Category: News

Alce su Voz’s latest policy paper, “Enhancing Infrastructure for Equitable Healthcare Language Access Services in Kansas,” examines laws regarding language access in healthcare, highlights findings from the study on the gaps in language access services in Kansas and provides recommendations for meaningful improvements toward a healthier state.

Join in welcoming Carmen Ortiz and Shasta Steinert to the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing.

• Carmen Ortiz has joined as the new coordinator for the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing. Carmen will be overseeing all aspects of testing, providing support and resources for students and faculty.
• Shasta Steinert is the new access coach for the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing. Shasta will be working directly with students to help establish and implement accommodations.

For more information on the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing, visit the website at wichita.edu/osat, email OSAT@wichita.edu or call 316-978-3309. The office is located in 118 Shocker Success Center.

On Feb. 28, Wichita State hosted National TRIO & GEAR UP Day 2025 at Woolsey Hall, celebrating the transformative impact of the federally funded programs. Betty Paugh Ortiz, vice president of programs at NCCEP, delivered a keynote on GRIT: Growth Mindset, Resilience, Impact and Transformation. Associate VP Deltha Colvin, the trailblazer of these programs, highlighted TRIO’s 60-year legacy, while Provost Monica Lounsbery emphasized the programs’ impact on student success.

The event featured interactive activities, including a scavenger hunt, a hands-on technology session and a mental health workshop led by Dr. Larry Mitnaul. Dr. Alicia Thompson reaffirmed WSU’s commitment to supporting underserved students. With nine TRIO and three GEAR UP programs serving 7,000+ students statewide, WSU remains a leader in educational access. These programs continue to provide vital support, ensuring students achieve their full potential.

For more information, visit the Office of Special Programs website.

Jocelyn Galicia-Powell is a Wichita State graduate and founder of 2UAuto, a local auto company that comes to you to detail your vehicle. She also owns The Outpost, a restaurant near Cheney Lake. Check out the latest Shock Doc featuring Jocelyn and hear how her time at Wichita State set her up for success.

Wichita State is more than a campus where students learn and study. It’s a place to solve problems, to do research, to forge a pathway to a better tomorrow. It is a community where the dreamers, doers and Shockers of the future are encouraged to push boundaries, think critically and pursue their passions.

Are you interested in studying abroad over the next winter break? Start planning now and look at the options available in many different countries.

Programs are generally three weeks long during the month of January. Areas of study include environmental studies, international business, music, religion, art history, photography, language, psychology, sociology and more. Costs range from $2,000 to $6,290 (includes most fees for the programs except for the flight).

Get started by completing the WSU study abroad application or email Study Abroad at studyabroad@wichita.edu.

The African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) is pleased to announce its spring 2025 scholarship recipients.

• Gabriela Zermeno – Junior majoring in international studies and business administration
• Caitlyn Joseph – Junior majoring in biomedical engineering
• Anestacia Marston – Sophomore majoring in psychology

The AAFSA scholarship, awarded annually, is very competitive yet these recipients stood out among all other applicants based on well-written and articulated essays, academic performance and their well-communicated need.

Are you ready to take your business idea to the next level? The Shocker New Venture Competition (SNVC) is your chance to showcase your startup, gain mentorship and compete for funding. Whether you’re refining an early-stage idea or scaling a venture, SNVC provides the resources and connections to help you succeed.

Competition timeline:

• Round one: March 3-27 – Application and business model video submission due
• Round two: May 2 – Trade show
• Round three: May 2 – Finals

Why compete?

• Grand prize of $25,000 to jumpstart your venture
• Receive expert feedback from judges and mentors
• Network with investors, entrepreneurs and fellow innovators

Don’t miss this opportunity to turn your vision into reality.

Kyle Shay studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain in fall 2024. Check out Kyle’s spotlight to learn about his semester abroad.

The College of Engineering hosted a public 5k run/walk from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 on the WSU campus. More than 130 people registered for the event, and despite the cold temperatures, 106 people ultimately participated. Through registration fees, about $3,600 was raised, which will benefit the College of Engineering Need-Based Scholarship Fund.

Following the 5k, awards were presented to the overall fastest participant, as well as the top three fastest male and female participants in the student category, staff/faculty category, alumni category and community member category. Winners were as follows:

• Overall fastest: Max Lazzo (alum)
• Top three male students: Cooper Zimmer, Adan Silerio and Cole Albert
• Top three female students: Lizabeth Mueting, Olivia O’Reilly and Isabella Porter
• Top two male staff/faculty: Christopher Leonard and Kobe Ford
• Top three female staff/faculty: Monica Bergkamp, Tracee Friess and Julie Scott
• Top three male alumni: Max Lazzo, Clark Pint and PJ Phan
• Top three female alumni: Carina Perez, Samatha Ringer and Natalie Castillo
• Top three male community members: Samual Scott, Seth Bergman and Ryan Nance
• Top three community members: Sana Christmann, Erika Pint and Daisy Marquez