USPS December 2024 postmark for Santa Claus, Indiana 47579 depicting Santa Claus emerging from a wrapped present near a decorated Christmas tree.

Once again, it is time for Old Saint Nick to make his holiday deliveries. For those who are anxiously awaiting his arrival, you can arrange for Santa to send a letter reminding them to be patient and that he’s planning to visit on Christmas Eve.

Visit the WSU Post Office in Morrison Hall to make sure Santa gets the right letters to the right kids. If there’s a child who needs something a little different than what’s listed on the Post Office webpage, call 316-978-3550 or stop by during office hours from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information about other letters children can get from Santa.

Santa letters will be available at the WSU Post Office for three weeks beginning Monday, Nov. 25 and no later than Dec. 16. Each letter has a fee of $2, cash or check, for postage.

On Friday, Nov. 22, the College of Engineering will host about 200 high school students and an additional 300 or so parents and guests for the Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE) competition. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second and third floors of the Rhatigan Student Center with optional events from 1:15 to 3 p.m. in the John Bardo Center. Parking lots 24 and 25 will be reserved for competition participants and guests starting at 7 a.m. the day of the event, and signage near the lots will alert drivers accordingly.

Although a private event, staff and faculty are encouraged to have positive interactions with students, parents and event volunteers when in common areas. WISE is a competition held each fall for eligible high school seniors interested in studying engineering or computing at Wichita State. The 10 winners of the 2024 WISE competition will be awarded $30,500 Wallace Scholarships.

First Place winner Mary Peterson receiving a certificate from Graduate school Dean Coleen Pugh.

The winners of Wichita State’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, held Nov. 15, have been announced. The event showcased innovative research by graduate students, who were tasked with presenting their complex work in just three minutes to a general audience.

First place: Mary Peterson, a master’s student in electrical engineering, earned the top award with the presentation, “Equity for Solar Energy Investments.” Advised by Dr. Visvakumar Aravinthan, the research highlights ways to increase accessibility and fairness in solar energy investments. Mary will represent WSU at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools’ 3MT competition in the spring.

First runner-up: Reilly Jensen, a master’s student in biomedical engineering, achieved first runner-up recognition with the presentation, “Beyond CT and MRI: Towards Real-Time Brain Hemorrhage Detection with Radio Frequency Resonators.” This research, advised by Dr. Kim Cluff, focuses on advancing medical diagnostics for faster and more effective brain hemorrhage detection.

Second runner-up: Jenna Ercolani, a master’s student in industrial engineering, received second runner-up honors for the presentation, “Analysis and Modeling of Workload within Emergency Medical Services.” Under the guidance of Dr. Laila Cure, the research provides insights into improving efficiency in emergency medical operations.

This year’s 3MT competition brought together students, faculty, staff and judges to celebrate the creativity, research and communication skills of WSU’s graduate students. Congratulations to all participants for making the event a success.

GoCreate technician Ryan Holle works with community members to build and personalize Little Free Libraries for installation across the city.

Wichita State University’s GoCreate, a Koch Collaborative, was named a Literary Legacy Honoree recently at Storytime Village’s 2024 Read and Rise Breakfast Gala. GoCreate, a community makerspace on campus, worked with Storytime Village to build 40 Little Free Libraries. GoCreate technicians, mentors and student assistants then collaborated with various community organizations and advocates to personalize the mini self-serve libraries that operate on the honor system. The libraries have been installed throughout the city. The award was accepted by Kim McCollum, GoCreate assistant director, and Ken Wiseman, facility manager.

“It was a no-brainer for us to work with the Little Free Libraries program,” Wiseman said. “The program gives community members access to a variety of different types of reading materials, empowering the community and allowing us and other community members the opportunity to pay it forward.”

Join SHPEtinas and Society of Women Engineers as they partner to support Harbor House, a shelter for women and children escaping abusive households. Harbor House provides safety and essential resources, including personal care items, cleaning supplies and housing essentials, to help families transition to independent living.

This holiday season, they also need gifts to brighten families’ holidays. Parents can select gifts for their children (babies to teens) and vice versa.

Here’s how to help:

  • Bake sale: Visit them from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19-20 at the RSC to enjoy baked goods. They will accept both supply donations and money contributions in exchange for treats.
  • Donation drop box: Drop off supplies and gifts in the Partnership 2 building. Donations will be accepted all week.

Check out Stuff the Box Wishlist for a list of needed items and help make a difference,

Join us in celebrating Online and Adult Learner Student Week, November 18-22

November is a month of celebration as it marks National Distance Learning Week and National Non-Traditional Week. Whether online and adult learner students are pursuing their studies from a distance or embracing non-traditional paths, these students are a true testament to the power of dedication, resilience and hard work. The Office of Online and Adult Learning (OAL) invites you to join in honoring their inspiring achievements and continued success.

Throughout the week, the OAL office will share the stories of these remarkable online and adult learner students making waves in their academic journeys:

  • Sara Rhodes
  • Scott St. Claire
  • Steve Curbelo
  • Mia Baldassano
  • Ben Sauceda

Professional staff from Student Outreach & Support will be out of the office Nov. 17-21 attending the NaBITA annual conference in Palm Beach. The office will remain open for those needing assistance and will be staffed by student workers.

If you reach out to professional staff directly during this time, note that there will be a delay in response. If you have a concern for a student, submit a CARE report at wichita.edu/care.

Image of computer and technology to reflect computer support

Need technical help with your computer? Check out the new and improved ITS Desktop Support site (wichita.edu/desktoptickets). By using this resource, you will gain easy access to create tickets for computer repair, as well as useful links and a news section with updates on system status.

A shortcut to this site will be sent to the desktop of your WSU computer on Nov. 19 for easier access. Simply click on the shortcut labeled “Computer Support Ticket” on your desktop, and your default browser will launch the site. Note: You will be asked to sign in if you are using a browser other than Edge.

If you have any questions, contact the helpdesk at 316-978-4357, Option 1.

Shocker Store. Holiday Hustle Sale. November 18-23. Rhatigan Student Center Store. Start your holiday shopping early with a new deal each day!

Start your shopping early with the Shocker Store’s Holiday Hustle Sale. Visit the Rhatigan Student Center store Nov. 18-23 for a different sale each day. Follow along on social media to see the individual day’s sale items. Don’t miss out, as each day’s sale is only valid that individual day.

Schedule:

  • Monday, Nov. 18: 25% off drinkware
  • Tuesday, Nov. 19: 25% off headwear
  • Wednesday, Nov. 20: 25% off kids apparel
  • Thursday, Nov. 21: 25% off shorts and pants
  • Friday, Nov. 22: 25% off T-shirts
  • Saturday, Nov. 23: 25% off hoodies and crews
Shocker Store. Free WSU Bear with $75 Purchase. Valid at RSC, Braeburn Square and shockerstore.com

Now while supplies last, get a free WSU bear from the Shocker Store. Spend $75 in store at the Rhatigan Student Center or Braeburn Square locations or online at shockerstore.com and get a cuddly, Shocker friend.

Limit one bear per customer, per visit. Merchandise sub-total must be $75 or greater.