Category: Kudos

In February 1986, a congressional resolution declared that Saturday, Feb. 28, 1986, should be designated as “National TRIO Day” to commemorate the annual achievement of the federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.

With a long history of 50 years, and an impressive portfolio of 10 TRIO programs, the Office of Special Programs (OSP) marked the whole month of February for celebrating the accomplishments of TRIO and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Wichita State and the larger community.

The 10 programs offered by OSP:

• The Communication Upward Bound
• Talent Search and Talents Search South
• Upward Bound Wichita Prep
• Upward Bound Math Science
• Disability Support Services
• Student Support Services
• McNair Scholars Program
• Educational Opportunity Centers
• Veterans Upward Bound
• Partnership GEAR UP program and the state-wide Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP program

The TRIO and GEAR UP programs at WSU primarily serve first-generation and low-income students primarily in Wichita Public schools and state-wide school districts. The programs cover students from middle school through high school and college.

Under the leadership of Deltha Colvin, associate vice president of college readiness and retention programs, and the WSU program administrators, the OSP has celebrated in several ways, such as hosting workshops for students and teachers, student recognition banquets, College Access, Retention and Success conferences, and, since 2019, community services.

For 2022-23, the OSP program highlights have included several community service opportunities for the students. The Talent Search programs have decided to continue spreading reading and literacy by participating in the community library program in the Wichita neighborhoods. Participants of the Educational Opportunity Centers program along with the Upward Bound Wichita Prep program staff and students have actively participated in the Operation Holiday program, through which needy families receive assistance. The Veterans Upward Bound program participants have celebrated the TRIO cause by volunteering at the Lord’s Diner during 2022.

The Haysville GEAR UP program organized a National TRIO/GEAR UP Day on November 11, 2022. About 306 students participated. The event consisted of presentations by WSU offices such as admissions and financial aid. Activities included a campus tour, college resource fair and TRIO workshops.

The Student Support Services program has used this celebration to promote social justice, diversity, and equity through retention through various student activities.

For more information, contact Colvin at deltha.colvin@wichita.edu.

In February 1986, a congressional resolution declared that Saturday, Feb. 28, 1986, should be designated as “National TRIO Day” to commemorate the annual achievement of the federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.

With a long history of 50 years, and an impressive portfolio of 10 TRIO programs, the Office of Special Programs (OSP) marked the whole month of February for celebrating the accomplishments of TRIO and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Wichita State and the larger community.

The 10 programs offered by OSP:

• The Communication Upward Bound
• Talent Search and Talents Search South
• Upward Bound Wichita Prep
• Upward Bound Math Science
• Disability Support Services
• Student Support Services
• McNair Scholars Program
• Educational Opportunity Centers
• Veterans Upward Bound
• Partnership GEAR UP program and the state-wide Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP program

The TRIO and GEAR UP programs at WSU primarily serve first-generation and low-income students primarily in Wichita Public schools and state-wide school districts. The programs cover students from middle school through high school and college.

Under the leadership of Deltha Colvin, associate vice president of college readiness and retention programs, and the WSU program administrators, the OSP has celebrated in several ways, such as hosting workshops for students and teachers, student recognition banquets, College Access, Retention and Success conferences, and, since 2019, community services.

For 2022-23, the OSP program highlights have included several community service opportunities for the students. The Talent Search programs have decided to continue spreading reading and literacy by participating in the community library program in the Wichita neighborhoods. Participants of the Educational Opportunity Centers program along with the Upward Bound Wichita Prep program staff and students have actively participated in the Operation Holiday program, through which needy families receive assistance. The Veterans Upward Bound program participants have celebrated the TRIO cause by volunteering at the Lord’s Diner during 2022.

The Haysville GEAR UP program organized a National TRIO/GEAR UP Day on November 11, 2022. About 306 students participated. The event consisted of presentations by WSU offices such as admissions and financial aid. Activities included a campus tour, college resource fair and TRIO workshops.

The Student Support Services program has used this celebration to promote social justice, diversity, and equity through retention through various student activities.

For more information, contact Colvin at deltha.colvin@wichita.edu.

In February 1986, a congressional resolution declared that Saturday, Feb. 28, 1986, should be designated as “National TRIO Day” to commemorate the annual achievement of the federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.

With a long history of 50 years, and an impressive portfolio of 10 TRIO programs, the Office of Special Programs (OSP) marked the whole month of February for celebrating the accomplishments of TRIO and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Wichita State and the larger community.

The 10 programs offered by OSP:

• The Communication Upward Bound
• Talent Search and Talents Search South
• Upward Bound Wichita Prep
• Upward Bound Math Science
• Disability Support Services
• Student Support Services
• McNair Scholars Program
• Educational Opportunity Centers
• Veterans Upward Bound
• Partnership GEAR UP program and the state-wide Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP program

The TRIO and GEAR UP programs at WSU primarily serve first-generation and low-income students primarily in Wichita Public schools and state-wide school districts. The programs cover students from middle school through high school and college.

Under the leadership of Deltha Colvin, associate vice president of college readiness and retention programs, and the WSU program administrators, the OSP has celebrated in several ways, such as hosting workshops for students and teachers, student recognition banquets, College Access, Retention and Success conferences, and, since 2019, community services.

For 2022-23, the OSP program highlights have included several community service opportunities for the students. The Talent Search programs have decided to continue spreading reading and literacy by participating in the community library program in the Wichita neighborhoods. Participants of the Educational Opportunity Centers program along with the Upward Bound Wichita Prep program staff and students have actively participated in the Operation Holiday program, through which needy families receive assistance. The Veterans Upward Bound program participants have celebrated the TRIO cause by volunteering at the Lord’s Diner during 2022.

The Haysville GEAR UP program organized a National TRIO/GEAR UP Day on November 11, 2022. About 306 students participated. The event consisted of presentations by WSU offices such as admissions and financial aid. Activities included a campus tour, college resource fair and TRIO workshops.

The Student Support Services program has used this celebration to promote social justice, diversity, and equity through retention through various student activities.

For more information, contact Colvin at deltha.colvin@wichita.edu.

The Capitol Graduate Research Summit took place in Topeka on March 22. Close to 50 graduate students from six Kansas public universities presented their research and how it contributes to the economic development of the state.

Two Wichita State students were awarded at the summit, including Kaitlyn Hemberger, English major, for her poster on cybersecurity intervention measures in educations for vulnerable refugee populations in Kansas, and Sarangan Rajendran, electrical and computer engineering major, for his poster on location planning of distributed energy resources based on the impact on transmission networks.

Their advisors were Dr. Mythili Menon and Dr. Visvakumar Aravinthan respectively.

The Capitol Graduate Research Summit took place in Topeka on March 22. Close to 50 graduate students from six Kansas public universities presented their research and how it contributes to the economic development of the state.

Two Wichita State students were awarded at the summit, including Kaitlyn Hemberger, English major, for her poster on cybersecurity intervention measures in educations for vulnerable refugee populations in Kansas, and Sarangan Rajendran, electrical and computer engineering major, for his poster on location planning of distributed energy resources based on the impact on transmission networks.

Their advisors were Dr. Mythili Menon and Dr. Visvakumar Aravinthan respectively.

Wichita State was recently recognized at the 10th annual Kansas Health Ethics Conference sponsored by the Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation.

WSU’s Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS) and the Suspenders4Hope program were awarded the Jiggs Nelson Quality of Life Award. Drs. Jessica Provines and Marci Young were present to receive the award, and they shared information about Suspenders4Hope and other services provided by the Student Wellness Center with the audience.

Sonja Armbruster, educator of public health sciences, received the Health Educator of the Year award.  Previous recipients include Carolyn Harrison, Dr. Francie Eckengren, Robert Miller and Deb McArthur.

It was the first time the conference was held in person since 2020, and it was an opportunity to reconnect with physical and mental healthcare providers across the community.

Wichita State nursing students on the WSU and Kansas State University campuses celebrated their Nightingale nursing commitment ceremonies on March 3. Students recited and signed the modern Nightingale pledge as a commitment to uphold the standards of the nursing profession. The milestone affirms the student’s dedication to the study of the discipline of nursing. The two ceremonies took place simultaneously in Wichita and Manhattan and were live streamed to include both locations.

The event’s speakers included Dr. Voncella McCleary-Jones, associate dean of the College of Health Professions, and Dr. Debra Pile, chair and associate dean for nursing practice, who gave opening remarks. Kris Hammer, recent graduate of the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program, followed as keynote speaker. Dr. Theresa Cooper, assistant teaching professor, acted as moderator and Dr. Maryon Habtemariam, associate teaching professor, led the reading of the pledge. Members of the Nurses Honor Guard attended both ceremonies.

This was the first Nightingale Ceremony for WSU nursing students on the KSU campus, which included the inaugural BSN class. The WSU nursing program is part of the dual-degree Pathway to Nursing program with KSU.

Over spring break, 31 students visited Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and New York City for a civil rights trip sponsored by Housing and Residence Life. The trip was spearheaded by Omarian Brantley, a resident assistant. He and a group of dedicated committee members were given the tools, resources and support to plan a Black history trip for the university.

During the break, they visited many locations, including the following landmarks:

• Obama’s home
• The Church that held Emmett Till’s funeral
• Ida B. Wells’ home
• South Side Community Art Center
• Nat King Cole’s home
• DuSable Museum (the nation’s first independent museum dedicated to Black history)
• Louis Armstrong’s home
• Monument to the Great Migration
• The Belmont Mansion
• 1985 MOVE bombing site
• The Stenton House
• Apollo Theater
• African Burial Ground
• The Gate of the Exonerated
• Howard University
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• The Lincoln Memorial
• Martin Luther King Jr monument

The group also got a chance to eat at African and soul food restaurants to support Black owned businesses.

Wichita State nursing students on the WSU and Kansas State University campuses celebrated their Nightingale nursing commitment ceremonies on March 3. Students recited and signed the modern Nightingale pledge as a commitment to uphold the standards of the nursing profession. The milestone affirms the student’s dedication to the study of the discipline of nursing. The two ceremonies took place simultaneously in Wichita and Manhattan and were live streamed to include both locations.

The event’s speakers included Dr. Voncella McCleary-Jones, associate dean of the College of Health Professions, and Dr. Debra Pile, chair and associate dean for nursing practice, who gave opening remarks. Kris Hammer, recent graduate of the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program, followed as keynote speaker. Dr. Theresa Cooper, assistant teaching professor, acted as moderator and Dr. Maryon Habtemariam, associate teaching professor, led the reading of the pledge. Members of the Nurses Honor Guard attended both ceremonies.

This was the first Nightingale Ceremony for WSU nursing students on the KSU campus, which included the inaugural BSN class. The WSU nursing program is part of the dual-degree Pathway to Nursing program with KSU.

Over spring break, 31 students visited Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and New York City for a civil rights trip sponsored by Housing and Residence Life. The trip was spearheaded by Omarian Brantley, a resident assistant. He and a group of dedicated committee members were given the tools, resources and support to plan a Black history trip for the university.

During the break, they visited many locations, including the following landmarks:

• Obama’s home
• The Church that held Emmett Till’s funeral
• Ida B. Wells’ home
• South Side Community Art Center
• Nat King Cole’s home
• DuSable Museum (the nation’s first independent museum dedicated to Black history)
• Louis Armstrong’s home
• Monument to the Great Migration
• The Belmont Mansion
• 1985 MOVE bombing site
• The Stenton House
• Apollo Theater
• African Burial Ground
• The Gate of the Exonerated
• Howard University
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• The Lincoln Memorial
• Martin Luther King Jr monument

The group also got a chance to eat at African and soul food restaurants to support Black owned businesses.