Students make their mark prior at WSU Special students make their mark prior to graduation

About 2,230 students are eligible to participate in the 113th spring commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday, May 13-14, at Wichita State University. Ceremonies will be held in Charles Koch Arena. The following are examples of undergraduate and graduate students who will receive their degrees this spring.

Kaitlyn Anderson, of Maize High School, will graduate at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 14. Anderson majored in international business and marketing, with minors in French and management. As a student, she was involved in Barton School Dean’s Ambassadors, intramural sports and cooperative education. She spent a semester at sea during summer 2009, visiting Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Egypt and Morocco. At sea, Anderson studied business concepts and ideas that related to the countries she visited. After graduation she is moving to Frankfurt, Germany, to work for the Coleman Co. as an intern in the marketing department.

“Working in a foreign country has always been my dream,” Anderson said. “I’m ecstatic that the time is finally here and I’m looking forward to the adventure.”

Amy Nichols, a strategic communication major from Manhattan, Kan., will graduate at 3 p.m. Friday, May 13. Nichols attended Wamego High School. At Wichita State, she has been involved in Student Ambassador Society, Delta Delta Delta Sorority, Christian Challenge, Mortar Board, Up ’til Dawn, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital philanthropy, cooperative education and served as a leadership facilitator for WSU leadership courses. Nichols was chosen as a Wichita State Senior Honor Woman. She also participated in National Student Exchange, attending Texas A&M University for one semester. After graduation, Nichols will work as an admissions representative in the WSU Office of Admissions.

“Wichita State has provided me with educational opportunities that I know will help me be successful,” Nichols said. “In my WSU experience, the most meaningful memories have been those where I had the opportunity to help others.”

Veronica Pyles will graduate at 3 p.m. Friday, May 13, with a bachelor’s degree from the School of Social Work and minors in women’s studies and sociology. Pyles graduated from Bishop Carroll High School after moving to Wichita with her family in 1987. Her daughter, ShaNice Pyles, will graduate this year from Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School.

Pyles is immediately beginning her master’s degree in social work. She plans to get her Ph.D. and eventually wants to become an inspirational speaker. Pyles benefited from TRIO Disability Support Services, an organization that assists undergraduate students with learning, physical or psychological disabilities. She is also a member of the McNair Scholars Program. The program encourages and prepares students for post-baccalaureate study. She will graduate cum laude.

“I’m very, very happy and impressed with myself,” said Pyles. “I now know that I have the potential to do it and I’m just kind of going all the way with it (school).”

Abhishek Bajaj, a senior from Bangalore City, India, will graduate at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 14, with a bachelor’s degree in finance and minor in economics. Bajaj was vice president of the Brennan Community Association and resident assistant in Fairmount Towers. He was also involved in AIESEC and the World Trade Council of Wichita. Bajaj has participated in seven straight semesters of cooperative education for LSI Logic Corporation as a finance/pricing intern. He will start working full-time after graduation as a financial analyst for NetApp.

“Overall, my experience has been wonderful,” said Bajaj. “I can now say that it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life to pursue my undergraduate degree at WSU.”

Liam O’Toole, a graduate student in the College of Fine Arts, will graduate at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14, with a master’s degree in music education with an emphasis in instrumental conducting. He was the athletic band director and also served as a graduate teaching assistant at WSU. He’s been involved in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Jazz Band. O’Toole will perform on May 30 at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble. After graduation, O’Toole is moving to Hong Kong, China, to teach music for the Canadian International School. Before moving to Wichita State, he taught band in Ankara, Turkey.

O’Toole’s mother, Veronica, of New Zealand, has conducted research at WSU after receiving the Fulbright-Cognition Scholar Award. The award is given to a New Zealand educator to research abroad. It reunites her with her son, whom she otherwise would not be able to witness graduate.

For more information, visit http://www.thesunflower.com/web/isite.dll?1303959242879~Toole.

Stephen Harrison, a graduate student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will graduate at 3 p.m. Friday, May 13, with a master’s degree in criminal justice. Harrison graduated from East High School in 2004. He has been involved in the Criminal Justice Student Association since 2008, serving as the treasurer in 2010. He has been a member of cooperative education for the past three semesters at Kansas Legal Services. After graduation, Harrison plans to move to California and apply to law school.

Justin Krueger, a graduate student in the College of Fine Arts, will graduate with a master of music in piano pedagogy at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Krueger is a native of Wisconsin. At Wichita State, he was a graduate teaching assistant, where he taught group and private piano courses for undergraduate WSU students. He was the president of the Student Music Teachers Association. He also worked at Garten’s Music as a music teacher and is director of choirs at All Saints Catholic Church. After graduation, he plans to begin doctoral work at West Virginia University in music.