Author: Caelin Bragg

Shocker men’s basketball senior guard Kenyon Giles was named to the American Preseason All-Conference First Team, as selected by the league’s coaches.

The Chesapeake, Virginia native is a UNC Greensboro transfer who averaged better than 15 points per game on 40% shooting from beyond the arc last season for the Spartans.

Giles is just the fourth Shocker to earn American Preseason All-Conference honors, and first since Tyson Etienne in 2021. Three of the four Shockers who have collected preseason American honors have been named to the first team (Giles, Etienne and Landry Shamet). Markis McDuffie was a second team pick in 2018.

Emilio Arellano Lamas earned his third consecutive top 10 individual finish as Shocker men’s golf took third in the Grier Jones Shocker Invitational Oct. 7.

The Shockers posted rounds of 292, 281, 292 for an 865 (+1) team score. Kansas City and St. Thomas both edged the Shockers with matching 862 (-2) performances to split the team title. The Shockers’ third-place finish is their third consecutive tournament finish in the top five, the first time Wichita State has posted three successive top-five finishes since the 2020-21 season.

Wichita State unveiled the newly named Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker during its annual Heritage Gala on Oct. 9, hosted by the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement in celebration of the 2025 alumni award recipients.

The support locker honors the legacy of Kiah Duggins ’17, who died earlier this year aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita to Washington, D.C. At the gala, Duggins was also posthumously awarded the 2025 Young Alumni Award.

As a student leader and co-founder of the original Shocker Food Locker, now located in the basement of the Shocker Success Center, Duggins was a passionate advocate for student support services during her time as chief of staff in student government. She went on to graduate from Harvard Law School in 2021 before beginning her career as a civil rights attorney in Washington, D.C.

To commemorate her legacy of promoting social justice, the 2024-25 administration of the WSU Student Government Association requested the university name the Shocker Support Locker in her honor. The naming was approved as of Oct. 8.

“Kiah was a remarkable Shocker whose passion for justice and care for others left a lasting mark on this university,” said Wichita State President Rick Muma. “She helped create the Shocker Support Locker because she believed every student deserved the resources to thrive. Naming it in her honor is a powerful reminder of her legacy, and it ensures her impact will continue to be felt by students for years to come.”

“Plugged In @ WSU” is the podcast that connects you to the tools, tips and support systems that power your success at Wichita State. Each episode features conversations with campus experts, faculty and students to highlight resources that help you stay on track, stay connected and make the most of your Shocker experience.

Learn about Success Coaching at WSU:

• Meet the success coaches
• What students say about Success Coaching

Remember, while Success Coaches are assigned to specific programs, you can meet with any of them. Find the coach who works best for you.

Shocktoberfest is Wichita State’s largest tradition held every year and features events for Shockers both current and former. Relive the best moments of this year’s Shocktoberfest, which culminated in a concert by Lupe Fiasco in Charles Koch Arena, and stay tuned for next year and keep up to date for other events happening year round by checking out the ShockerSync event calendar.

Wichita State’s Academe newsletter, highlighting faculty and staff achievements, is back after a five-year hiatus. The first edition published Oct. 9 and features faculty and staff from across the university over the last year, with a message from Dr. Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost.

Academe is published four times a year, and submissions from faculty and staff are always open. Visit wichita.edu/academesubmission and follow the instructions to submit items for Academe. The deadline for submissions to the next edition of Academe will be shared in a future edition of WSU Today.

If you have questions regarding submissions to Academe, reach out to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu or 316-978-3013.

Whether you need to take in some breathtaking views or want a variety of food options to choose from, head on over to Woolsey Hall to find the Food Truck Plaza and Promise Bridge.

Every day, find new food trucks to choose from and find a place anywhere on the Promise Bridge to enjoy a relaxing break from classes and studying.

Wichita State students earned a record-breaking $39.2 million through applied learning in the 2025 academic year — a powerful testament to WSU’s hands-on approach to career readiness and its role in strengthening the Kansas workforce.

That marks an 11% increase from the previous year’s $35.3 million. And more students than ever are receiving these opportunities, with 12,328 applied learning experiences — a 31% jump over last year’s 9,397 — through paid, resume-building work with area businesses, organizations, on-campus positions and Innovation Campus companies, all while still pursuing their degrees.

The record gains come as Wichita State’s celebrates its fifth straight year of enrollment growth, with more than 18,458 students enrolled at its main campus this fall. University leaders say the growth reflects the appeal of applied learning, which has become central to WSU’s mission of providing affordable education with real-world value.

“This work changes lives,” Wichita State President Rick Muma said. “Applied learning equips our students with the skills and competence to make immediate and meaningful contributions to their employers immediately after graduation.”

Join Wichita State President Rick Muma when he talks with women’s basketball Coach Terry Nooner and volleyball Coach Chris Lamb about their seasons, athletes and what it means to be part of Shocker Athletics.

Watch the episode on YouTube or listen on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or Apple Podcasts (iTunes).

Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are available.

Aunna Escalante, MSN, RN, Assistant Nursing Educator in the Ascension Via Christi – Wichita State University School of Nursing, was featured in “WSU Nursing Standardized Patient Program” on Good Day Kansas, KSN.