Author: Sara Ornelas

As the fall 2021 semester begins, the 21 students in the inaugural class of Adelante Scholars have begun their careers as Wichita State University students.

The Adelante Scholarship was established in 2020 through a gift from Gene and Yolanda Camarena. It’s geared toward incoming freshmen and new transfer students. Preference is given to students who are of Black, Hispanic and Latino heritage with a minimum 3.0 grade point average and demonstrated financial need.

Starting fall 2022, any qualified high school senior who is a resident of Sedgwick County will be eligible to receive a scholarship covering unmet tuition and fee costs of attending Wichita State University.

That’s thanks to a new scholarship created by Wichita State called the Shocker Promise. Previously available to qualified students who live in the Shocker Neighborhood, this scholarship has now been extended to all eligible incoming first-time freshmen living in Sedgwick County.

At Wichita State, opportunities to learn and grow happen everywhere. Shocker 360 is an app that lets you log your beyond-the-classroom experiences, use them to earn points, and share them with potential employers. Now students can win prizes for the points they earn on Shocker 360.

• First 500 students to 100 points get a bound journal
• First 300 students to 150 points get a water flask  
• First 200 students to 200 points get Shocker Dining Dollars  
• First 100 to 250 get $50 in Shocker Store credit  
• First 10 to 300 get a party for six in Shocker Grill and Lanes
• Top 5 scores for the semester get JBL earbuds
• Top score for the semester gets an iPad

If you were unable to attend or watch live the 2021 Faculty and Staff Fall Address, you can watch a recording of the entire program.

President Richard Muma, with the assistance of several university representatives, outlined key focus areas for the coming year:

• Access and affordability
• Applied learning and digital transformation
• Interdisciplinary research

The Department of Defense (DoD) has designated South Kansas as a Defense Manufacturing Community (DMC), making the region eligible for $5 million through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation’s Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program. The initiative is led by Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR).

The annual faculty and staff fall address is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at the Beggs Ballroom located in the Rhatigan Student Center. The event will also be available via a YouTube livestream.

President Richard Muma, with the assistance of several university representatives, will outline key focus areas for the coming year:

• Access and affordability
• Applied learning and digital transformation
• Interdisciplinary research

It’s great to see so many Shocker faces on campus! Keep yourself safe and healthy, enjoy our beautiful campus, and best of luck this semester.

Hello, Shockers! After more than a year of virtual classes and Zoom meetings, it is with particular enthusiasm that I welcome you back to Wichita State! I look forward to seeing all your faces around campus, in meetings, and in our classrooms.

In this time of uncertainty around COVID-19, it’s particularly important that we take measures to promote and protect our own wellness, as well as the health of our loved ones and the community.

One such precaution you can take is getting vaccinated against COVID-19. As a licensed physician assistant myself, I have taken this step, and know these vaccines are an important part in ending the pandemic. We’ve made it easy for you to receive a vaccine at Student Health located in the Wellness Center. We are also requiring masks in our classrooms and labs, and we’re strongly recommending masks be worn in all other indoor spaces on campus. 

As we head into the fall semester, I hope you’ll also take some time to enjoy a meal in the RSC, take a stroll around our beautiful campus, and connect with other members of our Shocker family.

During the coming weeks and months, I look forward to talking with all of you about how we can work together to achieve our shared vision for Wichita State. I hope to see you in person or virtually at our annual faculty and staff fall address on Wednesday.

Again, welcome back, Shocker family. And best of luck in all your endeavors.

Go Shockers!

Amanda Phanivong, a Wichita State University senior studying integrated marketing communication, recently began a fellowship with the Kansas-based Storytime Village Inc. While working there with their marketing and special events cohort, Phanivong has fully embraced her time with the Storytime team.

With the start of a new academic year, I would like to welcome each of you to Wichita State University. Whether you are new to WSU or returning, we are happy you are here.

I know the stress associated with the pandemic has taken a toll on many of us. Please know the mental well-being of our students is important to me. I encourage you to protect your mental wellness and the mental health of others by talking openly about mental health, checking in on your fellow Shockers, and taking advantage of university resources. 

One way to do this is to complete the #WeSupportU Preventing Suicide training and becoming a #WeSupportU Mental Health Advocate for mental wellness at WSU. The training is free to all Shockers using a valid WSU e-mail address when creating a login. You will also receive a free Suspender4Hope shirt! Additional resources are available at the following links: 

• Counseling and Prevention Services is the on-campus mental health care provider for enrolled students. 
• The Care Team provides a proactive and supportive multidisciplinary team approach to prevention, assessment and intervention for students or employees. 

Again, welcome to campus, and best wishes for a very successful academic year!

Go Shockers! 

Dr. Shirley Lefever, interim provost