Featured Stories – Page 18

Darren DeFrain, associate professor of English at Wichita State University, shows off a page of the Vizling app, which will allow users to understand reading materials that rely on visual components to help tell a story or communicate information.

WSU professor wins Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant for work to assist the visually impaired

January 21, 2022 — The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a grant of $243,922 to a Wichita State University researcher for his work on an app that will allow people who are visually impaired to read comic books, graphic novels and other digitized graphic materials on their devices.

Members of Boeing pose around conference table.

Boeing 777-300ER Freighter Conversion Program achieves significant FAA milestone

January 21, 2022 — Wichita State University and Kansas Modification Center (KMC) have reached another significant milestone to advance the passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) WERX.

WSU, South Kansas in the running for up to $75 million in EDA awards

December 15, 2021 —

The U.S. Economic Development Administration recently awarded Wichita State University and South Kansas $500,000 to Build Back Better with the potential opportunity for a Phase 2 award of $25-75 million.

The Build Back Better Regional Challenge will provide $1 billion in American Rescue Act funding to invest in America’s communities. This historic investment supports bottom-up economic development focused on advancing equity, creating good-paying jobs, helping workers to develop in-demand skills, building economic resilience, and accelerating the economic recovery for the industries and communities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.

Henrion Hall renovations improve sculpture and foundry areas for art students

December 8, 2021 — The second phase of renovations is close to complete on Wichita State’s Henrion Hall, the 100-year-old building that houses WSU’s studio arts.

“It is paramount for our students to conduct art-making in classrooms that are tailored to the functionality and safety needs of the art we make,” said Tanna Burchinal, studio manager for the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries. “Each phase of Henrion Hall's renovations has addressed this. We are adding beauty back to this 100-year-old building, as well.”

Picture of two Wichita State College of Health Professions manikins.

College of Health Professions begins expansion of robotic-based clinical simulation technology

December 7, 2021 — The College of Health Professions (CHP) has initiated a major expansion to its clinical simulation capabilities. Students across the CHP’s clinical degree programs will have increased exposure to high-tech robotic simulated patients in preparation for treating humans.

Picture of three Wichita State students playing the French Horn.

Wichita State’s impact on arts and culture extends throughout Kansas

December 7, 2021 —

Arts at Wichita State University benefit the city and state in ways that range from tourism to education to mental wellness.

People enjoy the university's arts and culture community when they visit the Ulrich Museum of Art and benefit when a child participates in a class taught by Wichita State graduates. The Wichita Symphony Orchestra is staffed by many Wichita State professors and alumni, another example of the numerous interactions between the university and community.

More than 250 students have benefited from the applied learning experiences available through the digital twin program at Wichita State University's National Institute for Aviation Research.

Applied learning abounds within Wichita State’s digital twin program

December 6, 2021 — Since its inception, the National Institute for Aviation Research’s digital twin program has been rife with opportunities to progress research, digital transformation, engineering technology and sustainability efforts. It’s also been an important career steppingstone and training ground for more than 250 Wichita State University students, who have gained valuable applied learning experiences while working on the project.