Wichita State News: Undergraduate

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, Cowley partner on health services degree

Wichita State University has developed an articulation agreement with Cowley College, formerly Cowley County Community College, that allows students to complete two years at Cowley and receive an associate's degree in health services management and community development (HSMCD). Students can then transfer to WSU and complete the bachelor's degree in HSMCD in two years.

Richard Muma, WSU chair of public health sciences in the College of Health Professions, hopes the partnership can help fill a growing need.

Richard Muma

"This collaborative effort will assist those interested in beginning their coursework toward a position in health services or community development, two occupation areas expected to increase significantly as the population ages, which will require more health care-related facilities," said Muma.

Cowley administrators started the associate degree for fall 2008.

"This agreement opens exciting new doors for students interested in this occupational area," said Chris Cannon, chair of Cowley's allied health department. "It was great to work with a recognized content area leader like WSU while developing this program."

The HSMCD degree, whether at the baccalaureate or associate degree level, recognizes that health management and community development is a profession of its own. Health professions professors often call it "health care without the blood."

In WSU's May 2006 story about the HSMCD degree, educational program coordinator Janet Brandes explained the degree as one that's "ideal for someone who's interested in health care and has a passion for improving the health care system but really isn't interested in direct patient care."

It's good for people interested in improving the health of entire populations, communities, versus the individual patient, said Brandes in the 2006 story, pointing out that job opportunities are especially good in offices of health practitioners, general medical and surgical hospitals, home health care services and outpatient care services.

HSMCD students at WSU also can opt to take administrator courses and work toward state-administered licensure for nursing home administration, or progress into a master's degree in public health, business administration or public administration.

For more information, visit www.wichita.edu/thisis/academics/health.asp.

Orientation introduces incoming students to WSU

College can bring on more worries than a student may be prepared to reckon with: tuition costs, backbreaking textbooks and an overwhelming campus. To ease the anxiety many incoming freshmen experience, the Wichita State University orientation program provides helpful tips to settling in to the first year at college.

Kim Sandlin

According to Kim Sandlin, assistant director of admissions, the two main purposes of orientation are to connect students to campus and contribute to their academic success.

"Making sure new students feel connected, or that they matter, is our main goal," Sandlin said. "Orientation is the vehicle for new students to start making those critical connections that contribute to their success."

In addition, students participating in orientation are given information on academic and social services and programs to help them transition to WSU.

During orientation, students are split into groups according to their majors. That helps them meet other new students with the same academic interests.

"(Orientation) is good because you get to know other people in your field," said new student Angela Garcia.

Also, students learn how to navigate campus by going on a resource tour.

"The tour really helped me know where things are," said Emily Ballock, an incoming freshman who admitted to being intimidated by the campus.

The orientation agenda includes lectures about finding jobs and getting work experience, student involvement, money matters and student exchange programs. Participants also learn about the importance of Shocker cards.

"Your Shocker card is a key that gets you access to services and facilities here at the university," said orientation leader David Kidd.

During a recent orientation, Sandlin lectured about the technology available to WSU students such as their myWSU e-mail account, Blackboard and the Shocker Alert System, in which text messages can notify students of emergencies on campus.

Also, she discussed online social networking, warning students of the hazards of surfing the Web and advising them to keep their information private.

Orientation included a discussion panel for parents of new students, as well. A group of experts from the Student Health Services, Housing and Residence Life, Campus Police, Counseling and Testing and Financial Aid answered questions posed by parents.

"We also talk to them about academic expectations of their students," said Sandlin.

Orientation was coordinated by Sandlin, who hired and trained a group of current student leaders from various organizations on campus who were responsible for directing activities.

The student leaders offered their advice to incoming freshmen and new students. Their advice incorporated study sessions, student life, getting involved with the cooperative education program and finding a parking spot.

"Commerce Bank has also been a great supporter of our programs this year," said Sandlin. "They have donated WU binders for every new student as well as provided our staff shirts."

Orientation is required for all new students who are degree-bound and have fewer than 24 credit hours if they are a transfer student.

According to Sandlin, there are four ways for students to complete their orientation requirement: a one-day orientation program, WU camp, an Intro to the University course or the Freshman Honors Retreat.

"Students will make critical connections with other students and staff on campus, which contributes to their academic and social success in college," Sandlin said.

New estate gifts to WSU create scholarships for undergraduates

The Wichita State University Foundation has received gifts of more than $250,000 from the estates of J. Eleanor Webb and Leota Decarsky to support undergraduate scholarships.

Webb, a Caldwell native, received her nursing diploma from Wesley Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. She worked as a registered nurse for 10 years, including time with Dr. Frank L. Menehan, a pediatrician who practiced in the Brown Building (downtown Wichita). Webb was married to Morris Webb, who died in 2002.

They had a son, Morris Webb Jr., who attended WSU for two years before transferring to the University of Oklahoma. He worked as a meteorologist for the government in Albuquerque, N.M.

The Webbs had one grandson and a great-grandson. Eleanor Webb died in 2007 and through her estate created the J. Eleanor Webb Endowed Scholarship in Nursing for "deserving and conscientious students."

Although Decarsky never attended Wichita State, three of her siblings did graduate from WSU. One of these siblings, her sister Karen Reynolds, also has been a longtime staff member at the university.

When Decarsky died, her estate gift created the Leota Decarsky Endowed Scholarship, a general scholarship fund for WSU students. Decarsky had an appreciation for the value of education, as reflected by her estate plan provisions for gifts to five educational institutions.

"We are deeply grateful for the forethought of these two women," said Michael Lamb, WSU Foundation vice president for planned giving. "By including gift provisions in their estate plans, they will help support WSU students for years to come."

Free 'How to Finance a College Education' class offered at WSU

A one-day class is being held at Wichita State University that teaches parents and prospective students about the options available for paying for college.

"How to Finance a College Education" is a free financial aid planning seminar open to the public to help people learn what types of financial assistance are available and how to qualify.

The class, which requires a reservation, is from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the WSU West Campus, 3801 N. Walker Ave.

Anyone, whether a high school student, parents planning their child's education or an adult returning to college, can learn about their financial options.

Following the presentation, WSU staff will remain on-site to answer questions.