Author: Kim Kufahl

Ryan Summerlin, a senior sport management major at Wichita State, spent his summer as a sport management intern at Ballparks of America in Branson, Missouri. His internship provided an immersive experience in various aspects of the sport industry, from event management and public relations to facility maintenance and crisis management.

Are you interested in gaining career experience with the U.S. federal government? Join Shocker Career Accelerator for an info session about the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program, hosted by HACU program manager Lorena Del Valle Lopez, at noon Friday, Oct. 11 in 203 Rhatigan Student Center, Lancelot Room.

HACU offers both virtual and onsite internships, along with workshops and webinars to boost your career development.

The Shocker Career Accelerator office will be closed starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 as it hosts the Engineering & IT Career Fair from 2 to 5 p.m. on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center.

SCA encourages everyone to take advantage of the event, offering students the chance to connect with top employers in the engineering and IT fields.

Nataleigh Holguin, a Wichita State student majoring in marketing, took a leap this summer that many only dream of. For ten transformative weeks, Nataleigh left her Kansas roots behind to intern with Hasbro in Rhode Island — a far cry from the familiar surroundings of her college life. Working with Hasbro’s Action Brands team, she contributed to globally recognized franchises like Transformers, G.I. Joe, Star Wars and Marvel.

In her role as a marketing/events intern, Nataleigh experienced firsthand the inner workings of a major corporation. Highlights of her internship included analyzing sales data, presenting her findings to Hasbro’s senior leadership team, and developing a presentation on social media marketing that further enhanced her skill set.

Rafael Guereque, a junior at Wichita State, is a first-generation college student from Hugoton, Kansas, who is already gaining real-world experience in his chosen field of forensic science. Rafael is now interning with the Wichita Police Department. His work involves riding along with police officers and collaborating with forensic scientists. For Rafael, this hands-on experience is a critical part of his education.

“I’m excited to get some real-world experience in my field of study and to see how each aspect of law enforcement works together to ensure proficient and proper results,” Rafael said. This internship allowed him to observe how theory translates into practice and provides him the chance to build strong professional connections within the police department. Rafael hopes to refine his skills in writing professional reports — an essential part of his future career. “I’m already a strong writer, but there is a clear difference between writing an essay for class and writing a report for my career. I’ve always believed the best way to learn a job is to do it yourself,” he said.

The Shocker Career Accelerator will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 to host the annual Fine Arts Career Mixer. Students are encouraged to attend the event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Attendees can enter the event through the second-floor skywalk at McKnight Art Center. Don’t miss this chance to help your students network and explore their career paths.

The Shocker Career Accelerator is excited to announce that this year’s Career Connection Root Beer Kegger, held Aug. 28, was a remarkable success. 1,205 Wichita State students joined the fun, and the event also welcomed 41 employers.

Shocker Career Accelerator wants to thank the employers, students, outstanding faculty support and the entire campus community for coming together and making this event a success.

Do you lack the resources to provide students with experiences that employers value? Wichita State is excited to announce the State of Kansas Applied Learning Funds are now open for applications. This game-changer will supercharge WSU student success and boost the Kansas economy.

Here’s why you should be excited:

• Empower your students: These funds can help you directly integrate cutting-edge work-based learning experiences into your curriculum. Imagine your students gaining invaluable, real-world skills while tackling meaningful projects. They’ll graduate job-ready and with a competitive edge.
• Fuel the Kansas economy: Equipping graduates with the skills businesses desperately need directly contributes to a stronger Kansas talent pipeline. These funds can help you bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring our graduates are ready to hit the ground running and make a lasting impact.
• Ignite student engagement: Let’s face it, learning by doing is where it’s at. Applied learning experiences are engaging and hands-on, allowing students to apply their knowledge in real time. Our students will be motivated, inspired and eager to succeed.

Who can apply? WSU colleges and departments are invited to submit proposals. Special attention will be given to programs traditionally lacking access to paid applied learning opportunities.

What are the funding priorities?

• Areas of greatest need: These funds are designed to level the playing field. Proposals that address areas with limited access to paid applied learning experiences will be prioritized.
• Academic alignment: The work-based experience needs to seamlessly connect with your academic program, ensuring students are building valuable bridges between theory and practice.
• Data-driven approach: The ability to collect data on your program’s effectiveness is crucial. This helps us ensure these funds have a lasting positive impact on student success.

The Shocker Career Accelerator will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28. During this time, the Shocker Career Accelerator encourages students to join the Career Connection Root Beer Kegger from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the East Hubbard Hall Lawn.

Shocker Central is now live for students. Faculty and staff access will be available soon — stay tuned for more details. In the meantime, help spread the word by sharing the exciting news with your students.

Shocker Central is your gateway to on-campus employment, internships and full-time career opportunities. Connect with the Shocker Career Accelerator, register for career fairs and events, and much more.

With Shocker Central, you can:

• Receive daily or weekly updates with new opportunities tailored to your preferences
• Access the latest schedule of workshops, career fairs and events
• Manage your resumes, cover letters and other application documents
• Schedule appointments with Career Coaches
• Search and apply for job postings

Unlock your potential at wichita.12twenty.com.

• Click on “Log in with your Shocker Central SSO”
• Log in with your myWSUID@wichita.edu and password
• Join the Shocker Central Platform and sign up
• Complete the “Please tell us a little bit about yourself…” section

Need additional help? If you have questions or need more information about Shocker Central, call the Shocker Career Accelerator at 316-978-3688 or email SCA@wichita.edu.