Shocker Blast: Friday, Aug. 28, 2026

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Dark promotional graphic for Shocker Financial Wellness advertising its Fall 2026 Workshops. The schedule lists the four workshops.

Get ready for Shocker Financial Wellness workshops and enter drawing for free spring 2027 tuition

Shocker Financial Wellness is hosting its fall 2026 workshop series, and that means another chance for a spring scholarship covering your tuition.

Attend three of the first upcoming workshops this semester, and schedule an appointment with a peer financial couch, to be entered into a drawing for the scholarship.

Shocker Financial Wellness, part of the Office of Financial Aid, is your resource for financial literacy and budgeting.

Join the upcoming workshops for fun and prizes:

Budgeting 101: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 2 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center, Harvest Room
Buying vs. leasing cars: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in 142 RSC, Harvest Room
Living on or off campus: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 21 in 142 RSC, Harvest Room
Scholarship tips: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in 142 RSC, Harvest Room

Events and Recreation

Gameshow Challenge Accepted hosted by artist Joseph Tran. Image contains image of an Asian male wearing a silver sparkly jacket against an orange background.

Join Challenge Accepted game show with Joseph Tran

Ready to put your skills to the test? Join the Student Activities Council at the Challenge Accepted Game Show, starting at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 at the CAC Theater (find directions to the CAC Theater).

This live interactive gameshow is hosted by Joseph Tran and students get to compete in a variety of unexpected challenges for up to $300. Whether you’re competing or watching, every round brings something new.

Admission to the Challenge Accepted Game Show is free for students with Shocker ID. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Challenge Accepted is coordinated by the Student Activities Council. For questions about this event, call 316-978-3022 or email sac@wichita.edu. For more events like this, visit wichita.edu/sac.

A students pets a dog at an event in the Ablah Library

Get the most out of your time in college

The majority of university life takes place outside of the classroom. Use your time in school as an opportunity to find lifelong friends and make connections by getting involved with the many student organization on campus.

See what events are coming up this weekend by exploring ShockerSync, your portal for student organizations at WSU, by visiting wichita.edu/shockersync.

Kick off September at the SAC open house

Learn about the Student Activities Council (SAC) and involvement opportunities, play games and meet new people at the SAC open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room.

You can also get a sneak-peek at some of SAC’s upcoming events for the semester. And more importantly, there’s free food. Make sure to bring a friend, and SAC will make sure you leave with some more.

For questions about this event, call 316-978-3022 or email sac@wichita.edu. For more events like this, visit wichita.edu/sac.

Wichita State University 5k Pumpkin Run & 1k little pumpkin run brought to you by Campus Recreation. with Frankenstein's monster in a laboratory holding a pumpkin.

Gather your friends and save on Pumpkin Run registration before Sept. 1

Wichita State’s fall tradition, the Pumpkin Run 5K, is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to secure your spot before registration prices go up on Sept. 1.

Whether you’re a runner, walker, student, faculty member, staff member, alumni or community friend, you’re invited to join the Pumpkin Run Oct. 17 on Wichita State’s campus for this fun-filled fall event.

Registration includes:

Official Pumpkin Run T-shirt
Finisher medal
Age group and overall winner awards
A memorable morning with fellow Shockers

Can’t attend in person? Sign up for the virtual option and receive your shirt and medal while completing your run on your own schedule.

Learn more and register

Shocker Athletics

Attend the Shocker Volleyball Classic this weekend for multiple special events

Support your fellow Shockers on the volleyball team as it hosts the Shocker Volleyball Classic this weekend at Charles Koch Arena (find directions to Charles Koch Arena). WSU students have access to all home athletics games at no additional charge, thanks to the Student Government Association:

Claim your free student tickets

Programs and Courses

Winter 2027 Study Abroad Programs in locations such as Mexico City, Tokyo, Lima, Malaga, Berlin and more! Deadline to apply: September 1, 2026. Scholarships Available!

Explore study abroad programs for winter break

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

Programs are generally one to three weeks long during the month of January, and areas of study include international business, music, religion, art history, communication, language, psychology, sociology and more.

Costs range from $1,300 to $6,000 (includes most fees for the programs except for the flight). Get started by completing the WSU study abroad application. Applications for the winter break study abroad are due by Sept. 1.

For questions, you can contact the Study Abroad office at studyabroad@wichita.edu.

Explore study abroad trips

Presentations and Talks

Barton School Brings Live Podcast Experience to Centennial Celebration with Entrepreneur-in-Residence Bill Poston on September 2 in Woolsey Hall

Success, setbacks and hard-earned lessons take center stage at free Barton School event

What does it really take to build better businesses, lead through adversity and turn setbacks into opportunities?

As part of its centennial celebration, the Barton School of Business is bringing a new live conversation experience to campus featuring Entrepreneur-in-Residence Bill Poston and Barton alumnus and entrepreneur Jacob O’Connor, host of the “Built for More” podcast.

Rather than a traditional keynote, “Building Better Businesses and Leaders: Lessons from Adversity and Success” will feature an unscripted conversation exploring the stories, decisions and lessons behind Poston’s career. The conversation will be recorded live for “Built for More.”

The conversation will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2 in 110 Woolsey Hall, Frank A. Boettger Auditorium.

Get closer to the stories, decisions and lessons behind the success. Registration is encouraged.

Don’t just hear about the event afterward. Be in the room. Bring your questions and join the conversation.

Biological sciences seminar continues with Dr. Gavin Rice, Kansas State, Aug. 31

The Department of Biological Sciences’ fall 2026 seminar series continues Monday, Aug. 31 with Dr. Gavin Rice of Kansas State University. He will give a public lecture, “Drosophila Evolutionary Biology,” from 4 to 5 p.m. in 231 Hubbard Hall.

Seminars are open to the public and undergraduates are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit wichita.edu/biology.