Category: News

The 2025 Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol features up to 40 students from all Kansas Board of Regents institutions, including five from Wichita State.

Students, faculty, Kansas Board of Regents members, state lawmakers and members of the public are invited to visit the Capitol Rotunda from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 to view the students’ presentations.

Student presenters from WSU:

• Sejun Moon
  Major: Computer science
  Project title: “Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Approach for Robot Teaming in Mars Exploration”
  Faculty mentor: Dr. Fujian Yan, assistant teaching professor, School of Computing
• Diego Fuentealba
  Major: Aerospace engineering
  Project title: “Robust and Scalable Quantum Repeaters using Machine Learning”
  Faculty mentors: Dr. James Steck, professor, Department of Aero Space Engineering; and Dr. Elizabeth Behrman, professor, Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
• Daniel Reichart
  Major: Aerospace engineering and physics
  Project title: “Simulation of Solar Wind Charged Particle Energy Deposited and Particle Identification by ΔE-E Discrimination in the SNAPPY Cubesat Detector”
  Faculty mentor: Dr. Nickolas Solomey, professor, Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
• Lille Nightingale
  Major: Dance
  Project title: “Embodied Research on the Physical and Emotional Challenges Wildebeests Face While Migrating”
  Faculty mentors: Denise Celestin, professor; Cheyla Clawson Chandler, director for the School of Performing Arts and associate professor; Mina Estrada, assistant professor; Sabrina Vasquez, senior educator; School of Performing Arts
• Anna Brake
  Major: Honors Baccalaureate, concentration in biology and public health sciences, second major in biology
  Project title: “Increasing Obstetrics Care Access in Rural and Underserved Areas: The Effect of Health Literacy Levels and Age on Fetal Monitoring Device Acceptability”
  Faculty mentor: Dr. Nikki Keene Woods, interim chair and professor, Department of Public Health Sciences.

For questions about the 2025 Research Days at the Capital, contact Dr. Michael Birzer, director of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub, at michael.birzer@wichita.edu

Wichita State and its College of Applied Studies are leading efforts to improve literacy education across Kansas through structured literacy initiatives and teacher preparation programs. A recently awarded AmeriCorps planning grant will support the launch of the READ Initiative, providing structured literacy support in underserved elementary schools.

Additionally, the CLEAR Initiative, launching in spring 2025, will serve as a statewide hub for literacy research, educator training and direct student support. WSU is also partnering with KBOR institutions and Washburn University to develop new graduate-level coursework for in-service teachers. These efforts align with the Blueprint for Literacy Kansas legislation, ensuring students and educators have access to high-quality literacy education.

Several events organized by the College of Engineering to celebrate National Engineers Week this week have been impacted by the weather:

• The Vision Boards event for students that was scheduled for the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 18 has been cancelled.
• An event later in the evening for students, staff and faculty, “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader,” has been postponed
• Additionally, an event for area high school students, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED), that was scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, has been postponed.

Further information will be provided once postponed events have been rescheduled.

The Japanese Culture Association’s annual haiku contest is now open to submissions in both English and Japanese. Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry that consists of three lines following a 5-7-5 sentence pattern. Traditionally, haiku were most commonly written about nature, often containing a “kigo,” or seasonal word. For the Photo Haiku Contest, we ask that you also submit an image to accompany your poem. Drawings or photographs are both accepted. While AI can be used to create the image, the poem itself should be an original poem.

Prizes will be given to the first-place winner in each category. Entries will be accepted through March 31, and winners will be announced in person at the Japan Festival April 11 in the RSC. Prize winners will also be announced on the submission page on Padlet following the festival.

For questions, email Jennifer Musaji at jennifer.musaji@gmail.com.

Students are requested to provide updated information to WSU anytime there is a change to contact information. This includes mailing address, phone number and emergency contact. It is especially important that you provide and update an emergency contact.

The person you list will only be contacted in the event of a health or safety emergency in which you are personally involved. If you live on campus, this will also be the person contacted should you be reported as missing. You may list a parent, family member, spouse, or other trusted individual as your emergency contact. You will find the link to your profile page on the myWSU Home tab, under Student Tools > myContact Info. A separate link there also provides an opportunity to update self-reported military affiliation.

Please take a few minutes right now and ensure WSU has your updated information and an emergency contact.

On Thursday, Feb. 20, the College of Engineering will host about 200 high school students for the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) event, commonly known as Girl Day. The event will be from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the majority of the event will be in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center (RSC), Beggs Ballroom. The second floor of the RSC will also be utilized from about 11 a.m. to noon. Although a private event, WSU students, staff and faculty are encouraged to have positive interactions with high school students, educators and event volunteers when in common areas.

According to the College of Engineering, IGED is a national event that takes place during National Engineers Week. IGED events inspire and encourage young students to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields through mentorship with professional and collegiate role models.

If you are using or would like to use open/alternative texts (OAT) in your course, fill out the OAT-Z (zero cost) form or OAT-L ($50 or less) form. The deadline to submit a form for the fall semester is Saturday, Feb. 15. Students will be able to see your OAT designation in the schedule.

For more information on OAT courses and materials, visit the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative webpage.

Faculty and staff are invited to try F45 classes in the Heskett Center for free from Feb. 12 through Feb. 22. This is a chance to experience dynamic, team-based workouts designed to boost your energy, improve your fitness and elevate your work life and health

Discover how F45’s workouts can help you reduce stress, improve focus and feel your best — both on and off campus. Reserve your spot now. Space in class is limited.

Class times:

• Monday-Thursday: 6:15 a.m., noon, 5:15 p.m., 7:15 p.m.
• Friday: 6:15 a.m., noon, 5:15 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 1:15 p.m.

Bonus offer: Sign up for payroll deduction during this special week and receive a complimentary body composition scan to personalize your fitness journey.

Student Engagement & Belonging is happy to announce its 13th annual Shocker Leadership Awards committee is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 academic year. The award recognizes student organizations and student leaders, faculty and staff for their contributions to student engagement and belonging on campus.

All registered student organizations and university affiliated groups are eligible to apply.

The award categories are as follows:

Individual awards

• RSO President of the Year
• Advisor of the Year

Organization awards

• Commitment to Belonging
• Commitment to Civic Mindedness
• Co-Sponsored Program of the Year
• Educational Program of the Year
• Large Student Organization of the Year
• New Program of the Year
• New Student Organization of the Year
• Outstanding Program of the Year
• Small Student Organization of the Year

For more information on the specific requirements for each award and to apply, visit Student Engagement & Belonging’s website. The deadline for applications is by 11:59 p.m. Friday, March 7.

Wichita State’s College of Applied Studies (CAS) has officially launched Sigma Chi Alpha, a new chapter of the Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International (CSI). Founded by Dr. Mahsa Maghsoudi, the chapter aims to promote scholarship, leadership and excellence in counseling.

The inaugural initiation ceremony on Feb 1 welcomed new officers and members at the W.I.S.E. Counseling and Play Therapy Clinic.