Author: Abigail Klein

The members of the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) received cookies as part of the Rick Rewards Presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 26.

Rick Rewards is a new program by President Rick Muma that launched in December 2021. The program allows President Muma to show his appreciation for the efforts of a member, or members, of the campus community.

SEM was selected because of its continued commitment to WSU’s strategic plan to grow enrollment. SEM’s ongoing efforts to make people aware of opportunities at WSU. including quality educational programs coupled with applied learning, have continued to help WSU prosper.

The SEM group is made up of various offices and departments including admission, financial aid, strategic communications, registrar and others that is charged with creating unique strategies to help grow WSU’s student body. It provides prospective students a seamless transition to Shocker Nation.

Six Wichita State University teams were selected as semi-finalists in the university’s sixth annual Koch Innovation Challenge Angel Round on Dec. 3.

Those six teams of Wichita State students advance to the Grand Champion competition in May. Each team is given $500 in investment capital to use for prototyping materials during the second semester, and each student is awarded a $1,000 Koch Innovation Challenge scholarship. A faculty innovation mentor will work with the teams as they pursue their big-idea venture.

Loren Huckstadt, 72, retired Wichita State police sergeant, passed away Jan. 22, after a courageous battle with Lymphoma. Loren served in the Marine Corps, and was a sharp-shooter, pilot, master gunsmith and historian. He was a WSU graduate, majoring in criminal justice and history. He earned numerous awards and certifications and was sought for his amazing knowledge of military history and weapons.

Loren is survived by his son, Len, and his wife, Alicia. 

Further expanding its presence as a diverse creative workspace at Wichita State University, GoCreate, a Koch collaborative, recently began offering free memberships to Wichita State students.

GoCreate is part of WSU’s Innovation Campus. The 18,000-square-foot makerspace is filled with a variety of machines and tools including laser-cutters, water jets, a quilt-maker and 3D printers.

College of Applied Studies faculty, staff are invited to a town hall with President Rick Muma 9-10 a.m. today, Jan. 28 via Zoom. Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Shirley Lefever will also be a featured guest.

College of Business faculty, staff are invited to a town hall with President Rick Muma 3:30-4:30 p.m. today, Jan. 26 via Zoom. Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Shirley Lefever will also be a featured guest.

Wichita State University has selected the top 14 finalists in the annual Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI):

• Salsabila Attaria, Wichita High School East
• Caden Carlson, Aurora High School (Nebraska)
• Charles Carter, Oak Park High School (Missouri)
• Josephina Cox, Dodge City High School
• Truc Dao, Wichita High School South
• Brynna Mays, Topeka West High School
• Stewart McClelland, Lloyd V Berkner High School (Texas)
• Audrey Menzies, Piper High School
• Bryson Murphy, Osage City High School
• Amy Nguyen, Wichita High School South
• Abby Otten, Basehor-Linwood High School
• Alexander Troth, Frontenac Jr./Sr. High School
• Ally Wiggs, Wichita County High School
• JC Wright, College Heights Christian School (Missouri)

Faculty and staff working in campus buildings after hours or on the weekends should contact the Wichita State University Police Department (WSUPD) if they notice any locked doors propped open. Propping locked doors open provides anyone on the campus access to secured university buildings. To prevent theft or damage to university buildings, don’t prop doors open.

For more information, contact the WSUPD at 316-978-3450.

The Faculty Senate meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. today via Zoom. The senators have been sent the meeting information. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please email Lee Ann Birdwell at leeann.birdwell@wichita.edu for the details.

All students have access to free COVID-19 testing through Student Health Services. You no longer need an appointment to be tested. The Student Wellness Center inside the Steve Clark YMCA is open for walk-in testing 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. See what else you need to know for walk-in testing. You can also see other testing options by visiting the Sedgwick County testing website.