Wichita State News: Student Profiles

WSU premedical student focuses on underserved parts of Kansas

Thu, 2 May 2013 15:38:00 CST

Karissa Gilchrist

Karissa Gilchrist plans to help others by someday becoming a doctor. The Wichita State senior not only wants to practice medicine, but also hopes to offer convenient health care to people living in low-populated areas of the state.

"It is my dream to be a genuine, caring, passionate and dependable physician for people in rural Kansas," said Gilchrist. "I want to provide people with a reliable option for treatment rather than make them feel forced to travel to a bigger city with more options."

As a child, Gilchrist lived in Arnett, a small town in northwest Oklahoma. Arnett's closest hospital is 15 minutes outside of town, but many residents choose to drive an extra two hours to ensure better medical care.

"People living in small towns, such as Arnett, should be able to trust and believe in their hometown doctor," she said.

Gilchrist, majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry, said one of her favorite aspects about premedical studies is the complexity of the human body.

"The body has so many critical pathways and processes, as well as ways to correct itself if those processes fail," she said. "It amazes me that more doesn't go wrong in the body all the time."

Reflecting on time at WSU

After graduating from WSU in May, Gilchrist will attend the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita for four years. She then plans to complete a three-year residency program in family medicine.

While at Wichita State, Gilchrist has been involved in Student Ambassador Society, Premedical Student Association, Golden Key International Honors Society and is a Dean's Scholar. She is also a member of the KU School of Medicine Scholars in Rural Health.

"During my medical school interview, I was questioned on what characteristics I thought made a good physician and how I had demonstrated those characteristics in my life," she said. "After reflecting on my answer, I realized that every experience I spoke of was a result of my time at WSU."

Gilchrist is most grateful for the lasting relationships she developed with WSU faculty, staff and fellow students.

"College is more than building a resume; it's about experiencing all that you can and learning about yourself in the process," she said.

Gilchrist also said that because of Wichita State's urban location, she was able to shadow physicians in multiple specialties, which helped her decide which career path she wanted to pursue.

To gain experience in a doctor's office before graduating, Gilchrist received her Certified Nurse's Aide (CNA) license and has been a medical assistant for a year at Via Christi Clinic in Andover, Kan.

WSU student displayed Shocker colors on horseback

Tue, 7 Aug 2012 16:00:00 CST

Kristen Loyd

If you were at a rodeo during the past year and saw a rider with WuShock emblazoned on her vest, it was probably Wichita State student Kristin Loyd.

Until this past May, Loyd, a senior in Health Services Management, was Wichita State's only participant in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

The past academic year was Loyd's last for intercollegiate rodeo eligibility. Before coming to WSU, she competed for three years while she was a student at Pratt Community College.

Now that her college eligibility is over, she plans to continue to ride in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

All in the family

Rodeo has been in her family since before she was born.

Loyd began riding horses before she was in kindergarten, and her father, mother, stepmother and older brother have all competed professionally.

When she competed as a student, she wore a vest with WSU's mascot and school name sewn by her grandmother.

During the school year, her day began with homework before riding practice, then she went to classes in the afternoon and evening.

After classes there was usually more practice. Loyd typically rode between two and three hours a day.

The costs for practice, care of her horses and travel expenses for competitions were covered by Loyd and her family.

Even though she has been competing for many years, Loyd has never been seriously injured, although at 21 years old a tendon in her right shoulder is starting to show overuse from roping practice.

Loyd competes in both breakaway roping and barrel racing.

Breakaway roping is similar to cattle roping, except that the rider does not tie the calf's legs. The rider's rope is tied to the saddle by a light string, which breaks away after the calf is roped.

"Barrel racing is when you run a cloverleaf pattern around barrels in the arena," she said. In the event, riders follow a path around obstacles in the ring, performing a combination of left and right turns.

Scoring in both events is based on the time it takes for the rider to finish.

"I'm addicted to breakaway roping," she said. "I always think of rodeoing like gambling. I don't like to gamble at casinos, so instead I just enter rodeos."

New invention comes out of engineering class project

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:33:00 CST

Moving from higher education into the traditional workplace is the dream of most college students.

Wichita State engineering students Joe Christman, Alex Esparza, A.J. Whitaker and Thuan Nguyen may have thrust themselves into the career lane with their invention of the Xi Sport-Cyclist Training Device.

The Xi Sport-Cyclist Training Device is similar to how a stationary bike with pre-programmed workouts operates. Slightly bigger than a cell phone, the device can be put on a regular bicycle. The user can program desired workouts into it, and it will visually display current output.

"(It is) kind of like the exercise bikes at a gym; there you can select whatever kind of workout you want," Christman said. "We're taking that idea and making it portable. It's similar to having a coach telling you what you should do and what rate you should be doing it."

The device is a big step in the right direction for this group, "because business is constantly demanding that graduates are work ready," said John Harrison, the group's adviser. "These students have withheld the testing, but they are burning, itching to build in the workforce."

Preparing the device for the masses
The students are in the process of designing the cyclist training instrument, easily transported for bicyclists and health admirers alike. The team's intention is to develop and create a product that is sensible, practical and can be used by consumers at any time.

Like the demo project the team has created, the students continue to explore and reach new levels of creativity. Along with an advanced lesson in collaboration, these local inventors continue to propel themselves closer toward their goal of a finished product and professional employment.

"The students have been following what a class structure is about," Harrison said. "This is what they will have to do in the industry, a way they can do that, while still under supervision and guidance from the university. It really is the perfect transition."

Coming a long way
The Electrical Engineering Senior Design class is designed for engineering seniors in their last year at WSU. During this path of study, students in teams of four create a result or improve upon an existing one.

The Xi Sport-Cyclist Training Device was one of seven that was developed through problem-solving with WSU's Center for Entrepreneurship students and then evolved through two mock-ups last semester.

Team captain Christman, an avid cyclist, said his father came up with the idea. Esparza said they have come a long way for first semester students in the two-semester course.

"Everybody has been real eager to work on this; we've been able to achieve our objectives at the time that we've scheduled them," Esparza said. "Our group's endeavors surpassed normal Senior Design class requirements, attributable to our dedication for the project."

Dedication has pushed this group of engineering seniors to long nights of frustration and semi-cold fast food hamburger meals. They have dealt with everything from rewriting SPI codes, to a non-functioning LCD screen.

"I just want to stress that everyone here has been pulling their weight." Esparza said. "We have worked really long hours, even past midnight up here at the lab."

Nothing stands in the way as the team perseveres toward the close of the course.

"This assignment has to be done before the end of the fall semester," Christman said. "I don't think we can leave this project unfinished personally. It would be one of those missed key chances in life to do something really great. I don't think anyone could have dreamed of all the good things that have come from this project. It reinforces it that much more, that we have a really good idea."

Student takes fast track to finish degree with WSU Complete

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:56:00 CST

Going to college didn't seem to fit into Sheree Wilkerson's life. After starting and stopping a couple of times, she found that the WSU Complete program at Wichita State was just right for her.

In fact, Wilkerson is the first student to graduate from the WSU Complete program, which started in fall 2010. And she did it at a pace few will equal, taking 77 hours in just over a year and earning her bachelor's degree in business administration at the end of summer classes 2011.

WSU Complete is an adult degree completion program that enables students to get a degree by completing coursework in eight-week classes on evenings and weekends. These are the same courses and programs as on the main campus, but they are scheduled in a way that allows working adults to continue with their professional and family obligations and still return to school.

After briefly attending Auburn University, Wilkerson moved to Wichita to be near her fiancee's family.

"I kept wanting to finish my degree, but life happened," said Wilkerson. Instead of going to school, she and her husband were busy working and raising children.

'A perfect example'

It was the death of her grandmother in 2010 that led Wilkerson to re-evaluate her life and her goal of earning a college degree.

"It really shook me, as she was a strong influence on my life," said Wilkerson. "I took stock and realized I wasn't where I wanted to be with career and goals. She'd been a huge proponent of education and I'd also felt like I needed to finish this in order to fulfill what she wanted for us as well.

"But mostly, I needed to get this done and realized that I can't always keep putting things off or one day there won't be another day to put it off to," said Wilkerson.

Wilkerson returned to school in a big way. She took 10 credit hours in summer 2010, 27 in fall 2010, 21 in spring 2011 and 19 credit hours in summer 2011, earning her degree and graduating magna cum laude.

"The only reason I could do it was because of WSU Complete," said Wilkerson. "I was able to knock out classes in eight-week chunks, which meant there was little overlap, so I really only had a couple of classes running at one given time.

"I did a lot of pre-sessions, too. In a traditional program, I don't even know if you could possibly take 27 hours."

Susan Norton, director of satellite campuses and workforce development at WSU, marvels at Wilkerson's drive.

"We have a few more students who will finish the WSU Complete program this December, but because she was so driven and took so many hours at once, she is the exception.

"I think Sheree is a great example of how having programs like this available help former students come back to the university and finish their academic goals. Many times life gets in the way of original plans and, although many of our returning adult students' circumstances have changed, their drive and determination make these types of successes possible. Sheree is a perfect example of why WSU Complete was started. I couldn't be happier for her accomplishment," said Norton.

Going back to college was invigorating to Wilkerson and she enjoyed learning new things.

"There were some truly awesome teachers whose teachings stuck with me in more than just a career capacity," she said.

Wilkerson said it was easier for her to be more focused on getting an education as a returning adult student.

"I did not have the super-active social needs of a traditional student," said Wilkerson. "I don't party. I don't drink. I don't hang out. I was always good at taking tests, and that held me in good stead. Studying was something I've always just been able to do very well. A lot of it was at night after the kids went to bed. And I did my homework with the kids, which they thought was hilarious.

"It also helps that as a nontraditional student, I have actually experienced a lot of the things that were discussed in class. In my career as a Realtor, I had learned a good many of the principles we discussed. I had seen some of the situations in person. That made it much easier to study, because most of the material seemed very relevant since it related to what I'd been doing in my life."

Even so, Wilkerson admits that it would have been nearly impossible to complete her degree so quickly without a good support system and a dedicated husband.

Not slowing down

Life for Wilkerson and her family hasn't slowed just yet. They recently moved to Alabama to be near her family. The Wilkersons have three children, 8, 5 and 3, and the oldest is autistic.

Wilkerson also has been talking with Make-A-Wish Foundation about an internship to follow her dreams of getting into a nonprofit organization.

While some graduates are more than happy to have college in their rearview mirror and get on with life, Wilkerson said: "I am really considering a master's or second bachelor's degree. I really enjoyed learning, meeting new people and expanding my mind.

"Truly, though, I kinda wish I was taking at least one class right now. I had gotten into the groove."

Physics: Real-world experience for students

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 15:53:00 CST

Three Wichita State University physics students are contributing to a research project that is giving them a chance to experience hands-on research on a global scale.

Undergraduate students Jeanette Bergkamp, Richard Bonde and Matthew Onstott have joined WSU professor Nick Solomey and assistant professor Holger Meyer in their research on the $127 million northern Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory site, being built in Lamar, Colo.

Jeanette Bergkamp

Working on this large, international project is a rare opportunity, said Jeanette Bergkamp, providing her and her fellow students with "tons" of real-world experience before they ever even graduate college.

The observatory will study ultra-high energy cosmic rays, which are charged particles that constantly rain down on Earth from space. These high-energy rays are an area of physics research that remains somewhat mysterious to scientists.

New experiences

Since 2004, The Pierre Auger Observatory near Malargue, Argentina, has been studying cosmic rays in the southern hemisphere. The northern site will conduct similar research. Nearly seven Universities are collaborating on the project, which is still in the testing phase.

"Any kind of practical research is very, very useful if you want to go on further with a degree," she said. "It helps as far as a resume – being able to say I have done research, because that's a lot of what they (employers) look for in a graduate assistant."

Richard Bonde

WSU's role is to maintain the control room, which has been set up in Jabara Hall. Bergkamp, Bonde and Onstott are responsible for helping develop the software that observes the site in Lamar.

"We want to be sure it's working and to make sure we are reading what we are supposed to be reading," Bonde said.

Working on those computer programs is a new experience, Bergkamp said. And getting to work in a collaborative effort is something that helps her become a more well-rounded researcher.

"I've gotten the chance to work as a collaborator," she said. "Sometimes you don't get to really do that, especially with physics, where a lot of it is solitary learning."

Solomey said by taking on such a large project, the students are getting invaluable experience they can't get just from a textbook.

"I think the students take from it the concept of how do you build something big," Solomey said. "You (normally) have a lot of people doing little things in a lab. But how do you build something like the Hubble Space Telescope? How do you build something super enormously big, like a Dreamliner? They are seeing that for the first time."

The students are also learning that what they're doing is important to such a big project.

"It has lots of pieces that all have to work, and every one's task is crucial," Solomey said.

Volcano becomes Wichita State student's temporary home

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:40:00 CST

Living on a volcano is crazy, right? Not necessarily. For Wichita State student Janine Keeler, it's a dream come true.

The WSU education major and Wichita resident is participating in a three-week field camp on a volcano. At the University of Hawaii at Hilo's Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes, Keeler is operating tools used by volcanologists, collecting data on active volcanoes and interpreting the findings.

The opportunity to monitor and train on Mount Mauna Loa and Mount Kilauea will be beneficial to Keeler in her pursuit of becoming an Earth and science teacher. Her desire to teach stems from her childhood. Her uncle once built a school table, benches and a chalkboard so she could teach her dyslexic brother how to read.

Now a 50-year-old mother of two and grandmother of four, Keeler began her college career at age 32.

Keeler already has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, minors in psychology, addiction counseling and sociology, and a master's in anthropology, specializing in incarcerated American Indians.

Keeler teaches supplemental sessions for geology classes.

"I hope to inspire my future students to become interested in science as we need that in today's world," she said. "I also hope to transfer my knowledge on a college level to the WSU students who attend my supplemental instruction sessions. I want all of my students to know that despite age, gender or disability, they can achieve their dreams."

Toni Jackman, a professor in geology in WSU, introduced Keeler to the summer field camp opportunity and recommended her for the experience. Jackman often posts such opportunities for students.

Living on a volcano

Keeler was chosen to be one of 16 people to participate in the camp. The group is staying in hostel-style dormitories. They are learning topics in physical volcanology, gas chemistry, ground deformation and seismology. Then students will present case study reports in groups.

With the help of donations from a fundraiser and her supporters, Keeler paid $1,785 for the field camp. WSU paid for her airfare.
Keeler plans to record her experience through a handwritten journal. She says her friends call her "a modern-day Robinson Crusoe, primitive as can be" because she does not use a mobile phone, have Internet or cable TV.

She will complete the field camp on Aug. 5 and return to WSU to continue her education degree.

Performance of 'Where I Live' puts strain on singer's emotions

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:17:00 CST

Liz Simmons has been singing in choirs since she was in the fourth grade. Now, as a singer in the Wichita State University Women's Choir, she is experiencing something new: rehearsing a piece that connects singers and audience to the fear and impact of cancer.

The choir, named Las Voces Dulces, meaning The Sweet Voices, is working on "Where I Live," a powerful and moving oratorio about breast cancer that almost everyone can relate to. The seven-movement piece will be performed on April 28 in Grace Memorial Chapel on WSU.

Although there is no admission, free-will donations are encouraged, and 100 percent of those proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen For the Cure, Mid-Kansas Affiliate.

"I feel really happy and proud that we're doing something to benefit Komen because they do such important work for women," said Liz Simmons, member of the WSU Women's Choir. "It's nice to give back to them."

A powerful performance

Simmons is in her second year at WSU. This is also her second year in women's choir. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 2008 and has felt the direct effects of breast cancer. One of Simmons' cousins survived her battle with the disease. Her best friend from elementary school lost her mother to breast cancer at age 7.

"There are some movements that are really hard for me to get through without getting really emotional," Simmons said. "I'm remembering my friend going through that."

Simmons' knows the music will be a powerful performance that will help the audience see and feel many of the same emotions.

"The music itself is just beautiful and we're hoping to do it justice," she said.

Simmons' attitudes reflect the way the rest of the choir feels as well.

"The Women's Choir members are extremely proud of what they're doing," said John Paul Johnson, director of the choir and professor in the School of Music. "They've just been singing really well and they've been singing up to their potential."

The performance of "Where I Live" features songs titled "Help Me" and "Peace." It has seven songs altogether and will end with a surprise performance by the choir.

"I think anyone who comes to this is going to find it to be emotional and find it to be uplifting," Johnson said. "It's like every rehearsal is a celebration."

Johnson talked about the emotion behind the pieces and what he's had to do to keep those from boiling over.

"We've really had to keep the rehearsals light," he said, "not necessarily focusing on the emotion that's in most of these pieces."

"Where I Live" was commissioned in 1999 and still receives extensive performances across the country.

"It's a really cool opportunity to have," Simmons said. "It's different from the usual concerts we do."

Theater major adds directing to her resume before graduation

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:04:00 CST

During her last semester, Wichita State senior Kylie Jo Jennings faces one of the greatest challenges of her career: directing the play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide /When the Rainbow is Enuf."

Jennings, a music theatre performance major, wrote a proposal to direct the play by Ntozake Shange as the last project of her college career. She wanted to expand her knowledge of the performing industry, and to make a positive impact on the audience.

"For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf" shows the struggle of women of color in society. However, Jennings has focused on making the show an uplifting and empowering experience for both the cast and the audience.

"I want the audience to see the show as a piece of art, life and theatre with real women and to appreciate it as such," Jennings said. "I expect every single one of the girls in the cast to grow as a person, to develop a character, not only on stage but off stage."

Behind the scenes

Jennings' transition from performing to behind the scenes has been the hardest challenge for her.

"With directing you have the control, but with more control comes more responsibility," Jennings said.

Also, casting became a test of its own. The play tells the story of seven women, and the number of ethnic women in the music theatre performance program is scarce, which required the call for women of color on campus.

The cast was selected after two rounds of auditions, and includes a fusion of mostly Hispanic and African American women.

According to Judith Babnich, professor for the School of Performing Arts, Jennings is the first African American woman and student to direct an African American play at Wichita State.

"We are proud of Kylie Jo for reaching out to the community," said Linda Starkey, director of the School of Performing Arts.

Shocker experience

After graduating from Wichita East High School, where she was in the International Baccalaureate program, Jennings moved to Chicago to attend Columbia College.

After one semester, she transferred to Wichita State to start her degree in music theatre.

She has had the opportunity to play the lead role in the "Children of Eden" (2007), and "Madea" (2009). Jennings was also part of the "Hair" production in 2009, and has appeared in many other WSU plays.

Along with performing, she has also helped direct "Waltzing in Heaven" and "Urinetown."

According to Jennings, the professors in the School of Performing Arts have instilled in her the values of hard work and integrity, which inspired her to improve the quality of her college career.

"They care about the students' success personally and professionally," Jennings said. "They teach us to not just perform for you. Act, sing, dance and enrich people's lives."

One thing she will miss after graduation will be the nurturing aspect of college theatre.

Future plans

In the future, Jennings would like to be involved in ministry in the arts. She wants to use the arts to communicate with the community.

"A lot of people say that they want to move to New York and be on Broadway, and that's great, but I really don't feel like that's where I'm called to be," she said. "I like to fuse serving others with performing."

However, she has not limited her options. She plans to move around and audition for different productions or go to graduate school.

She's also planning her wedding, scheduled for March 2012. Jennings and her fiance, Nick Smith, a former Wichita State student, met during the development of a production.

After graduation in May, Jennings will perform in "Snoopy" and "Little Shop of Horrors" at the Crane River Theatre in Kearny, Neb., this summer.

Jennings is dedicating "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf" to her father, who is serving in Iraq.

After 15 years and three kids, Vietnam native graduates from WSU

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 03:00:00 CST

Some know her as super woman, others, crazy woman, but to her family, she's known as mother, wife, role model and provider.

It doesn't take much to realize Jennifer Nguyen, a mother of three and full-time employee at Hawker Beechcraft, is one of the busiest women in Wichita.

Nguyen is a native of Vietnam who graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering this past December. She is the fourth person in her family to get a degree from WSU. Ironically, she's also the oldest.

"I'll never forget my experience at WSU," said Nguyen. "I'll remember all of the professors and the knowledge they gave me."

Nguyen has been working toward her undergraduate degree for about 15 years. During that time, she's put all three of her children through college while helping her husband support their home.

"Some people who understand it, they call me 'superwoman,' " said Nguyen. "Some people who don't understand it, they call me 'crazy woman.' "

The journey

Nguyen immigrated to the United States from Vietnam with her husband and three children in 1994. She was a registered nurse in Vietnam but the license did not transfer over. That's why Nguyen had to pick up different manufacturing jobs in America to support her family.

By working different jobs, Nguyen and her husband were able to support their children. It was in 1996 that she decided to return to school to become a nurse.

"Jennifer is a conscientious, hard-working student," said Vanessa Souriya-Mnirajd, associate director of Student Support Services and Nguyen's adviser. "She works hard to achieve her goals."
In 2001, Nguyen changed her major to engineering after realizing she didn't have the time or money to participate in an unpaid nursing practicum. Her experiences in manufacturing laid the foundation for her interest in engineering.

Nguyen has worked for such companies as Hawker Beechcraft, Koch Industries and LSI Logic, to name a few.

"It has been pretty amazing that she has been able to complete her degree in a timely manner," said Don Malzahn, Nguyen's academic adviser in industrial engineering. "When she sets her sites on a goal she will accomplish it regardless of the obstacles."

Obstacles

Nguyen overcame a tremendous amount of adversity to finally graduate with her degree. English is not her first language; she had to start college by taking classes that offered little to no credit; and she spent several years getting caught up to par on the math classes required for engineering.

"I worked very hard," said Nguyen. "The difficulty is that English is my second language."

Nguyen had to translate from English to Vietnamese, and then from Vietnamese to English. As a result, it took her much longer to complete her schoolwork, regardless of the class.

Transportation was also an issue. Nguyen had to take the bus to work and school.

"I had no car; I worked two part-time jobs, but I still went to school," she said. "Now I've got a house and a car that I got while I was studying."

She's also worked third shift, second shift and first shift throughout her years at Wichita State.

The future

Nguyen will pull from her extensive aviation background to improve manufacturing processes in aircraft factories.

"I go to school, not about money, but because I want to increase my knowledge," said Nguyen. "If I was worried about money, I wouldn't go to school."

She hopes to use her newfound knowledge to improve systems and cycle times, increase efficiency and improve overall manufacturing processes in the aviation industry.

"I want to contribute the knowledge from the degree I've earned and from the experience I've earned," said Nguyen. "I want to apply new methods from what I've learned to change the system."

Through it all, Nguyen has kept up her spirit of perseverance, and is a source of inspiration for anyone doubting their ability to continue or return to school.

"I want to show everyone that if I can do it, anyone can," said Nguyen. "Anyone can go back to school if they put their mind to it."

Aerospace engineering junior gains experience at NASA

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:05:00 CST

Camille Moore, a Wichita State University aerospace engineering student, spent her fall semester working as an intern for the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Moore, who is from Waconia, Mich., found the opportunity to work for NASA through Wichita State's Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program.

For three months, Moore was part of the conceptual design team called Collaborative Modeling for Parametric Assessment of Space System (COMPASS), calculating the required propellant for different phases of a spaceship. She was also part of the design team for mission analysis.

"I learned a lot. I learned two programming languages while I was there," Moore said. "Writing program was something I had to get used to; it was definitely a new experience for me."

Besides college credit, Moore has been able to gain valuable work experience not many have the chance to get. Working at NASA has opened the door for great opportunities in the future.

International experience

Moore's experience in NASA was not the only exciting part of her education in the past year.

Moore, whose minor is French, spent her summer in Orléans, France, improving her fluency and knowledge about the culture.

Thanks to the study abroad opportunities of WSU's Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures department she and seven other Wichita State students had the opportunity to participate in a four-week intensive French program at the University of Orléans.

"It was an amazing experience; it was over way too fast," Moore said. "My French improved so much while I was there, and I did so much traveling. It was a great time."

After a successful year, Moore looks forward to the future, taking more aerospace engineering classes at Wichita State and learning more about what her future career holds.

She would like to be involved with human space flight or the exploration of the Solar System.

"I know that I want to be part of continuing to push our knowledge of the Solar System, what we can do and what we can discover," Moore said.

Moore will return to NASA for a summer 2011 internship and hopes to work in system integration.

For more information on work-based learning opportunities at Wichita State, visit http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/offices/coop/.

Graduate student overcomes speech impediment

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 11:27:00 CST

Getting a master's degree is difficult. Students deal with prior commitments, struggles, loans and everything else imaginable. Try getting a master's degree while having to overcome years of anxiety and insecurity from living with a speech impediment.

That's exactly what Lisa Bennett did.

Bennett graduated in December from Wichita State University with a Master of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders, closing one chapter in her life and opening up life after college. Bennett has stuttered since she was 4 years old and has had a long journey to get to where she is today.

Life after high school

Bennett attended high school in Mulvane. After graduation she went to Fort Hays State University for one year as a speech-pathology major before returning to Wichita to attend Wichita State.

"I wasn't ready to take responsibility for my speech," said Bennett.

Bennett changed her major to computer science upon her return to WSU. She quickly realized computer science wasn't right for her and changed her major to psychology.

"My future was very uncertain," said Bennett. "I didn't know what I was capable of because I never gave myself a chance."

"It was always so much easier to just avoid speaking situations that I thought would be difficult," she said.
Bennett went through the psychology program and graduated with a bachelor's degree, but suffered anxieties about speaking in the workplace. She was too nervous to work in a setting that required her to talk and realized the real world would be a reality check.

"I had a nuclear meltdown," said Bennett. "Now I'm supposed to go out in the working world and I was still spending enormous amounts of energy trying to hide my stuttering from people."

After graduation

Bennett worked a few temporary jobs following graduation and avoided any jobs that required her to talk.

"I was the queen of data entry jobs," she said. "As long as I was sitting there typing away I didn't have to interact with people."

Bennett worked data entry jobs for about two years and even requested that a phone not be placed on her desk.

"It was embarrassing, but I was willing to live with that because I didn't think I was capable of making calls and using the phone at work," she said.

She eventually wound up at an employment agency, where she took an assembly line position with York, makers of heaters and air conditioners.

"It was not right for me," said Bennett. "I couldn't live with knowing that stuttering chose that job for me."

Working on the line gave Bennett a different perspective on life.

"I had a lot of time to think, and I saw a fork in the road," she said. "I can let stuttering continue to make my decisions for me or I can choose something else now. If I don't, it's got me."

Bennett made up her mind to go back to school and get a master's degree.

A new beginning

Bennett decided to pursue a master's degree in communication sciences and disorders. She started in 2007 and took many prerequisite classes before pursuing the main curriculum of the program.

"I've enjoyed it," she said. "I've done things I never thought I could do."

Since being in the program, Bennett has administered to clients as part of the Evelyn Hendren Cassatt Speech Language-Hearing Clinic, a requirement for master's students. She's also worked with kids, taken part in camps and has completely come to grips with who she is as a person.
"Through exceptional personal courage, commitment and perseverance, Lisa will graduate, having already secured a job as a speech-language pathologist," said Anthony Dilollo, associate professor in the department of communication sciences and disorders.

"More significantly, she succeeded in reframing the story of her life from one of a victim of stuttering, to one of a powerful opponent, who not only will overcome stuttering's influence in her own life but also play a role in helping others to do the same."

Bennett got a job as a speech pathologist with EBS Healthcare. In the future, she hopes to work at the elementary school level helping kids with a variety of communication disorders, including the emotional and social issues that accompany those disorders. Eventually, she wants to specialize in speech fluency.

"It really is a gift to be able to relate to a kid right as they walk through the door," said Bennett. "I feel like it helps them to know that I understand what it's like to feel different."

Bennett has come a long way from the college graduate punching data into computers. In the past four years, she has faced and conquered her anxieties to help kids with speech and language problems.

Her best memory from WSU comes from a literacy camp she attended. At camp she had to teach a lesson on vocabulary and comprehension, which involved reading a story out loud to kids. After the reading, she felt a huge sense of fulfillment at how well she had done and at how engaged the kids were.

"I just felt so different than I did a few years ago," she said. "A few years ago I would think I was incapable of reading a story to some kids."

As Bennett advances in life, her future is bright and she knows the sky is the limit.

"Now that I'm presenting myself as me, stuttering me, I'm OK with that," said Bennett. "There's just so much that's beyond that if you can go that way."

Wichita State debate competition prepares students for life

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:37:00 CST

The Wichita State University debate team has faced some of its toughest competition this season and continues to surprise the field.

The squad has competed well at several different debate tournaments including Northwestern University, Georgia State University, Bear Shock (Missouri State University and Wichita State University), Emporia State University and the University of Oklahoma.

At Emporia State, all but one team broke through to elimination rounds.

"We're pretty diligent at working because we all have to contribute," said Tyler Joe, a member of the debate team. "We're such a small squad we can't rely on 20 other people to help us."

The team still has tournaments at the University of North Texas, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Kentucky, districts and the National Debate Tournament.

Real-life skills

On top of competing, debate helps develop and promote beneficial skills for team members.

"Debate is the single most educational activity a student can engage in," said Eric Robinson, graduate student in the Elliott School of Communication and assistant debate coach. "At the highest levels, students can spend as much time and energy as is expended competing in any Division I athletic program."

"Debate, when taken seriously, is like a second major or a full-time job; it becomes your life," he said.

As a debater, a student can hone life skills such as listening and reasoning while staying up to date on current events.

"It helps you stay current on all sorts of events," said Joe. "The amount of information and the speed at which you can process that information is astronomical when you are in debate, especially at the collegiate level."

The Shocker debate squad consists of 10 members and requires everyone's efforts to be successful.

"You're going to get a lot more hands-on experience here," said Joe. "We have a pretty tight-knit squad."

Career development

Joe said debate has helped him develop better study skills for classes.

"It helps me organize my thoughts and put all of these practical things I've learned through debate into practice," he said.

Robinson agrees that debate can help students in college or their future job.

"The process of researching a very broad range of topics, cultivating listening skills, thinking about issues from multiple perspectives and building the character to deal with both wins and losses is unique to the format of debate," he said.

Joe said the debate team is preparing him for his future career, hopefully law, in addition to setting him up for success for the rest of his life.

"It's shaped my career goals and where I'm going to take myself in the future," said Joe. "I want to go to law school and become a lawyer, and debate helps me apply those skills to my future career."

The debate season runs from September 2010 through April 2011.

For more information on Wichita State debate, contact Jeffrey Jarman at 978-6075 or jeffrey.jarman@wichita.edu.

Criminal justice student interns with the Drug Enforcement Administration

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 22:22:00 CST

At Wichita State University, Manny Thompson earns work experience, college credit and a paycheck—all while enhancing his resume and getting a jump start on the competition.

Thompson is a senior criminal justice major working for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). As an intern through Wichita State University's Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program, Thompson works toward graduation and a career at the same time.

"It gives me the credit, and it gives me the experience," said Thompson. "It's kind of the best of both worlds."

Motivated and humble

On top of his internship, Thompson is in the Army Reserve, carries a full-time class load and recently became a professional boxer. His busy schedule reflects the way he lives his life and the dedication he shows his work.

"Manny is motivated, willing to do what it takes to succeed and very humble," said Jennifer Brantley, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning coordinator. "I had no doubt he would do well and be a great representative of the WSU co-op program."

At the DEA, Thompson helps keep an eye on one-third of the state of Kansas. Part of his job is clerical but he also gets to work with members of the Wichita Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigators and other government agencies.

"It's a fun, exciting job," said Thompson. "It keeps you on your feet."

Besides giving Thompson work experience, the internship also provides help with his criminal justice coursework.

"It helps out a lot," he said. "If I don't know the answer I can go to some of the special agents (at the DEA)."
Thompson plans on working with the DEA through graduation. After that he's not sure where he'll be.

In the ring

In the meantime, he's training for his first fight as a professional boxer. Thompson has boxed since he was a kid and has had a lot of success over the years.

In the ring or out, Thompson stays busy during his college years.

The fast-paced environment of his life mirrors the way his future job might be. Thompson said a career in political science or criminal justice is possible, but that he might refocus on something within business. He plans on attending graduate school.

"I'm leaning more toward business and trying to get my MBA," he said. "You can do a lot with it; it's very versatile."

Whatever he decides, Thompson's experience with the DEA and his coursework at WSU have helped prepare him for the rest of his life. His internship has given him a unique view on crime, life and the city.

"Never underestimate any region or city or anything, period," he said. "Wichita is busier than anyone, in my opinion, would imagine."

The WSU co-op program has helped place more than 27,800 students in the workplace during the past 30 years. For more information on co-op, visit http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/offices/coop/.

Graduate engineering student helps Coleman protect environment

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:09:00 CST

Aakash Amatya, a Wichita State University graduate electrical engineering student from Nepal, participated in the Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute intern program over the past summer.

The internship program links engineering and environmental science students with companies to help reduce emissions and conserve natural resources.

"The internship was a great experience for me," said Amatya. "I am certain that this experience will definitely help me in my career."

Amatya was partnered with the Coleman Co. in Wichita, where he worked on four different projects. In all, he helped save the company an estimated 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 300,000 "therms" of natural gas, 9.4 million gallons of water and around $74,000 in operating costs.

Amatya said his experience was marvelous, as the staff from both Coleman and K-State embraced him and helped him at all times.

"I couldn't have asked for more," he said. "As icing on the cake, they (Coleman) are going to implement the recommendation that I made for them regarding their boiler."

Amatya credited his coursework and advisers from Wichita State University for his success in the internship. His results will also be used for his master's project.

The experience gained from the internship program is valuable to potential employers and students everywhere.

"Hands-on experience and knowledge of environmental principles are key advantages for the interns," said Nancy Larson, director of the K-State Pollution Prevention Institute. "Participation in these internships throughout the U.S. has resulted in many employment offers from host companies."

The K-State Pollution Prevention Institute works with companies to develop effective waste-reducing solutions. Interns help reduce operating costs, regulatory compliance burdens and companies' environmental footprints.

To be eligible, participants must have junior standing by the start of summer 2011, and be enrolled in an accredited engineering or science program at a college or university in Kansas.

In addition to engineering, the intern program includes positions that work directly with the healthcare and lodging industries.

Student and business applications for the 2011 intern program are due Jan. 31, 2011. For more information on the internship program, visit http://www.sbeap.org/internships.php.

Students use technology to increase success in the classroom

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 14:50:00 CST

Blogging for grades might not be the norm for most colleges, but for Wichita State's human anatomy and physiology students, online blogging is becoming second nature.

Francis Haik

That's thanks to Francis Haik, a senior chemistry major who developed a blog to help students study for human anatomy and physiology. The blog allows users to click on links to YouTube videos for further instruction.

"I started a blog because this class is centered on visuals," said Haik. "If you can get the visuals, you can get the concept."

As a Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader, Haik hopes the visuals on YouTube will help his SI students understand the core concepts of the class. The blog will also allow for discussion and feedback.

For an example, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phn0ePfaX3c.

"I'm a blog person, but I like to comment and discuss things with people," said Haik.

The blog is an example of students using technology in the classroom to make a difficult subject easier.

Joe Shellhammer

"The students that have either asked or commented on it have been positive," said Joe Shellhammer, Fairmount lecturer of biological sciences, and instructor of human anatomy and physiology.

Although he wasn't sure if the blog was responsible, Shellhammer noted that test scores were higher after he told his class about the blog.

"I've been impressed," he said.

Shellhammer and Haik agree that the visuals add substance to classroom lectures.

He said the blog has been an asset to him, as well.

"It's helped me," said Shellhammer. "I've looked at a few things on there. The visual part has been beneficial."

Students have found that the blog lets them dive deeper into subjects and material they are unfamiliar with.

Haik does his best to update the blog before every test, making sure the students have the correct materials and instruction to successfully pass their exams.

The blog, http://anatomyphysiologywsu.blogspot.com/, is available to anyone in need of assistance in human anatomy and physiology. For more information, call the Office of Supplemental Instruction at (316) 978-3847.