Barton School News - All Stories

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, members of the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University visited Belle Plaine High School to surprise senior Alyssa Pace with the 2026 Clay Barton Scholarship. The $50,000 award is one of the largest business scholarships in Kansas and will cover four years of tuition support at Wichita State.

The City of Wichita formally recognized the 100th anniversary of the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University with an official proclamation presented on Tuesday, February 10, honoring a century of leadership, economic impact and commitment to business education.

Excitement is building as the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University prepares to welcome a sold-out crowd to its 2026 “Beyond” Hall of Fame gala on Saturday, February 21. The black-tie optional celebration will honor three distinguished inductees—Paul Allen, Dan Carney and Steve Feilmeier—while launching the Barton School’s 100th anniversary year into high gear.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University proudly announces a Centennial Signature Initiative: the appointment of Eyal Redler and Omer Nagar as Venture Capitalists in Residence in March 2026, marking 100 years of educating business leaders while launching Barton’s next era of global innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has been named a 2026 Innovation Awards honoree by the Wichita Business Journal for Spero, a micro-credential program designed to expand economic mobility through education-to-employment pathways.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has announced eight exceptional high school seniors as finalists for the 2026 Clay Barton Scholarship, one of the most prestigious business scholarships in the state of Kansas.  Valued at $50,000, the scholarship is awarded annually to one student who demonstrates academic excellence, leadership, and a passion for business.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has officially merged its Departments of Marketing and Economics into a single, unified academic unit: the Department of Marketing and Economics. This strategic alignment, approved by the Kansas Board of Regents, is effective immediately and reflects the Barton School’s commitment to interdisciplinary innovation, academic collaboration, and operational efficiency.

As the Barton School of Business at Wichita State University celebrates its 100^th year of transforming lives through business education, an anonymous $1 million gift from a 1958 alumnus stands as a powerful reflection of the generosity and belief that has shaped the school since its founding. The donation honors the school's legacy while expanding opportunity for students with financial need.

The Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has announced the appointment of Nikki Beyrle as its new Hospitality Executive-in-Residence and Chair of the Hospitality Advisory Board – marking a bold new chapter in redefining hospitality education in Kansas and beyond. Beyrle will lead the program’s transformation into a nationally and globally recognized model of excellence. A group of prominent industry executives joining the Advisory Board will be announced soon.