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.

Spero Launch Celebration photo collage

Spero, a Barton School of Business startup aimed at unlocking the potential of Wichita and its citizens, hosted an event on Friday, Oct. 25 to celebrate the launch of its micro-credential programs in entrepreneurship and career readiness. The event brought together the inaugural class of Spero students, their families, Spero board members, employers, mentors and other supporters to commemorate the launch. Marquis Bradley, founder of Omnicut Fitness, delivered a rousing keynote speech that set the stage for a promising start. The keynote energized attendees and set an optimistic tone for Spero’s future impact.

“To have a celebration of Spero students with their families in attendance was special,” said Walter Berry, executive chairman, Berry Companies, board chair of Spero and a member of the Barton School’s Dean’s Advisory Board. “It really set the stage for the program and built excitement for the opportunities ahead.”

Spero, derived from the Latin word for “hope,” is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve lasting independence by equipping them with essential skills and providing access to meaningful employment opportunities.

Wichita State University students work at desktop computers in NIAR's Aircraft Structural Test & Evaluation Center.

Do you have students who are looking for applied learning opportunities? The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) is looking for students to support digital twin programs — which includes fully disassembling vehicles; scanning individual structural parts down to the nuts and bolts; and reassembling the virtual aircraft parts to create a digital twin.

Applied learning opportunities include on-campus and off-campus undergraduate and graduate mechanical computer-aided design, systems engineering and reverse engineering positions for U.S. citizens and qualified foreign nationals. These positions are open to all majors with opportunity for advancement based on performance and budget.

Students can find opportunities through WSU’s internal job listings, which also includes various other positions available at NIAR and the National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation. For additional information, contact Michael Henderson at michael.henderson@idp.wichita.edu.