Shocker Blast: Monday, Nov. 3, 2025

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Image of four students of various races and genders in WSU clothing on top of a white background. Text states: "2026-27 new & continuing student scholarship applications now open on ScholarshipUniverse"

ScholarshipUniverse new and continuing student scholarships now open

Start prepping your scholarship materials — 2026-27 new and continuing student scholarship applications are now open. Did you know the various colleges offer their own scholarships? Whether you’re a fine arts student or an engineering student, there are scholarship opportunities open to you.

To be eligible for need-based scholarships, complete your 26-27 FAFSA first. Apply using ScholarshipUniverse or visit your college’s webpage for more information.

Visit ScholarshipUniverse

Summer 2026 Travel Seminar Study Abroad Scholarships up to $3,000 each. Exclusively for Paraguay Honors Service Learning, London and European travel seminars. Application deadline: November 10, 2025; More information about the programs: wichita.edu/StudyAbroadShortTerm More information about scholarships: wichita.edu/studyabroadscholarships Contact us at: studyabroad@wichita.edu

Study Abroad scholarships available for summer 2026 travel seminars

Interested in studying abroad next year? Be sure to check out our faculty-led travel seminars. Most are open to all students with undergraduate and graduate options.

Learn more about the programs, and learn more about the scholarships. For more information, contact Study Abroad at studyabroad@wichita.edu.

Resources

A student grabs an item from the shelves of the Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker

Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker offers food and other necessities at no cost

The Kiah Duggins Shocker Support Locker, located on the lower level of the Shocker Success Center, offers a number of resources to students facing food insecurity or who need access to other essentials, such as clothing, toiletries and baby/family products, at no cost. And donations to the locker can be dropped off at the Student Government Association office in 219 Rhatigan Student Center.

Student Success Tip #12: Use academic success resources to finish the semester strong

Students working on their final fall 2025 assignments have access to a variety of success resources in the Shocker Success Center, including tutoring and other supplemental instruction on the second floor through the Shocker Learning Center, Writing Center, Math Lab and Physics Help Desk.

Find directions to the Shocker Success Center

Corkboard background with First Gen Finances written in scrapbook letters. Post-it note stating the following: Fun, snacks, and budgeting advice. The first 20 attendees win a FREE t-shirt. November 5 Shocker Hall Multipurpose Room 12-1:30pm.

Attend First-Gen Finances Nov. 5 and build your financial future

Calling all first-generation students. Join the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for First-Gen Finances, a fun and empowering event designed just for you from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 in the Shocker Hall multipurpose room. The first 20 attendees will snag a free Shocker Financial Wellness T-shirt, so come early.

Sit down for a mini budgeting session with a peer financial coach
Create your personalized First-Gen Finances vision board and goals
Discover how the new CashCourse can help you take control of your money

Whether you’re just starting your financial journey or looking to level up your money skills, this event is your chance to connect, learn and build your financial future with confidence.

November 4 Start Now: Planning your First Article for Publication Ablah Library Savvy Scholar Workshop 3 - 4 PM

Start planning your first article for publication with Savvy Scholar workshop

Attend the next Savvy Scholar workshop from 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 at Ablah Library Digital Scholars Commons about starting your first article for publication. Participants will explore strategies for planning a new journal article, including conducting a preliminary literature search, identifying a target journal, drafting a working abstract, submitting an application with the IRB and more.

RSVP for the upcoming workshop

Flu vaccines now available at Student Health Services, including pop-up clinics Nov. 3/6

Student Health Services has flu vaccines available for WSU students, faculty and staff. Cost is $25 plus administration fee but may be free with your health insurance benefits (all plans are different). Financial assistance for self-pay students may be available for the administration fee. Walk-in to the Student Wellness Center 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday for your flu vaccine before cold and flu season.

Student Health Services is also hosting two upcoming pop-up flu shot clinics: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3 and Thursday, Nov. 6 on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center

Shocker Athletics

Wichita State Men's Basketball Student Tickets Now Mobile

Men’s basketball student tickets are now mobile – Claim yours now for the season opener Nov. 4

Student tickets for Wichita State men’s basketball games are now available to claim from your mobile device using your myWSU ID student log-in. Claim your free student ticket for tomorrow night’s home-opening game against UNC-Asheville at goshockers.com/StudentTickets. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at Charles Koch Arena, and the first 500 students will receive this year’s official student section T-shirt at no cost.

Up to two guest tickets are also available for students to purchase for $15 each.

The only physical location students may pick up printed tickets is the Shocker Athletics Ticket Office inside Charles Koch Arena, however, students are highly encouraged to claim mobile tickets for greater convenience and to avoid box office lines on game days.

Claim your student ticket

Student pizza giveaway tonight at women’s basketball game

Shocker women’s basketball opens its season at home against Lincoln at 6 p.m. tonight, Nov. 3, and the first 100 students to attend will receive free pizza outside the student section in sections 116 and 117. Student tickets for the game are available at no additional cost by presenting your Shocker ID at the Shocker Athletics Ticket Office when doors open at 5 p.m.

Invitation to attend the Pre-Game Tailgate

Project 1104: Attend pre-game tailgate for men’s basketball home opener

Join Student Government Association, Shocker Athletics and Housing and Residence Life for Project 1104. Organizers want to get 1,104 Shockers at the home opener of the men’s basketball season against UNC Asheville at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 and are hosting a pre-game tailgate at 4:30 p.m. at the Shocker Hall Courtyard for food, games and a DJ. Free shirts will be available for the first 500 people in the student section at Charles Koch Arena.

Wichita State Volleyball vs. East Carolina. Friday, November 7th at 7PM. Hometown Heroes: Recognizing all our local military, police, fire, EMS, and healthcare workers!

Shocker volleyball takes on ECU at Hometown Heroes match

Join Shocker volleyball as it hosts Hometown Heroes weekend, recognizing all local military, police, fire, EMS and health care workers. First serve against the ECU Pirates is at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7 in Charles Koch Arena. Students can claim a ticket at no additional charge with their Shocker ID, thanks to the Student Government Association.

Take advantage of gameday special at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes

Visit the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes on men’s basketball home game days for a gameday special. All day those days, enjoy $1 off burger, sandwich and wrap combos.

Events and Recreation

SGA Interfest fall 2025 – SGA’s commitment to celebrate the cultural diversity of Shocker Nation

Hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA), Interfest fall 2025 brings together international student organizations from across campus to celebrate and share their rich cultures, colorful traditions and delicious cuisines. This semester’s Interfest will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 in 305/306 Rhatigan Student Center, Beggs Ballroom.

Enjoy an afternoon filled with authentic traditional foods, vibrant cultural attire and music that showcases the global diversity of the Shocker Family. Each booth tells the story of a different country — its people, flavors and heritage — creating a one-of-a-kind cultural journey across the world in a single day.

Admission is free, and all students, faculty and community members are welcome.

National First-Generation Celebration Week kicks off Nov. 3 with the WSU F1RST Generation Coordinating Council

The WSU F1RST Generation Coordinating Council invites all to come together for National First-Generation Celebration Week Nov. 3-7. First-generation college students — or students who are the first in their family to attend college — account for 47.5% of Wichita State’s enrollment.

The F1RST Generation Coordinating Council is proud to promote initiatives for first-generation college students to ensure their success and build a culture of awareness and celebration for first-generation college students at Wichita State University. Visit the F1RST Gen Shockers events page for the complete schedule of events for National F1RST Generation College Celebration Week.

A promotional flyer for a graduate student social event. The background features a close-up view of a pool table with a triangle formation of billiard balls, including the 8-ball and 13-ball prominently visible. The setting suggests a relaxed, recreational atmosphere. The top half of the flyer contains bold yellow and white text over a dark, blurred background with a dotted gradient design. Text on the flyer reads: GRAD STUDENT SOCIAL BOWLING – POOL TABLES – FOOD FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 5:30–7:30 PM

Join the Graduate Student Social Nov. 7 at Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes

Join the Graduate Student Social from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7 at Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes. Enjoy delicious food, free bowling, billiards and darts, plus take the opportunity to connect with fellow graduate students.

Wildlife Wednesday. Wed, Nov. 5. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. RSC East Atrium

Meet Tanganyika ambassador animals at Wildlife Wednesday

Join the Rhatigan Student Center for Wildlife Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5 in the RSC east atrium. Have some fun interacting with Tanganyika Wildlife Park’s ambassador animals.

Join SAC for the annual Maker Market Nov. 18/19

Come support talented faculty, staff, students and other local artists by purchasing a variety of handmade goods, including pottery, woodwork, knitwear, cards and jewelry. This two-day event will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19 on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center. Registration to be a vendor is open through Friday, Nov. 14.

Mark your calendars for SpongeBob tribute night Nov. 4

Get ready for some under the sea shenanigans with Student Activities Council (SAC). The SpongeBob-themed event will feature games, food, crafts and so much more based on the hit Nickelodeon series from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4 on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center, free for students to attend.

Fine Arts

Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com Wichita State University School of Performing Arts presents "Company" a Musical with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. Originally produced & directed on Broadway by Harold Prince. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.

School of Performing Arts presents ‘Company’

Wichita State School of Performing Arts presents "Company" with music and lyrics by Steven Sondheim and book by George Furth. Originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.

Presentations and Talks

UReCA Lunch & Learn: Rooted systems – Exploring indigenous approaches to place, structure and sustainability

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub (URECA) is hosting a panel on “Indigenous Approaches to Place, Structure, and Sustainability” from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5 virtually, allowing campus to learn from worldviews that have long centered balance, reciprocity and respect for the land.

By bringing together local community members and out-of-state Indigenous voices, this event creates space for dialogue that bridges traditional knowledge with contemporary challenges. The panel encourages participants to rethink how they inhabit and care for the places the live, study and work — reminding them that sustainability is not just technical or economic, but also cultural and relational.

Save the Teams link

‘Frozen’ director and Disney legend Chris Buck kicks off CFA’s Connoisseur Series

The College of Fine Arts begins its 2025-26 Connoisseur Series with an extraordinary guest: acclaimed animator and director Chris Buck.

Hosted by the School of Digital Arts, Buck will present an artist talk at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in the Shocker Studios lecture hall, 3803 E. Harry St., Suite 121. The event will be followed by a student Q&A Nov. 7.

With nearly five decades in filmmaking, Buck is best known for directing Disney’s “Frozen,” “Frozen II,” “Tarzan” and “Wish,” as well as Sony Pictures’ “Surf’s Up.” His work has earned him an Academy Award, BAFTA Award and Annie Award, cementing his place among the most celebrated storytellers in animation.

The event is free and open to the public. Students and community members alike are invited to explore how imagination and collaboration bring beloved animated stories to life.

Photograph of Dr. Erika Geisbrecht sitting behind a microscope in a laboratory setting. Dr. Geisbrecht is smiling at the camera with one hand resting on the microscope's ocular lens.

Biological sciences seminar continues with Erika Geisbrecht, Kansas State University, Nov. 3

The Department of Biological Sciences’ fall 2025 seminar series continues with a seminar from 4 to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3 in 218 Hubbard Hall with Erika Geisbrecht, Ph.D., of Kansas State University. She will give a public lecture titled, “Integration of proteomic and genetic approaches to understand muscle proteostasis.”

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