Wichita State News: Prospective Students

WSU to hold free Financial Aid Informational Workshop

Wichita State University's Office of Financial Aid is planning a free Financial Aid Informational Workshop from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Marcus Welcome Center.

Door prizes will be awarded to many students in attendance, with the grand prize of a $500 scholarship for spring 2010 that can be used by current or guest students.

This workshop will help students and families learn about the financial aid process, how to apply, steps involved in receiving financial aid and much more.

Staff will be available throughout the program to offer advice and answer specific questions. To RSVP, go to www.wichita.edu/financialaidevents.

Attendees can pick and choose from the following sessions:

"Understanding the Basics of Financial Aid" - An introduction to important financial aid terms, such as cost of attendance, expected family contribution and financial need. Receive a basic overview of the financial aid process and learn about the federal, state and institutional grants, loans and employment programs available to help make college more affordable. Sessions offered at 9:35 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 10:55 a.m.

"Free Application for Federal Student Aid" - Get answers to the most common FAFSA questions in a step-by-step look at the application. Help minimize errors on your 2010-2011 FAFSA application and learn what information is needed to complete the process. Sessions offered at 9:40 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.

"Scholarships" - Explore scholarship opportunities at WSU and learn about other Web sites and resources to search for additional scholarship prospects. Sessions offered at 9:40 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.

"Question & Answer" - This is your chance to ask specific questions regarding your unique situation and circumstances in a one-on-one setting. Admissions counselors will be available throughout the morning.

ACT prep workshop is scheduled at Wichita State

Wichita State University's Counseling and Testing Center is offering a workshop to help high school students prepare for the ACT.

The workshop is from 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Nov. 21, and will present general test-taking tips and practice questions for the English, reading, math and science test sections.

The cost for the workshop is $28, and registration can be done online at www.registerblast.com/wsu.

The next national test date for the ACT is Saturday, Dec. 12.

Students need to bring a pencil and a calculator to the workshop. All other materials will be supplied, including practice tests.

For more information, contact the Counseling and Testing Center at (316) 978-3440 or melinda.ware@wichita.edu.

WSU to hold GRE workshop

A GRE Test Prep Workshop will be offered this fall from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Wichita State University.

The workshop is free but pre-registration is required.

The workshop is sponsored by the WSU Counseling and Testing Center and WSU Graduate School.

Robots to take center stage at WSU's Koch Arena Nov. 7

The 11th Annual Kansas BEST robotics competition, designed to inspire and motivate high school students toward careers in engineering, science and technology, will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in Wichita State's Charles Koch Arena.

Twenty-nine high schools and organizations from Arkansas and all areas of Kansas will compete in Kansas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) event. This year's game is called "High Octane."

Students will give their robots a trial run on Practice Day from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Towne East Mall.

The sports-like technology contest combines the excitement of a high school football game with the strategy of a chess match and the intellectual challenge of a science fair. Working from identical kits, each team has had six weeks to design and build their robot.

The 2009 game includes an additional competition for the BEST Award to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology.

Following is the list of 25 returning teams and four new teams competing: Ambassadors for Christ Academy, Andale High School, Andover Central High School, Atchison High School, Baldwin High School, Blue Valley High School, Buhler High School, Campus High School, Circle High School, Concordia High School, El Dorado High School, Emporia High School, Goddard High School, Hutchinson CTE, Independence High School, Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School, Lawrence High School, Madison High School, Mulvane High School, Northeast Magnet High School, Olathe South High School, Panther Creek Academy, Rose Hill High School, Topeka High School, Valley Center High School, Washburn Rural, Wichita Southeast High School, Wichita West High School and Wichita Home School.

Winners of Kansas BEST 2009 will travel to Fort Smith, Ark., to compete in the Frontier Trails Regional Competition at the University of Arkansas Dec. 4-5.

Kansas BEST is made possible with the support of the following sponsors: Cessna Aircraft Co., The Boeing Co., Spirit AeroSystems, Bombardier Learjet, Great Plains Ventures Inc., igus Inc., Solid Works, AIAA-Wichita Section, The Hangar, Susan Burdick Graphic Design and Illustration and the WSU College of Engineering.

For more information, visit the Kansas BEST Web site http://www.kansasbest.org.

National Merit Luncheon set for Oct. 22 at Wichita State

Wichita State University will host the best and brightest students from the area at the annual National Merit Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Marcus Welcome Center.

National Merit semifinalists and their guests will be treated to lunch and a program during the event.

If any of these students become National Merit finalists and list WSU as their first choice of school with the National Merit Corp. by May 1, 2010, WSU will award them tuition, fees, books and housing costs for four years (including increases). That's a four-year, full-ride scholarship offer.

Students who attend the program will hear from WSU President Donald Beggs and other prominent WSU members.

Students should RSVP for the luncheon by Monday, Oct. 19 at www.admissions.wichita.edu.

For more information about the National Merit Luncheon, call the Office of Admissions at (316) 978-3085 or (800) 362-2594.

Students are VIPs at Wichita State's MVPs

High school juniors and seniors are invited to discover firsthand all Wichita State University has to offer students from diverse backgrounds and to find out more about becoming a "Thinker, Doer, Mover and Shocker" by attending a Multicultural Visit Program.

Programs will be offered from 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23; Friday, Nov. 20; and Friday, Feb. 19, 2010.

These programs are the ideal time for students from multicultural backgrounds to break out of their normal routine and visit the WSU campus to learn more about WSU's academic and social resources. Students will get information on the admission and financial aid processes, meet with representatives of the academic colleges and mingle with current students and WSU alumni.

One lucky senior or transfer student will win a $1,000 scholarship to attend WSU. The student must be present to win. All students who attend will receive a WSU gift and a free lunch.

Students can RSVP at www.admissions.wichita.edu, where they will choose their desired program.

For more information about Multicultural Visit Programs, call the Office of Admissions at (316) 978-3085 or (800) 362-2594.

Local students participating in science program at WSU

Approximately 750 elementary and middle school students are participating in "JASON Days: Infinite Potential," a weeklong science program at Wichita State University through Friday, Oct. 2.

The event is part of the JASON project, a year-round scientific expedition created by explorer, Titantic discoverer and native Wichitan, Robert Ballard.

"JASON brings science alive by exposing students to real-world scientists and work they do in the field through hands-on exploration and discovery," said Amy Strong, assistant director of the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education and JASON program manager. "Teachers love the event because of the exposure to science their students get."

Teachers incorporate the JASON project curriculum, aligned with the National Science Education Standards, in their classrooms throughout the year. Each year WSU hosts JASON Days to give students the opportunity to meet active local scientists and apply what they've learned in different events.

This year's program focuses on energy. In the showcase event, students will compete by designing a wind turbine. Students will create the turbine on a CD and power it from the CD drive.

In the theater event, WSU faculty members Jason Ferguson, Ward Jewell and Jan Twomey will join local scientists Ron Teel with ICM Inc. and Tim Bobb with Westar Energy in discussing their jobs and how they prepared for their careers.

"It's a great learning experience and a lot of fun for the students," said Strong. WSU's participation in the JASON Project is supported financially by senior sponsors Toyota USA Foundation and The Boeing Co. Additional support comes from Excel/Cargill Cares, the Cargill Contributions Committee and the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation.

WSU's Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences houses the JASON Project, along with the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education.

Kansas Dropout Prevention Summit at WSU

Registration is open for the statewide dropout prevention summit on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Wichita State University's Rhatigan Student Center.

Mentoring and community programs will have a strong presence in this Kansas Dropout Prevention Summit, and all are encouraged to get involved.

Come learn how to work together to help students succeed in school and life. Working together we can help more students graduate to become contributing members to our community, state and nation.

There are about 100 slots for adults and 50 slots for students remaining for Wichita-area participants.

For more information, visit www.kansasdropins.org.

ACT prep workshop is scheduled at Wichita State

Wichita State University's Counseling and Testing Center is offering a workshop to help high school students prepare for the ACT.

The workshop is from 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Oct. 3, and will present general test-taking tips and practice questions for the English, reading, math and science test sections.

The cost for the workshop is $28, and registration can be done online at www.registerblast.com/wsu.

The next national test date for the ACT is Saturday, Oct. 24.

Students need to bring a pencil and a calculator to the workshop. All other materials will be supplied, including practice tests.

For more information, contact the Counseling and Testing Center at (316) 978-3440 or melinda.ware@wichita.edu.

WSU to award thousands of dollars in scholarships

Top students from across Kansas and the country are invited to compete in Wichita State University's Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI) to vie for Kansas' largest annual scholarships and many other scholarship awards.

More than 250 students are expected to compete for the scholarships this year, according to DSI coordinator Marylynn Steichen.

Two outstanding high school seniors will receive $48,000 ($12,000 per year for four years) Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships, the state's largest individual undergraduate scholarship.

The Gore scholarships have been awarded for more than 50 years to academically strong students with demonstrated leadership ability.

This year's competition will be held Saturday, Nov. 14 at WSU.

High school seniors who have a GPA of at least 3.5 and who have scored at least a 24 on the ACT (or 1,110 on the SAT) are eligible to participate.

To be invited to the competition, students must be admitted to WSU by Thursday, Oct. 1. Students who meet these requirements will receive an invitation with additional instructions.

There will be an optional academic scholarship competition, requiring an additional essay, for those students who compete in the DSI. The winner will be awarded up to a $26,000 McGregor Scholarship, based on academics. Faculty members will score the essays.

Interested students should contact the Office of Admissions immediately to find out how to be admitted. Call (316)-978-3085 or 1-800-362-2594 or e-mail admissions@wichita.edu for more information.

Wichita State offers Sedgwick County Scholarship

New freshmen or new transfer students who apply to Wichita State University for the fall 2010-spring 2011 academic year have a great opportunity for scholarships.

Award amounts total $1,000 for part-time students ($500 per semester) and $2,000 for full-time students ($1,000 per semester). The scholarship is renewable for a second academic year, provided the student maintains a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

High school seniors who are Sedgwick County residents, or transfer students who have a permanent residence in Sedgwick County, can apply for the Sedgwick County Scholars award. The scholarship program is funded through Sedgwick County mill levy dollars.

To be eligible, new freshman students must be a domestic, undergraduate, first-time student to WSU and meet one of the following criteria:

• ACT score of 21 or higher (SAT 980)

• Rank in top third of high school graduating class

• Be an admissible student who participated in Kansas Kids or USD 259 GEAR UP Program (must note GEAR-UP on application)

To be eligible, new transfer students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a domestic, undergraduate, first-time student to WSU

• Must have graduated from a Sedgwick County high school or currently be a Sedgwick County resident

• Transfer to WSU with 70 or fewer credit hours and minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Sedgwick County Scholarships are awarded on a first-applied, first-awarded basis until the funds are exhausted. Students must be fully admitted to WSU and submit all scholarship materials to be considered for the Sedgwick County Scholarship and all other scholarships.

For more information or to apply, contact the Office of Admissions at (316) 978-3085, (800) 362-2594 or at www.admissions.wichita.edu.

Wichita State hosts high school seniors for Senior Days

High school seniors are invited to discover first-hand all Wichita State University has to offer by attending a WSU Senior Day Wednesday, Sept. 9 or Friday, Sept. 18.

Senior Day is the ideal time for high school seniors to break out of their normal routine and visit the WSU campus to learn about WSU's academic and social resources. Students will meet with representatives of the academic colleges, learn about WSU traditions and mingle with current students and other members of the class of 2010.

Each senior will also receive a WSU Senior Day T-shirt. Discount coupons for on-campus dining will be provided.

High school seniors from all public and private Wichita high schools are invited to the Sept. 9 Senior Day. Students can RSVP at www.admissions.wichita.edu.

High school seniors from Andover, Derby, Goddard, Maize, Haysville, Valley Center and other schools outside Wichita are invited to the Sept. 18 Senior Day. Students can RSVP at www.admissions.wichita.edu.

For more information about WSU's Senior Days, call the Office of Admissions at (316) 978-3085 or (800) 362-2594.

WSU lab building stellar reputation

Wichita State University may be known internationally for its aviation research program, but it is also quietly building another engineering research powerhouse.

The 7-year-old Advanced Networking Research Center is set to nearly double in size over the next 18 months because of interest from major technology companies and university officials' ambitious plans.

"The potential is extraordinary," said Gary Miller, WSU's provost and vice president for academic affairs and research. "There are networks in everything."

Wichita benefits from that growth by retaining and attracting more top students at WSU, by producing better-trained workers for local industry and, eventually, university officials say, by seeing an economic boost from new companies that develop out of the center.

Read full story.

Dates set for WSU Scholarship Information Night

Last year, Wichita State University awarded more than $8 million in scholarships. Learn how to maximize your student's scholarship potential. Parents, high school seniors and high school counselors are invited to come and learn about scholarship opportunities at WSU.

These informational sessions will cover scholarship eligibility requirements, deadlines and due dates, how to apply to WSU and information on the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational competition.

Admissions representatives will be on hand to answer questions. Reservations are not required, but each program will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Program dates and their corresponding locations are:

Aug. 24 WSU Main Campus

Aug. 27 Wichita Northwest High School

Sept. 3 Derby High School

If you wish to RSVP for one of these programs, please visit www.wichita.edu/admissions and click on "RSVP for an Event."

For more information about the Scholarship Information Nights, call the Office of Admissions at (316) 978-3085 or (800) 362-2594.

High schoolers: Learn how to prepare for the ACT

Wichita State University's Counseling and Testing Center is offering a workshop to help high school students prepare for the ACT.

The workshop is from 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Aug. 8, on WSU's main campus and will present general test-taking tips and practice questions for the English, reading, math and science test sections.

The cost for the workshop is $28, and registration can be done online at www.registerblast.com/wsu.

The next national test date for the ACT is Saturday, Sept. 12.

Students need to bring a pencil and a calculator to the workshop. All other materials will be supplied, including practice tests.

For more information, contact the Counseling and Testing Center at (316) 978-3440 or melinda.ware@wichita.edu.