WSU News

April 30, 2025 — Bryonna Hawk is passionate about helping others through speech-language pathology and will continue her studies in Wichita State's graduate program. She credits her success to strong time-management strategies and hands-on experiences at the Evelyn Hendren Cassat Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.

April 30, 2025 — Colby Hutson came to Wichita State for engineering but found his true calling in music performance, thanks to small class sizes and supportive relationships with professors. After graduation, he’s headed to Colorado State University to pursue a master’s degree in French horn performance.

April 30, 2025 — Luke Parrett, a filmmaking major from Oklahoma, chose Wichita State for its proximity to home and the hands-on learning offered at Shocker Studios. His time at WSU has been shaped by applied learning in nearly every class, preparing him to pursue gig work across the Midwest and build a career in the film industry.

April 29, 2025 — Sayed Mohib Hassan came to Wichita State University thanks to the W. Frank Barton School of Business and its business analytics program. While at WSU, Sayed made sure to make the most of his time by engaging in extracurriculars, participating in clubs and working for the Graduate School and recommends his peers do the same.

April 29, 2025 — Ashlyn Riggs came to Wichita State University thanks to its proximity to home and she already had a connection to campus through her mother, who is an active employee. While at WSU, she had the opportunity to work at the Child Development Center as a lead sub teacher — all while getting her degree in education.

April 23, 2025 — John Mark Koontz is graduating with a Bachelor of Music in double bass performance. He credits Wichita State’s faculty and ensembles for shaping his growth. His advice: stay consistent—progress takes time, but it adds up.

April 22, 2025 — Missourian Adam Key, was drawn to WSU for its welcoming community, affordability and emphasis on applied learning. Adam has built an impressive resume through internships, leadership roles and hands-on experiences with local businesses and startups.

April 22, 2025 — Lindsey Mendenhall was able to get more than just an education at Wichita State. Through the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), she got to work in her field while getting her degree and has a job lined up with the NIAR Advanced Materials Lab. Beyond the classroom, Lindsey found that the lessons she learned from teaching her dogs set her up for success in her academic and professional lives.

April 20, 2025 — Tyler Winn’s journey at Wichita State University has been shaped by perseverance and applied learning. After transferring from a community college to WSU in 2023, he quickly connected with faculty and gained valuable internships, including with the Wichita Thunder and NCAA March Madness.

Dec. 16, 2024 — Javier Martinez received the Mark and Stacy Parkinson Scholarship, which, alongside Wichita State University’s closeness to home and mechanical engineering program, made it a no-brainer for Javier to attend WSU. He used the opportunities available to him as a Shocker to stay up on his studies and now joins his peers in graduating with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.

Dec. 12, 2024 — Carter initially chose Wichita State University for its locality, being able to receive in-state tuition, but he also found a community in the campus and place to call home in the anthropology department in Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. They are now graduating with their master’s in anthropology with a plan to enter a doctoral program in archaeology in the future.

Dec. 12, 2024 — Following time at another university, Lilith Samples realized her hometown of Wichita was where she belonged and is now the first in her family to graduate from college. While at Wichita State University, she was able to work at the Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology in Neff Hall and hopes to continue in the profession after graduating.

Dec. 10, 2024 — For Diego Vargas-Ruiz, college life was trying to find a balance between academe, friends and personal health, but instead of trying to fight it, he took the challenge as an opportunity to optimize his responsibilities until he found his rhythm.

Dec. 10, 2024 — Jaymes Squires worked hard to juggle a full-time job and a growing family while pursuing his academic ambitions at Wichita State University. His perseverance paid off, and Jaymes will graduate with a bachelor's degree in general studies in December.

Dec. 9, 2024 — Yuki To is a first-gen student at Wichita State University who is currently graduating with her degree in health science, and with the help of the scholarships available to her at Wichita State, she is graduating debt free. She made sure to spend time on extracurricular activities and develop connections with other Shockers. Her advice to her peers: “Don’t be afraid to try.”

Dec. 9, 2024 — Aynsley Paterson stepped out of her comfort zone, overcoming her introverted nature to build friendships and make the most of the Shocker experience.

Dec. 9, 2024 - Jose Miranda, a first-generation student, chose Wichita State for its exercise science program and to remain close to home. He is also a loyal Shocker basketball fan, so staying close to Charles Koch Arena mattered.

Dec. 3, 2024 — Josie Sloan is a first-generation college student who worked as bus driver for Wichita Public Schools while earning her degree in communication science and disorders. She encourages students to connect with people on campus: "Engage with your classmates and professors and build relationships intentionally."

Dec. 3, 2024 — Hans Schrader plans on a career in museums and he got his start at Wichita State University’s Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology. "The Holmes museum is a quiet gem in the heart of campus which has been a truly special part of my graduate education."

Dec. 3, 2024 — Abby Arbeiter was attracted to Wichita State University thanks to its creative writing program in the Department of English. Since attending WSU, she had the opportunity to travel to Europe thanks to the WSU Travel Seminar and will be graduating with her bachelor’s in creative writing this fall. Her advice to other Shockers? “Never be afraid to put yourself out there.”