Category: News

On April 9, the Office of Online and Adult Learning will be hosting the seventh annual Adult Learner of the Year (ALOTY) and the Online Learner of the Year (OLOTY) awards ceremony. OAL is calling on the WSU community to help find an adult learner and an online learner at WSU deserving of the title.

Students nominated for this award should exemplify the criteria outlined:

• Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (extenuating circumstances can be reviewed)
• Academic advancement: Noteworthy improvement in academic performance and/or high levels of positive engagement within a classroom setting or substantial contributions to the overall learning process
• Personal triumphs: Overcoming personal hurdles and demonstrating resilience
• Shocker pride: Active participation in their personal community or within their classes showcasing a commitment to making a positive difference

Subscribe to the Office of Online and Adult Learning (OAL) monthly newsletter to stay informed about the latest initiatives and updates from OAL. Stay connected by following the OAL Student SharePoint for updates on students and the office, including the newsletter, which spotlights OAL students, academic resources, and events on campus and throughout the community.

February’s issue of Teaching Tomorrow from the Office of Instructional Resources is out now. This month, contributors were asked what it means to have “future-ready pedagogy.” As always, contributors offered up new and intriguing ways of thinking about a theme that may seem straightforward upon first glance.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Wichita State announced the launch of the 2026 GenAI Pitch Competition, a high-impact entrepreneurial event focused on accelerating technological innovation for small and medium-sized businesses.

In partnership with AWS and Futran Solutions, the competition will award at least $50,000 in technology grants to businesses that deliver the most compelling three-minute pitches, showcasing how AI technology could strengthen their operations or expand their market potential. Applicants must submit an application and business plan for evaluation. Judges will evaluate innovation, feasibility and long-term impact on business growth.

There’s a new annual report template now available to download: On wichita.edu/brandtemplates, visit the brand templates page, under “Strategic Communications Resources,” select the “all downloads” tab and select the new “Annual report template” folder.

Questions? Reach out to jaci.ignudo@wichita.edu.

The Barton School of Business has announced eight exceptional high school seniors as finalists for the 2026 Clay Barton Scholarship, one of the most prestigious business scholarships in the state of Kansas. Valued at $50,000, the scholarship is awarded annually to one student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership and a passion for business.

The eight finalists emerged from a competitive pool of students who participated in the Allen, Gibbs and Houlik (AGH) Scholarship Competition, held on Nov. 21, 2025. This rigorous event tests candidates on their communication skills, critical thinking and problem-solving through a series of group exercises, presentations and interviews.

Finalists for the 2026 Clay Barton Scholarship are:

• Luke Fouts, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School (Goddard, KS) – Entrepreneurship
• Gabriel Howland, Campus High School (Wichita, KS) – Entrepreneurship
• Adeline Lank, Kapaun Mount Carmel Catholic High School (Wichita, KS) – Entrepreneurship
• Samantha Owens, Bluestem High School (Leon, KS) – Business Administration
• Alyssa Pace, Belle Plaine Senior High School (Belle Plaine, KS) – Marketing
• Gabriel Shaffer, Valley Center High School (Valley Center, KS) – Business-Undecided
• Nathan Stigers, Shawnee Mission North High School (Shawnee, KS) – Accounting
• Zach Tschauder, Atchison High School (Atchison, KS) – Accounting

The Wichita State University Police Department, and the Faculty Senate and Staff Senate, are calling on Shocker Nation to help spread the love for Valentine’s Day this year by stocking the Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker.

Now through Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, UPD is stuffing a squad car at the University Police Department building at Mid Campus Drive and Research Place, where you can drop off your donations for the locker.

Additionally, faculty and staff can drop donations off as part of the Faculty Senate and Staff Senate Love on the Locker initiative at the University Police Department or at any of the following collection locations, or they can make a monetary donation to the locker:

• Student Engagement & Belonging in 216 Rhatigan Student Center
• Business Student Success Center in 129 Woolsey Hall
• Financial Aid or OneStop in Jardine Hall
• College of Health Professions Dean’s Office on the fourth floor of Ahlberg Hall
• Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office on the second floor of Lindquist Hall
• College of Applied Studies Deans Office in Corbin Education Center
• College of Engineering Dean’s Office in Partnership Building 2
• Fine Arts Advising Center on the third floor of the McKnight Arts Center
• Ablah Library Circulation Desk
• Student Government Association in 219 RSC
• Hughes Metropolitan Complex
• First floor of Wallace Hall
• WSU Old Town

Don’t know what to donate? The following are common, in-demand items at the locker:

• Canned foods and other easy instant meals
• Fruit products like applesauce and juice, vegetables, and cooking sauces like spaghetti and tomato sauce
• Grains and pasta, such as granola bars, rice, macaroni and bread
• Health and hygiene products such as bandages, deodorant, soaps, toothpaste, tampons and pads
• Baby products like wipes, diapers and formula

Come by the Book Technologies Lab during its open hours this week to print your own letterpress Valentine. Choose from several different setups and papers to make a one-of-a-kind card. Free and open to everybody while supplies last.

The Robert L. Cattoi Book Technologies Lab is located in the Department of English, 601 Lindquist Hall. Its open hours this semester are 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays and 1-4 p.m. Fridays.

Student Engagement & Belonging is happy to announce that nominations for 14th annual Shocker Leadership Awards are now open. The award recognizes student organizations, student leaders, faculty and staff for their contributions to student engagement and belonging on campus. The awards ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. May 6.

Nominate an organization and be sure to RSVP for the event. The deadline for nominations is by 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 2.

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

The award categories are as follows:

Organization awards:

• Outstanding Program of the Year
• Outstanding Educational Program
• Excellence in Collaboration
• Outstanding Organization of the Year
• Outstanding New Student Organization of the Year

Individual awards:

• President of the Year
• Advisor of the Year

For more information or questions, email Lauren Madison with SEB at lauren.madison@wichita.edu.

The Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing is seeking students who are comfortable on camera to be featured in an upcoming series of Student Stories videos for Wichita State’s social media. If you know of a student who would like to share their story, encourage them to submit an audition.

Students can submit their two minute audition videos through the online Student Stories form, which should briefly showcase their stories and personalities. If a student is selected, Wichita State will produce a short feature video to be posted on WSU’s social media.

The following are a few examples of similar features created by WSU:

• From Wichita to Amazon Robotics: A Mechanical Engineering Journey
• From WSU to NASA: My Journey Into Space Innovation
• This Shocker Followed His Passion at Shocker Studios

For questions, contact Marcus Wright, director of videography in the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, at marcus.wright@wichita.edu.