Category: News

The Barton School of Business raised more than $1 million to support student success with the sold-out “Beyond” Hall of Fame gala, which officially launched the Barton School’s 100th anniversary celebration Feb. 21.

More than 300 alumni, business leaders, university officials and community partners gathered for the event, which honored three transformative leaders: Paul Allen, Dan Carney and Steve Feilmeier.

In honor of the Barton School’s centennial year, proceeds from the gala will support scholarships, applied learning opportunities, global immersion programs, career development initiatives and student support services – ensuring today’s students are equipped to lead in a rapidly changing economy for years to come.

The Service-Learning Showcase is a unique opportunity for students who participate in service-learning through applied learning opportunities to showcase their experience through a research or reflective poster about the application of their course work to current community issues.

The showcase is an open forum for students to interact with faculty/staff, community partners and other students to engage in conversation about Wichita State’s commitment to the public good. Awards are presented in the following categories:

• Outstanding Overall Service-Learning Project: $550 scholarship to winning entry
• Innovation and Creativity in Problem Solving: $350 scholarship to winning entry
• Community Impact/ Community Choice: $350 scholarship to winning entry
• Collaboration and Leadership in Service-Learning: $350 scholarship to winning entry

And new this year are the Faculty Mentoring Awards, which will be provided to the sponsoring faculty of students awarded in the above categories.

Submissions are due on April 8. For more information and to submit, visit the showcase website.

RSC Engraving is ready to assist with all your award needs for the end of the 2025-26 academic year. Even if you are not sure who your winners are, the team can assist with getting your awards selected, in stock and ready to personalize as winners are announced.

Production times average one to two weeks during the end-of-year rush, so it’s suggested to start the process early. To get started, simply stop by the engraving shop located inside the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes in the lower level of the RSC, email rsc.engraving@wichita.edu or call 316-978-7048.

The College of Education and Wichita Public Schools received the 2026 Exemplary School-University Partnership Award from the National Association for School-University Partnerships (NASUP).

The award was presented Feb. 13 at the NASUP Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. and recognizes sustained impact in educator preparation. The WSU and WPS partnership was established in 1995 and is one of the longest continuously operating collaborations of its kind in the region.

Each year, more than 450 Wichita State teacher candidates complete clinical experiences in USD 259 classrooms, supported by hundreds of cooperating teachers and school leaders. The partnership strengthens the educator pipeline and prepares professionals to serve Wichita’s schools.

Stacy Chestnut, English teacher at East High School and WSU mentor teacher, received the NASUP Mentor Teacher Award.

Wichita State student Lauren Hughes has been nominated for the 2026 Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for undergraduates pursuing research careers in science, engineering, mathematics and computer science.

Hughes is majoring in biological sciences with minors in chemistry and American Sign Language.

Wichita State Rocket League qualified for the College Rocket League main event for the first time in program history Feb. 28.

The 16-team season culminates in the College Rocket League National Championship. Wichita State earned its spot through the second open qualifier after narrowly missing qualification in the first. The team defeated Virginia Tech, Davenport, The Autonomous University of Nuevo León, No. 22 Columbia College and No. 11 Oklahoma Christian.

“It’s been an extremely long time coming. After four years of improving, it’s an honor to have the opportunity to finally represent Wichita State on the biggest stage in collegiate esports,” said senior and team captain Brooks Valdez.

Matches are broadcast on Twitch, with links available on the esports program’s X account, @esportswsu.

Enter to win either a red parking spot for an entire semester or a $250 GreenPhire VISA gift card, among other prizes, by completing the confidential National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey sent to your Wichita State email address by WSU’s HOPE Services department.

For questions about the survey, contact Cora Olson, assistant director of HOPE Services, at 316-978-4792 or cora.olson@wichita.edu.

Visit the Rhatigan Student Center on Friday, March 6 for its annual Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. All day, Wichita State faculty, staff and campus affiliate/partner staff can enjoy deals and freebies exclusively for them. Faculty/staff must show their Shocker ID. Visit wichita.edu/rscappreciation for more details.

Suspenders4Hope, a program developed at Wichita State, is highlighting different departments and individuals on campus who are advocates for mental health in hopes that their stories will inspire others to continue supporting one another in the community.

The Office of Tech Transfer and Commercialization is being recognized for its integral part in helping the Student Wellness Center and Counseling and Psychological Services launch Suspenders4Hope, leading to communities both in and outside of Wichita State having the tools necessary to support those in need.

Information Security has released a new mandatory training for all WSU student employees. The training runs for about 40 minutes and will be delivered via a Blackboard course. Students who are required to take it should receive an email notifying them to take it. The training is due March 25.

This is the same training that employees were assigned through the KnowBe4 system, but student employees are required to take it through Blackboard instead.

If you have any questions or concerns about the training, reach out to askinfosec@wichita.edu.