Category: Featured Stories

The steel columns and beams rising on the east edge of the Innovation Campus will soon provide a physical centerpiece for the ongoing work of digital transformation at Wichita State University.

The National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation (NIRDT) will occupy the building at 18th Street and Oliver by spring 2023. Construction on the 37,000-square-foot building began in January.

Pamela Clancy Ammar and Alex Ammar were named recipients of the 2022 Fairmount Founders’ Award at the annual Fairmount Society dinner held on May 5 at Mark Arts. The WSU Foundation gives the award out annually to recognize those who provide outstanding service and generosity to Wichita State University.

“I have a soft place in my heart for Wichita State,” said Pam. “It’s near and dear to me and I want to see it thrive and continue to flourish.”

Continuing the Shocker Career Accelerator’s Thursdays with 3S series, Jordan Glover recounts his experience moving to Wichita from Kansas City, his internship with 3S, and the lessons he shares with his engineering mentees.

Credit Union of America was recognized today as a 2022 Champion for Wichita State’s College of Applied Studies, honoring its ongoing engagement and financial support of the future educators of Kansas. CUA has pledged an additional $250,000 to the college to continue funding the Corbin Connect program, ongoing technology needs, scholarships, and programming for CAS students.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University is helping Butler Community College students interested in furthering their business education with $40,000 in scholarships. These scholarships will help amplify and activate the coordinated “2+2” program between the two schools where Butler students can receive their associates degree and pursue a business degree at WSU.

Monday, you may have seen a 777 Freighter over the Wichita skies. It was the first test flight of the new NIAR WERX passenger-to-freighter conversion program.

WERX at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research has completed the first pre-modification baseline test flight for the Kansas Modification Center’s 777-300ERCF passenger-to-freighter conversion program. 

Today’s flight is the first in a series of flight tests scheduled to take place at Air Capital Flight Line over the next several weeks. 

FAA deputy administrator Bradley Mims visited the WERX MRO at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) Tuesday alongside U.S. Senator Jerry Moran.

Mims, a 40-year aviation industry veteran, toured the NIAR WERX and met with students, administrators and program directors for Kansas Modification Center’s 777-300ERCF conversion and other conversion programs underway at WERX.

His first visit to Wichita in 25 years, one of Mims’ goals was to understand the technical education needs of the industry. He met with WSU senior vice president for Industry and Defense Programs and NIAR executive director John Tomblin and WSU Tech president Sheree Utash, who detailed how NIAR WERX and WSU Tech have collaborated to implement the Get to WERX program This program provides tuition reimbursement for students seeking a certificate in aviation maintenance technology, while simultaneously working in paid positions with NIAR WERX.

“I want to get a feel for what’s going on in the industry in terms of making sure the next generation – next two generations – of young people are getting a technical education to make sure this industry continues to prosper,” Mims said. “On something like this 777 here, moving forward, I want to make sure that our young people are educated and ready to meet the demands for the future – whatever vocation they choose.”

Mims and Moran also toured portions of the NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS), next door to NIAR WERX at WSU’s South Oliver site. NIAR and global science company, Solvay, recently announced a partnership in which scientists and engineers at Solvay will be embedded at NIAR ATLAS, lending their expertise in material science while taking advantage of the unique state-of-the-art material development equipment at NIAR ATLAS.

“Mims already understands the importance of strong partnerships between industry, technical education and higher education,” said Tomblin. “Programs like those we have implemented at WSU, NIAR and WSU Tech can and should be duplicated across the nation in order to ensure the strength and power of the aviation industry in U.S.”

MagicHand, an anthropomorphic robotic hand designed by a Wichita State University engineering team, is participating in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program.

The MagicHand is designed to achieve various dexterous object manipulations, including object sorting, arranging and packaging. The MagicHand team began the seven-week path to commercialization in March.

The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has surpassed seven figures in annual scholarships for its students, with funds being distributed throughout the 2021-2022 season.

It’s the first time the Barton School has reached this major milestone, which was made possible by a collection of substantial funds given to the Barton School by generous donors and supporters.

This achievement is another example of how Wichita State prioritizes the goal of providing an accessible, affordable and impactful higher education for all students.