Author: Angela Paul

Find the Spark membership requirements and your favorite interest group on the Spark website. All members and potential members are welcome to this free event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

These vendors will be available with gifts and other merchandise for purchase:

• Fuse and Fiber by Anne Marie Brown. Handcrafted fused glass and textile art. One-of-a-kind pieces for gifts or for you.
• Angie’s Closet by Angie Linder. Paparazzi Jewelry, custom lanyards, pens, keychains, women’s accessories, plus a side table for gently used WSU clothing.
• Cards by Lisa by Lisa Pappas. Homemade cards for all occasions. Send a card and make someone’s day better.
• The Sigh and Flutter by Julie Ann Baker Brin. New, full-length book of poetry with rave reviews that makes a lovely gift.

Contact spark@wichita.edu with questions.

The 2026 Spark Membership Drive and Vendor Fair will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. Find the Spark membership requirements and find your favorite interest group on the Spark website. All members and potential members are welcome to this free event. For questions, contact spark@wichita.edu.

Would you like to sell your crafts or promote your side business? You can complete the vendor form by Wednesday, Sept. 9, which will help the Spark board make sure everyone has a wonderful experience. Vendors must be Spark members at the time of the event. If you have questions or any suggestions about making this a better experience for you and your customers, contact spark@wichita.edu.

Membership in the Spark Society, a social and philanthropic group, is open to all WSU employees, WSU affiliated and auxiliary corporation employees, and their spouses.

Annual dues are $12 and membership runs the fiscal year of July-June. Social events are typically monthly and may be held as a lunch activity or in the evenings.

Spark Members may join or start a new interest group. Current interest groups are Book Club (meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday each month), Friends & Food (meets for Sunday evening dinners once per month), Lunch Bunch (meets on fourth Monday each month) and New Members (evening and weekend events).

Find your new friends at the Membership Drive and Vendor Fair from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom.

Contact the Spark Society at spark@wichita.edu with questions. Membership may be retained after retirement or leaving WSU employment.

Join librarians and FYS instructors for a lively discussion about “The Shape of Ideas: An Illustrated Exploration of Creativity” by Grant Snider during the WSU Common Read for the 2026-27 school year.

Explore themes from the book and ideas for classroom engagement. Discussion will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Aug. 6 in the Digital Scholar Commons in Ablah Library. Light refreshments served. Open to the entire WSU community. Registration is optional. All registered attendees will receive an email reminder.

The Wichita State Spark Society is open to WSU and auxiliary corporation employees and their partners/spouses.

This year’s drive is also a Spark member vendor fair. Spark members who sell crafts or have a side business may set up a table at the membership drive and promote their wares or services. If you would like to sell your crafts or promote your side business at this event, complete the vendor fair sign-up form before Sept. 8.

The 2026 Spark membership drive is a come-and-go event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. Send questions to Angela Paul at 316-978-5084 or spark@wichita.edu.

Join WSU Spark Society any time throughout the year. Your $12 annual dues (July through June) not only help Spark fund events like bingo (scheduled next on Feb. 18) but also supplements the Spark Scholarship Fund. Join to make cross-campus connections and stay for the friendship and good times. Membership includes the opportunity to attend Spark events and activities organized by these interest groups:

• Book Club
• Friends & Food
• Lunch Bunch
• New Members
• Theatre

Go to the WSU Spark Society membership page for eligibility conditions and the membership form. Interest groups may be selected on the form.

First-Year Seminar students this year will read “Eat Like a Fish” by Bren Smith for Wichita State’s Common Read at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30 in 141 Woolsey Hall, Fidelity Bank Ballroom. Join Sean Lynott, regional fisheries supervisor with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to learn more about fisheries management in Kansas with an eye to the future.

An overview will be provided of current fisheries practices and how they ensure sustainable use of fish and their environments. The general WSU community is welcome. A drawing for students will be held for a beginner fishing rod and gear (must be present to win).

SPARK (formerly Women of WSU) is now accepting memberships. Membership has expanded to be more inclusive of all the employees at WSU, WSU affiliates and their spouses, regardless of gender. The price remains $12 for a year of “Social, Philanthropic, Activities, Relationships and Kindness.”

SPARK provides scholarships to WSU students and fosters a sense of community through the spirit of friendliness and support. Several interest groups are offered and may be selected for free on the payment page. Proposals for new groups are welcome

Go to the section menu on the SPARK website for details about interest groups, events and membership. Contact Angela Paul, VP of membership, at angela.paul@wichita.edu, spark@wichita.edu or 316-978-5084.

Membership is open to all WSU employees, WSU affiliates and their spouses, regardless of gender. The price remains $12 for a year of Social, Philanthropic, Activities, Relationships and Kindness. Hear more about activities planned for the year at the membership drive from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4 at the President’s Residence.

SPARK’s mission has not changed, just expanded to be more inclusive of all the employees at WSU. Contact Angela Paul, VP of membership, at angela.paul@wichita.edu or 316-978-5084.

Have a book that you would like to suggest for consideration for the Wichita State Common Read program? Send in your nominations for the next common read book for the 2026-27 school year.

Wichita State Common Read is the university’s common read program designed to spark conversation between students across majors on campus. The program strives to take educational concepts learned in the classroom and provide meaningful connections with out-of-the-classroom programs and activities. The WSU Common Read Committee will be convening in spring to review nominations.