WSU Today: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022

Featured Stories

Medical Laboratory Sciences students earn scholarships from Southcentral Pathology

Two Medical Laboratory Sciences students at Wichita State are the 2022 recipients of the $280,000 annual endowed scholarship gift from Southcentral Pathology Laboratory.

Dr. Joel Alderson, president of Southcentral Pathology in Wichita – the largest group of surgical pathologists in southcentral Kansas – established this fund in 2021 to provide two full-ride scholarships each year in WSU’s Medical Laboratory Sciences program. Recipients are chosen based on merit and financial need, and each student receives an equal amount of funds. This is the largest scholarship donation to the program.

Learn more about the recipients and the scholarship program

Foundation and Alumni Engagement

WSU donors honored at annual President’s Club celebration

President’s Club was founded to honor the legacy of Wichita State’s 15 presidents who advanced the university through the years. Members of the President’s Club include donors who seek to continue the legacy of advancing the university with their generous contributions.

Each year at the event, an individual who has made significant contributions to the partnership between WSU and the Wichita community is recognized with the Board of Trustees’ Award. We are thrilled to announce Jeff Fluhr, president of the Greater Wichita Partnership, as this year’s recipient.

WSU alumnus honors his mother’s passion for education

Wichita State University sees many returning adult and nontraditional students each year, and after graduating in 1971, Ed Vega thought about one day doing something to help them. Today, Vega wants to honor the pursuit of education his mother inspired in him by designating a planned gift in her name toward a scholarship for women who are returning adult students.

“My mother, Carmen Torres Vega, after retiring at 65, enrolled and completed her GED. She absolutely loved school,” said Vega. “Even though she had to drop out after the eighth grade to help raise her siblings, she made it a priority to educate herself.”

Read the full story

Meritrust Credit Union invests in student success

With a company mission to improve the lives of members and the communities it serves, Meritrust Credit Union is deeply committed to creating opportunities in the greater Wichita area. To advance that mission, they’ve pledged $200,000 to support the Shocker Success Center at Wichita State University.

“We really recognize and appreciate the talent WSU is able to provide,” said Moji Rosson, director of Growth Strategies at Meritrust. “Educational institutions are the bedrock of any strong community, and we want to do everything we can to help set WSU’s programs apart.”

Young alumni leave a gift to fill the gaps

Ryan Doll and Joan Wagner have fond memories of their time at Wichita State, easily recalling the instructors and courses that left a lasting impression on their professional lives. But they also remember the challenges they encountered as students. To help the university fill gaps in funding that often get overlooked, the couple is pledging a planned gift valued at $1 million dollars to the university.

“One of the challenges colleges face is that equipment will be donated, but they don’t have the little pieces to support it – like cables or even space for tables to set it up,” Doll said. “This gift will provide for those little things that sometimes get missed.”

First-Gen Students

WSU celebrates F1rst-Gen Shockers

Wichita State is excited to host its annual university-wide F1rst-gen College Celebration elevating and honoring first-gen undergraduate, graduate, staff, faculty and administration beginning Nov. 7-25.

More than 45% of the student body at Wichita State are first-gen students. We celebrate the Shocker F1rst as they are the first in their family to attend college. Highlights will include showcasing first-gen student art through a special exhibition in the Cadman Art Gallery, passing out of F1rst-Gen Shocker swag, pre-game pep rallies and basketball games, a TRIO/GEAR UP day, a first-gen celebration breakfast, a social mingle, and the first ever fall graduate’s cord ceremony.

To elevate the celebration in November, share your events on social platforms using hashtags, #CelebrateF1rstGen!, #IAMTHEF1RST, #F1RSTGEN and #SHOCKER1ST.

For more information, email FGShockers@wichita.edu.

View a list of the Shocker F1rst-Gen events

Kudos

CEI’s Dr. Paigton Mayes selected for APHA committee

Paigton Mayes, Ph.D., MPH, was recently appointed by the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) executive board to serve a three-year term on the APHA Committee on Health Equity beginning on Nov. 9. Dr. Mayes is a Program Specialist for the Community Engagement Institute’s Center for Public Health Initiatives.

This committee is charged with assuring that APHA meets its diversity, inclusion, and social justice goals by monitoring the diversity of its sections, committees, councils, and boards; encouraging APHA to maximize inclusion in decision making at all levels; and recognizing and promoting best practices by APHA units, affiliates and caucuses.

With Dr. Mayes’ background in community psychology and public health, her passion for health equity, minority health, and healthcare access continue to grow. Join us in congratulating Dr. Mayes!