Author: Alan Dsouza

On Thursday, Sept. 24, Wichita State’s GEAR UP programs will join communities nationwide in celebrating National GEAR UP Day and recognizing the impact GEAR UP has on students, families and communities.

Wichita State houses four GEAR UP programs: GEAR UP @ Haysville, the statewide Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP, GEAR UP Heights & Southeast, and GEAR UP South and East. Together, these programs expand college access, strengthen college and career readiness and help students — many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college — see higher education as an achievable goal.

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu will issue a proclamation recognizing Sept. 21-25, 2026, as National GEAR UP Week in Wichita.

National GEAR UP Day celebrates the students, families, staff and community partners who make this work possible while highlighting Wichita State’s continued commitment to access, opportunity and student success.

Wichita State joins communities nationwide in celebrating National GEAR UP Week and the impact GEAR UP has on students and families. As part of the celebration, Wichita State will observe National GEAR UP Day on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Wichita State is home to four GEAR UP programs: Haysville GEAR UP, Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP, Heights & Southeast GEAR UP and South & West GEAR UP. Together, these programs expand college access, strengthen college and career readiness, and help students see higher education as an achievable goal.

Learn more about Wichita State’s GEAR UP programs and the National GEAR UP Week at wichita.edu/gearup.

On Feb. 28, Wichita State hosted National TRIO & GEAR UP Day 2025 at Woolsey Hall, celebrating the transformative impact of the federally funded programs. Betty Paugh Ortiz, vice president of programs at NCCEP, delivered a keynote on GRIT: Growth Mindset, Resilience, Impact and Transformation. Associate VP Deltha Colvin, the trailblazer of these programs, highlighted TRIO’s 60-year legacy, while Provost Monica Lounsbery emphasized the programs’ impact on student success.

The event featured interactive activities, including a scavenger hunt, a hands-on technology session and a mental health workshop led by Dr. Larry Mitnaul. Dr. Alicia Thompson reaffirmed WSU’s commitment to supporting underserved students. With nine TRIO and three GEAR UP programs serving 7,000+ students statewide, WSU remains a leader in educational access. These programs continue to provide vital support, ensuring students achieve their full potential.

For more information, visit the Office of Special Programs website.

Be a part of something bigger and become a leader in the Association of Hindu Students in America (AHINSA).

This is a chance to shape the community, celebrate your heritage and create meaningful connections. As an executive committee member, you’ll gain leadership experience, organize impactful events and make a lasting difference.

The Office of Special Programs (College Readiness and Retention Programs) is celebrating the National TRIO and GEAR UP Day 2024 at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16 in Woolsey Hall.

Wichita State has nine TRIO programs and two GEAR UP programs such as Upward Bound, Talent Search, Student Support Services, Veterans Upward Bound, Educational Opportunity Centers and McNair programs. The celebration will include a presentations by Dr. Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, and a resilience and mental strength workshop by Hoan Do, American Ninja Warrior and national award winning motivational speaker.

TRIO and GEAR UP programs are comprehensive educational support services to help disadvantaged students succeed in higher education.

In February 1986, a congressional resolution declared that Saturday, Feb. 28, 1986, should be designated as “National TRIO Day” to commemorate the annual achievement of the federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.

With a long history of 50 years, and an impressive portfolio of 10 TRIO programs, the Office of Special Programs (OSP) marked the whole month of February for celebrating the accomplishments of TRIO and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Wichita State and the larger community.

The 10 programs offered by OSP:

• The Communication Upward Bound
• Talent Search and Talents Search South
• Upward Bound Wichita Prep
• Upward Bound Math Science
• Disability Support Services
• Student Support Services
• McNair Scholars Program
• Educational Opportunity Centers
• Veterans Upward Bound
• Partnership GEAR UP program and the state-wide Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP program

The TRIO and GEAR UP programs at WSU primarily serve first-generation and low-income students primarily in Wichita Public schools and state-wide school districts. The programs cover students from middle school through high school and college.

Under the leadership of Deltha Colvin, associate vice president of college readiness and retention programs, and the WSU program administrators, the OSP has celebrated in several ways, such as hosting workshops for students and teachers, student recognition banquets, College Access, Retention and Success conferences, and, since 2019, community services.

For 2022-23, the OSP program highlights have included several community service opportunities for the students. The Talent Search programs have decided to continue spreading reading and literacy by participating in the community library program in the Wichita neighborhoods. Participants of the Educational Opportunity Centers program along with the Upward Bound Wichita Prep program staff and students have actively participated in the Operation Holiday program, through which needy families receive assistance. The Veterans Upward Bound program participants have celebrated the TRIO cause by volunteering at the Lord’s Diner during 2022.

The Haysville GEAR UP program organized a National TRIO/GEAR UP Day on November 11, 2022. About 306 students participated. The event consisted of presentations by WSU offices such as admissions and financial aid. Activities included a campus tour, college resource fair and TRIO workshops.

The Student Support Services program has used this celebration to promote social justice, diversity, and equity through retention through various student activities.

For more information, contact Colvin at deltha.colvin@wichita.edu.

Every semester, the International Student Union, in collaboration with several other student groups and Wichita State organizations, organizes an international food festival called InterFest. During this festival, international students prepare dishes from their home regions, countries, and cultures.

The 2022 InterFest will be celebrated between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 13 at the Neff Hall courtyard. Everyone is invited.

The festival showcases ethnic cuisine, and for a small price, allows the WSU community and visitors to share and taste diverse food and delicacies. The InterFest has become a very popular tradition. It has also emerged as a fundraiser for participating student organizations.

Reach out to our team if you have any questions by sending an email to m923a942@wichita.edu.

Wichita State’s International Student Union is looking for students to serve on its executive committee. Member must have an F-1 or J-1 Visa Status and be enrolled as a full-time student at WSU for the duration of their term of office. All executive committee officeholders must also be available to attend ISU meetings on the first and third Fridays of the month.

Wichita State’s Association of Hindu Students in America (AHINSA) is looking for WSU students to serve on its executive committee. AHINSA is a group of WSU Hindu students who organize Hindu festivals at the campus. For more information, contact alan.dsouza@wichita.edu.

The International Student Union (ISU) is hosting its first open meeting of the semester at 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, March 11 at the Rhatigan Student Center (Room 266). Those interested in joining the ISU team can meet the executive committee at this meeting.