Author: Sara Ornelas

Wichita State University will be included as part of PBS’ “Roadtrip Nation,” and Shocker students are encouraged to apply to be a part of the show.

“Roadtrip Nation” will be teaming up with Wichita’s Workforce Alliance, USD 259 and WSUTech to explore southcentral Kansas on the show’s mission to “capture empowering stories that give you the confidence and tools to find a career that matters to you.”

Students who are interested can apply at the link below. For questions, reach out to Trish Gandu at trish.gandu@wichita.edu. The deadline for applications is Aug. 14.

Study abroad information sessions are offered by the International Education Office to help interested students start exploring their options. Interested students will get to learn about the programs, cost, funding, application process, and more.

Studying abroad doesn’t have to be just a fantasy. If you are curious, determined to try new things, interested in meeting new people, and discovering new places, studying abroad could become your reality.

Students have the option of choosing to watch our study abroad information session video or attend a session in person on the dates below..All the information sessions below begin at 2 p.m.

• Friday, Sept. 9 in the Lucas Room (RSC 265)
• Friday, Sept. 39 in the Ashton/Bridges room (RSC 257)
• Friday, Oct. 28 in the Spencer Room (RSC 264)
• Friday, Nov. 11 in the Ashton/Bridges room (RSC 257)

Please complete the online sign-up form linked below for the date you plan to attend. The information sessions generally last about one hour and are the first step to planning a study abroad program. You can also call the Office of International Education at 316-978-3232 to sign up for the session. For more information, email us at studyabroad@wichita.edu.

The City of Wichita has announced the award of $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support Wichita State University’s Office of Innovation and New Ventures’ formation of the Small Business Digital Transformation (SBDT) Program, which will address technology gaps in the local business ecosystem.

Small businesses were hit hardest during the pandemic. A vast majority of small businesses are in-person businesses with storefronts that sell food or merchandise or are service industries where there is significant face-to-face interaction. Most of these businesses were unable to operate as usual during the pandemic, and many were forced to shut down.

“If these businesses had access to tech talent and resources to shift to a digital platform, they not only could have survived but possibly thrived and competed against large corporations that had the financial means to pivot to digital quickly,” said Dr. Jeremy Patterson, executive director of Office of Innovation and New Ventures.

All your favorite student center dining locations are accepting cash once again.

Outside the RSC, Shocker Dining and the new Cargill Cafe in Woolsey Hall (once open) will also accept cash along with dining dollars, and credit and debit cards.

WSU Dining Services is hoping this small change will make a big difference for its guests.

On Thursday, Aug. 4, Starbucks will be closing at noon for an exciting update: The campus coffee shop will be upgraded with the capability to accept and award Starbucks loyalty rewards.

The Starbucks Rewards program allows users to earn free drinks, food, and gifts. Customers keep track of and redeem their rewards points through the Starbucks smartphone app.

Have dining dollars? Great news, the WSU RSC Starbucks will still be able to accept these payment methods, and stars can still be earned. However, dining dollars can not be used to load gift cards.

More than 2,400 students were eligible to participate in the 124th spring commencement ceremonies at Wichita State University in May.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees were conferred for the following colleges within WSU:

• Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• College of Fine Arts
• Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College
• College of Innovation and Design
• College of Applied Studies
• College of Health Professions
• W. Frank Barton School of Business
• College of Engineering

Aram Khader is a marketing strategist at ShockStarter, a student-led marketing firm. Working on class projects for clients helped her learn terminology and deadlines that will help her build a resume and career.

More than 5,000 Shockers each year take what they’ve learned in the classroom and transfer that knowledge into real-world environments. Applied learning — which is required for every Wichita State student — happens in offices, factories, laboratories, nonprofits, industries and companies across the globe. Students work side-by-side with seasoned professionals to ensure that they’re fully prepared to make meaningful contributions to their employers and their communities when they graduate.

The Sedgwick County Health Department will host its next COVID vaccine clinic 9 a.m.-1 p.m. today, July 27, at Charles Koch Arena.

Anyone receiving a first dose or boosters of the COVID vaccine at the Charles Koch Arena vaccine clinic will receive a $50 Visa gift card.

The clinic, run by Sedgwick County, offers the Pfizer vaccine for ages 5 and older, and the J&J vaccine for ages 18 and up. Walk-ins are welcome, and the vaccine is free. No ID or insurance are required. Bring your COVID vaccine cards for documentation.

Members of the Wichita State campus community are also able to receive vaccines at the Student Health Center. More information can be found at the link below.

Julian Chee has been fascinated with airplanes and flight since he was a child growing up in Malaysia.

“I’ve always been interested in anything that flew as a kid,” he said. “Flying is a very alien concept, so anything that flew captivated me.”

That fascination grew into an adult-sized hobby and eventually earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records this spring for the farthest flight of a paper airplane.  

Wichita State President Rick Muma is featured in the textbook “Physician Assistants as Social Innovators in Healthcare,” which celebrates PAs who have risen to meet the health care challenges of a changing society.

Muma, who earned a PA degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, is profiled as a PA pursuing career paths outside of traditional PA roles.