WSU Today newsletter and general website support, will be inaccessible while the server’s operating system is upgraded. These updates are substantial and could require up to four hours to complete.

The websites that will be unavailable while the updates are being made include, but are not limited to:

• news.wichita.edu
• ulrich.wichita.edu
• wichitastate.tv
• learn.wichita.edu
• police.wichita.edu
• openrecords.wichita.edu
• airlinequalityrating.wichita.edu
• badges.wichita.edu
• eoc.wichita.edu
• itstraining.wichita.edu
• kcee.wichita.edu
• kfbf.wichita.edu
• ksarn.org
• nasainkansas.org
• realestate.wichita.edu
• servicelearning.wichita.edu
• shockeripe.org
• somos.wichita.edu
• digiproj.wichita.edu
• wsubridges.org
• suspenders4hope.com

As noted previously, the WSU Today newsletter will be inaccessible during the scheduled time, which includes submitting items to the newsletters. WSU Today questions or submissions can be sent to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

For more information or questions on the scheduled maintenance, reach out to ITS at helpdesk@wichita.edu or 316-978-4357.

Wichita State is one of 10 teams that advanced to the spring semester competition in the NASA SUITS (Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students) challenge. Teams are tasked to design and build an augmented reality heads-up display for astronauts on missions to Mars, as well as a web browser user interface for local mission control.

Yumi Kikuchi attended an information session in Devlin Hall for the NASA SUITS design challenge last fall. She considered passing on the opportunity.  

“I was like, ‘Wow, this sounds like a lot of work,’” she said. “I’m glad that didn’t discourage me.”  

Kikuchi, a graduate student in Wichita State University’s Master of Innovation Design (MID) program, is now co-leader of the nine-student group. She considers the experience an essential part of her time in the MID program. 

Those on campus starting Thursday, May 23 will notice an influx of visitors. We expect nearly 35,000 high school athletes and spectators on campus through Saturday, May 25 for 5A state baseball and softball (May 23-24) and state track (May 24-25).

For the state track events, tents and golf carts will be deployed across campus to assist visitors, but anyone who notices someone looking lost can use the information on the WSU state events webpage to guide our guests to the resources they need.

Participants and spectators for state events can also rest and relax at Wichita State Connect (formerly the Wonder School) May 24-25, where visitors can find air-conditioned resting areas, crafts and yard games, which are sponsored by Scheels, between events and throughout the day.

During these events, faculty and staff should plan accordingly for increased traffic on campus and closure of Perimeter Road north of Shocker Hall, near Cessna Stadium.

To view the schedule of events or to purchase tickets, visit the links below:

• State baseball
• State softball
• State track

Veterans are invited to join Veterans Upward Bound for a workshop on mental health from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23 in John Bardo Center, room EE264. Light refreshments will be provided.

Topics include, but aren’t limited to: stress management for the adult learner, knowing your learning style, how to find on campus mental health resources and suicide prevention. RSVP for the workshop by Wednesday, May 22.

Please note, these workshops are for veterans only. For questions, contact Shauntelle Thompson at shauntelle.thompson@wichita.edu or 316-978-7391, or call Veterans Upward Bound at 316-978-6742.

As Wichita State grad student Sai Karthik Garnepudi watched the Wichita State University Cricket Club grow in these past several years, the lack of a convenient place to play has limited its potential.

That has changed with the opening of a field at Dr. Glen Dey Park, located about two miles from campus, at 2801 N. Grove. The club held a groundbreaking in April and an opening ceremony May 17. Garnepudi, who is working on his doctoral degree in cybersecurity, said he hopes to hold matches starting this month.

Garnepudi started the project last fall with WSU Campus Recreation and Wichita Park & Recreation Director Troy Houtman. Campus Recreation paid for the concrete pad at the new field. Cricket is played on a circular area and requires a diameter of roughly 150 yards.

The Shocker Career Accelerator (SCA) is on the move. SCA moved to its new home in the Milly Marcus Annex at the Marcus Welcome Center earlier this month.

The relocation is part of the Marcus Welcome Center’s $5 million expansion and renovation project, infusing fresh, modern Wichita State vibes into the front door experience for future Shockers. The transformation extends to the new Milly Marcus Annex, now housing the Shocker Career Accelerator, facilitating impactful connections between students and employers. Additionally, the expansion introduces employer interview rooms tailored to meet students’ career advancement needs.

Guests visiting the Shocker Career Accelerator can enter through the new south entrance of the Marcus Welcome Center, which offers a direct view of the Innovation Campus. Alternatively, you can use the north entrance of the building.

Alongside the move, SCA is also excited to introduce its brand-new Career Ready Journey website. The website is designed to connect Wichita State students with career resources, empowering them to navigate their career journey confidently.

The SCA can’t wait to welcome campus to its new space in Suite 139 of Marcus Welcome Center, and an open house is scheduled to happen in the fall. Whether you’re a student seeking career guidance or faculty who want to explore its career resources, SCA is here to support you.

More than 2,400 Shockers were eligible for graduation in spring 2024. As they graduate from Wichita State, they will share the story of Shocker Nation through their work.

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

Stacy Christie was recently hired as the project director for the Wichita Biomedical Campus.

Stacy began her role in Facilities Planning on April 1 and helps with the coordination between Wichita State, University of Kansas and WSU Tech, along with the construction company.

She has worked at various architect firms for the last 20 years, including Tessere, Schaefer Architecture and HFG Architecture, and she earned her a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Kansas State University.

Stacy was also recently featured in the Wichita Business Journal’s “10 minutes with…” series (a subscription is required view the article).