Author: Kim Kufahl

The brand-new Shocker Career Accelerator Resource Library is now live in Shocker Central and ready for you to explore. Whether you’re crafting the perfect resume, preparing for interviews or planning your next career move, Shocker Career Accelerator has all the tools you need in one place.

It’s the ultimate destination for all things career-related — just one click away. Check it out, explore the tools and see how it can help you reach your goals. It’s a perfect place to kickstart your career journey. Check out the Resource Library today!

The Shocker Career Accelerator will be closed from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 for a staff retreat. The office appreciates your understanding and looks forward to assisting you when it reopens in the afternoon.

Ashlyn Riggs, a senior in Wichita State’s online Teacher Apprentice Program™ (TAP), is not just working toward her Bachelor of Arts in early childhood unified/elementary education — she’s already living her dream of becoming a teacher. Originally from Cheney, Kansas, Ashlyn benefits from WSU’s forward-thinking TAP, which blends academic advancement with hands-on classroom experience, allowing her to apply what she learns in real-time while earning her degree.

As the lead substitute teacher at WSU’s Child Development Center (CDC), Ashlyn steps into the shoes of lead teachers when they’re absent, working with children ranging from birth to pre-K. “I love being able to be part of a program that works around my work schedule so I can gain on-the-job experience while also taking classes at my own convenience,” she shares.

Lauren Coffman, a current biomedical engineering student, has always been fascinated by space. Her childhood interest turned into a reality when she secured a NASA Pathways Internship in human health and performance at Johnson Space Center (JSC). From an early love of space exploration to landing an internship with NASA, Lauren’s journey has been filled with determination, hard work and guidance from her mentors at Wichita State.

This past summer, Lauren completed her first NASA Office of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (O-STEM) internship at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH). During her time there, she developed procedures for biomedical equipment used in commercial spaceflight, tested these procedures with her team, managed biosample collections from astronauts and organized biomedical hardware as it moved across institutions. Now, in her current Pathways role, Lauren focuses on ensuring astronaut safety through the development of supplemental materials for biomedical equipment, certifying medical devices and analyzing countermeasures for spaceflight. “A majority of my day is spent analyzing problems with equipment and designing solutions for efficient spaceflight,” she explains.

Ready to level up your career? The Shocker Career Accelerator is excited to announce the Virtual Internship Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 on Handshake.

Wichita State is teaming up with Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Kansas, Washburn University, Emporia State University and more to bring you a bigger pool of employers to connect with.

At the fair, you’ll be able to:

• Meet with tons of employers in group sessions or one on one chats
• Discover a variety of internships tailored just for you

How to get started:

• Register on Handshake and check out the list of awesome employers who are attending. 
• Sign up for sessions with employers before the fair. If you don’t sign up, you won’t be able to chat with employers during the fair.

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.