Category: Kudos

The Mortar Board organization at Wichita State received an Outstanding Achievement Award for on campus visibility. This award recognizes the achievements and accomplishments Mortar Board has achieved at WSU.

Along with winning the award, Mortar Board also received a Sliver Torch award this summer. These are outstanding achievements for the organization that wouldn’t be possible without the support and encouragement from the students and staff of WSU.

Michael Rogers, professor of human performance studies and director of the Center for Physical Activity and Aging, was featured in a Washington Post article about the benefits of intergenerational physical activity.

A subscription may be required to read the article.

Dr. Bobby Berry, assistant dean for diversity and outreach in the College of Applied Studies and assistant professor in the Department of Sport Management, has been chosen as one of the select participants for the 2023 Leadership Wichita Class.

This year’s class, consisting of 31 emerging leaders from South Central Kansas, coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Leadership Wichita program, an initiative by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce. Designed to nurture community engagement, the immersive program provides in-depth insights into crucial areas such as local governance, economic development, education and media.

Chase Billingham, associate professor and graduate program coordinator in the Department of Sociology, has been selected as the next book review editor for Kansas History: A Journal of the Central Plains.

The journal, produced at Kansas State University in collaboration with the Kansas Historical Foundation, is an esteemed, peer-reviewed outlet for new research on the history of Kansas and the surrounding Plains region of the United States. Billingham has previously published two articles on the history of Wichita in the journal.

The College of Health Professions (CHP) recently hosted the second annual Kansas High School Health Science Teacher’s Workshop, providing high school teachers with educational opportunities and insights into the latest industry topics.

The workshop featured speakers Dr. Sam Smith and Dr. Jennifer James from CHP, as well as Dr. Bassem Chehab and Dr. Brett Grizzell, leaders of the groundbreaking structural heart program at Ascension Via Christi, who presented about their innovative work on heart valve replacement technology and robotic surgery. The workshop also included a panel of Ascension Via Christi associates, led by former Shocker Ron Baker, who shared information about job opportunities, shadowing opportunities and community outreach.

Participants had the chance to tour cutting-edge laboratories in the CHP, including the Gross Anatomy Lab, Human Simulation Lab and School of Nursing Simulation Lab. The teachers received valuable resources and information to take back to their classrooms, with the goal of sparking interest in healthcare careers among young students.

Dr. Shuang Gu, associate professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering, contributed authorship to the cover article “Sustainable waste-nitrogen upcycling enabled by low-concentration nitrate electrodialysis and high-performance ammonia electrosynthesis” in the July 2023 issue of EES Catalysis.

The article was also co-authored by Pouya Ammari-Azar, a Wichita State Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, as well as faculty from Iowa State University.

Ashlee Villarreal, one of 18 students awarded the Rudd Scholarship, was featured in USA Today. Ashlee, Garden City High School grad, will start classes at Wichita State in fall 2023.

Each Rudd Scholar will receive a full-ride scholarship, which includes tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and considerable networking and coaching support along the way.

KSN featured Suspenders4Hope’s new Hope Kits in partnership with Comcare Community Crisis Center, providing them with a trial run of 250 of the Hope Kits. The kits are designed to bridge the gap between someone’s emergency psychiatric care and their next outpatient visit.

Suspenders4Hope launched in 2015 with the goal of providing mental health resources to WSU’s student body. Suspenders4Hope is a comprehensive, strategic approach to promoting mental health wellness, preventing suicide, substance abuse and sexual violence. By showcasing real stories of hope, help-seeking and resiliency, Suspenders4Hope aims to increase connections and end the stigma surrounding mental health.

Jolynn Dowling, associate educator, and Janice M. Riordan, Distinguished Professor in Maternal Child Health in the School of Nursing, contributed authorship to the article “Electronic Monitoring of Mom’s Schedule (eMOMS): A Qualitative Study of Experiences in a Lifestyle Change Program with Lactation Support” in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

A subscription may be required to view the article.

Dowling will also co-present with the lead investigator on the topic at the International Lactation Consultant Association Conference in August.

KWCH spoke with Calvin Cupp, head coach for Shocker Rowing, who explained the history behind the Shocker Rowing program and how it has evolved. Cupp also shared what the program offers to students and the community, including the Boats & Bikes business.

KWCH also spoke with students in the program, who discussed the experience and their motivations to join the team.

“That student experience as an athletic experience is still at the core of it,” Cupp said. “… We’re pretty integrated into what’s happening here (in Wichita), because we want to make an impact, not just with our student athletes, but also with our community and the citizens.”