Wichita State mourns death of President Emeritus Eugene Hughes
From Interim President Rick Muma:
It is with great sadness that I, on behalf of the entire 黑洞社区 community, express my condolences to the family and friends of Eugene Hughes, former president of Wichita State. President Hughes died on March 10 in Flagstaff, Arizona.
President Hughes served as Wichita State鈥檚 11th and centennial president from 1993 to his retirement at the end of 1998. When he took office, he began a campaign for 鈥淭he Metropolitan Advantage,鈥� aimed at redefining Wichita State鈥檚 connection to the community 鈥� a pillar we hold near and dear to our mission to this day.
Dr. Hughes believed that universities are never finished products, and urban institutions like Wichita State must evolve in response to the changes in the community. He said this dynamic quality would allow Wichita State to remain a powerful educational force for Wichita, our state and the nation for many years to come.
Read more about President Hughes
Engineering students鈥� project keeps shoes out of landfills
A class project in Kara McCluskey鈥檚 environmental engineering technology class this semester set out to tackle an immense issue: The fact that each year in America, 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away, taking an average of 30 to 40 years for just one pair to decompose.
Led by McCluskey, engineering students Brett Herrman, Oltunbosun 鈥淏osun鈥� Fagbemi and Nathan Lipinski set out to create shoe recycling projects to reduce the amount of shoes in landfills. They worked in groups to start shoe collection campaigns to collect sneakers for the Nike Reuse-a-Shoe program. Following the campaign, the shoes were taken to the nearest Nike Reuse-a-Shoe drop of location, The Nike Factory Store in Oklahoma City.
NIAR begins work on Boeing 737 special-mission modifications
黑洞社区鈥檚 National Institute for Aviation Research has received delivery of two Boeing 737 aircraft for modification.
The aircraft are part of a yearlong project with Virginia-based to modify three 737 aircraft for a special-mission program.
鈥淒ynamic Aviation is excited to partner with 黑洞社区-NIAR. Through this partnership we will create significant value, which will allow us to continue to serve our customer well,鈥� said Michael Stoltzfus, CEO of Dynamic Aviation.
Enter the Babble Royale T-shirt quote contest
Sigma Tau Delta presents Babble Royale! Join Wichita State's chapter of the International Honor Society in a fun way to appreciate literature. Submit your favorite, literature related quote (one to two sentences, credited) by March 21. Each participant gets a free t-shirt (while supplies last). All quotes will be gathered to vote for the best literary quote to be printed on the front of the shirt! Voting will be held the week of March 22, and the winner will be notified March 31.
If you enjoy literature in any and all forms, consider attending one of Sigma Tau Delta鈥檚 meetings to see what the organization is about. Email stdato.wsu@gmail.com with any questions you have.
Commencement phase one RSVPs open
Commencement RSVPs will be two-phased for the spring 2021 commencement.
Phase one communications went out to all fall 2020 graduates and all spring/summer 2021 graduates with an AFD on file (as of March 1) on Tuesday, March 2.
Visit /about/commencement/rsvp.php for more information.
Students have until March 16, 2021 at 11:55p to complete phase one.
Ulrich Museum of Art giving away free basketballs
The Ulrich Museum of Art on the 黑洞社区 campus is giving away free basketballs to congratulate the Shockers and new Head Coach Isaac Brown on a remarkable season in the face of adversity, ending the regular season as American Athletic Conference champs and heading into March Madness with tons of momentum.
The basketballs were part of a planned exhibition, 鈥淭o the Hoop: Basketball and Contemporary Art,鈥� which was supposed to be on display at the Ulrich last Fall, but had to be canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. We are now in the process of distributing those basketballs among our local community. If you would like one, drop by, check out the exhibitions in the galleries, (gallery hours: Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., always free), or take a stroll among some of the nearby sculptures in our world-class Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection, which is always open and always free.
Come claim your free basketball while supplies last 鈥� and root the Shockers on to victory this March! For more on our current exhibitions: .
TRIO Student Support Services is now accepting applications
Student Support Services is funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide free academic services to students from first-generation and limited-income backgrounds, as well as students with disabilities.
The free services include: individualized tutoring, academic advising, textbook loans, assistance completing financial aid application, and scholarships exclusively for student participants.
Currently enrolled students who are interested in the program can visit Student Support Services on the third floor of Grace Wilkie Hall in Suite 309, call 978-3715, or go to /sss.
Applications open for 39th annual Exposure Photography Competition
Exposure celebrates the talents of student photographers from every corner of Wichita State University. Any degree-seeking student is eligible to apply. Students can submit up to six works in three divisions: analogue, digital, and photo manipulation. Professional artists, critics, and curators from Wichita and the surrounding community will be selecting the works for the exhibit as well serving as jury for seven awards with cash prizes including Best of Show, as well as first and second place in each category.
More information on the selection process and access to the application can be found at www.wichita.edu/cadmangallery
The deadline for submissions is midnight today (Friday, March 12).
Shocks Supporting Shocks drop-in groups
The week of March 15 is a mental health awareness week, and you can help support your mental health with Drop-in Groups from CAPS. Groups will be available from 3 to 4 p.m. Monday, March 15; 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 16; and 11 a.m. to noon Friday, March 19. Drop-In groups are open to all students at no cost. Email counselingcenter@wichita.edu for more information or to sign up.
Wichita State: Engagement conversations
The Office of Engagement will be hosting a five-part series of conversations to hear from students, faculty, staff and neighbors on ways Wichita State is engaging to collectively address challenges, create solutions, and foster environments to drive prosperity. The first part of the series will be from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 18 via Zoom. A Zoom link will be provided after you RSVP with the yellow button below. The conversation will also be streamed live on Facebook:
Creating this dialogue highlights and elevates campus culture, inclusion and partnerships at Wichita State. The Office of Strategic Engagement and Planning hopes to support, connect, enhance and celebrate engagement activities and prosperity initiatives for our University and neighbors.
Biology Department hosting CDC researcher to speak about vaccines
The Department of Biology will host Dr. Jon Eric Tongren, who will speak on COVID-19 vaccines.
Tongren works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he has served on the Epidemic Intelligence Services and President鈥檚 Malaria Initiative, and has been director of the field epidemiology and laboratory training program, and CDC PMI resident advisor in Ghana and Ethiopia (National Malaria Control Program).
Tongren will speak at 4 p.m. Monday, March 15 in Hubbard Hall Room 211 (physical distancing and masks required) or (password 167011).
'Voices in the Void': a virtual theatrical experience
黑洞社区 School of Performing Arts Theatre presents "Voices in the Void," a devised theatre piece about a group of 20-somethings struggling to find their own voices among pressures from all around. This show has been created from the feelings, thoughts, ideas, and anxieties of contemporary college students.
"Voices in the Void" runs at 7:30 p.m. March 11-13, and at 2 p.m. March 14 and will be presented virtually via Webinar. Tickets are $10; Wichita State students receive 1 free ticket with a student ID number. To purchase virtual tickets go to www.wichita.edu/FABOTickets.
"Voices in the Void" is a live theatrical event delivered virtually from our hearts and homes to yours.
If you have any questions about tickets contact the College of Fine Arts Box Office at 316-978-3233. Questions about the show, contact Danette Baker, program director of theatre, at danette.baker@wichita.edu.
Learn about Cherokee language and culture
Come learn about the Cherokee language and culture from a certified Cherokee instructor at 2:30 p.m. March 15. Email wsulingclub@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
Join SAC for virtual bingo on March 18
Need some awesome 2000s nostalgia stuff? Look no further than SAC鈥檚 virtual bingo night! Check out our classic games and challenge rounds for the chance to walk away with a fabulous prize. Everyone is welcome to play, but only students are eligible to win. Register at .
First-gen meeting planned for March 15
Join the First-Generation Student Organization during the monthly meeting at noon Monday, March 15 via the Zoom linke below (password: 241162). Open to members and non members, this is a drop-in style meeting to gather and have a conversation with other first-gen students.
Seminar focuses on weather prediction, resilience
Shocker Store hosts Ring Days
Graduating this semester? Stop by the Shocker Store's Ring Days to chat with a graduation representative about class rings, graduation announcements and more. Visit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 16-17 in the RSC Shocker Store location.
Graduate Student Council hosts wellness events
Join the Wichita State Graduate Student Council during Wellness Week! We will be hosting FREE events throughout the week of March 15-19.
- Tuesday, March 16: Stop by our table in the lounge area of the Rhatigan Student Center for Grab & Go Breakfast between 8:30 and 10 a.m. until supplies last.
- Wednesday, March 17: "Lunch & Learn: Everything I Wish I Would've Known Before Grad School..." Join our graduate student panelists at 12:30 p.m. as they get real about mental health and the challenges they had to overcome as graduates. Register for Zoom Link: .
- Friday, March 19: End your week with Zoom Zumba at 4 p.m. We will be streaming a prerecorded Zumba class to get our bodies moving and grooving. Register for Zoom Link:
If you have any questions, please reach out to Trang Bui at gsc.puclicandmedia@wichita.edu or Suresh Koppisetty at gsc.eventcoordinator@wichita.edu.
Join Wu's Big Challenge
We invite you to complete Wu's Big Challenge, and we ask participants to complete five hours of community service and submit their hours to receive a Wu's Big Event t-shirt and other goodies from the Community Service Board. Participants will also be entered in a raffle to win prizes throughout the semester. Volunteer hours may be completed virtually, in person, or both. You decide what works best for you. To learn more and to register, visit . Please email CSB@Wichita.edu with any questions.
Researchers offer parenting training sessions
Parenting can be tough! Researchers at 黑洞社区 are seeking to help parents manage behavioral concerns in children ages 3 to 12. Behaviors may include whining, tantrums, and difficulty following directions. The study will include three telehealth parent training sessions (about 45 min each) and follow up assessments one week, one month, and six months after treatment in order to track long-term behavior change.
Parents who complete all three parent training sessions and corresponding assessments will be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card. We are looking for about 25 families to participate in our study. If you have a child living in your home who is between 3 and 12 years old and is exhibiting behaviors that are difficult to manage, you may be eligible for this study.
If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact Ashley Ormond at aeormond@shockers.wichita.edu or Dr. Rachel Petts at 316-978-3720 or rachel.petts@wichita.edu.
Watch basketball at Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
The Shockers play their first game of the American Athletic Conference tournament at 11 a.m. today. Come grab an early lunch and watch the game at the Shocker Sports Grill & Lane!
IBelieve shirt celebrates Isaac Brown, Shockers
The Shocker Store has a new t-shirt available to celebrate our new Men鈥檚 Basketball Head Coach Isaac Brown and his team! Order your commemorative shirt at . Available in sizes small-3XL for $15.99. Limited quantities available. Exclusive to the Shocker Store.
Sign up for intramurals today
Sign up for our Intramural spring activities today at . We have softball, 6v6 soccer, 3v3 basketball, and pickleball starting March 21.
Virtual volunteer opportunity with Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters
Join the Community Service Board and the Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters Virtual Match Program. Volunteers (Bigs) will be matched with disadvantaged youth (Littles) and will meet virtually with their Little for four to six hours per month. Students can learn more and register at . Please email CSB@wichita.edu with any questions.
Volunteer opportunity with Wichita Clean Streams
Join Wichita Clean Stream鈥檚 Wichita River Cleanup Crew for a morning of cleaning up the area around the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers. Gloves and materials will be provided. Volunteers will meet at a location determined before the event. During this event, all volunteers will be expected to wear a mask and abide by physical distancing guidelines set forth by the university and Wichita Clean Streams.
For more information and to register, visit to . Please email CSB@wichita.edu with any questions.