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Darren Defrain

Sept. 23, 2020 - Darren Defrain is the social professor of English and director of the writing program at Wichita State. Defrain has written novels, memoirs and essays, created a graphic novel, teaches on graphic novels/storytelling and is actively working on a graphic novel app.

Peri Widener

Sept. 21, 2020 -- Saying she wants to help build a new generation of business leaders with a world view, Wichita State alumna Peri Widener has pledged $275,000 to her alma mater. A portion of the gift will launch a program to help develop students into global business leaders.

Charles Koch Arena

Sept. 18, 2020 -- The Wichita State University Shockers Vote! Coalition is proud to announce that Charles Koch Arena will become an early voting site for the 2020 general election.

Blue-green algae samples taken from Marion Lake.

Sept. 16, 2020 — A team of researchers from Wichita State University is investigating blue-green algae in Marion Reservoir and its toxic, and sometimes deadly, dangers to wildlife, pets and people.

Yolanda and Gene Camarena

Aug. 31, 2020 -- Gene and Yolanda Camarena are well known for helping underserved Kansas youth improve their lives through education and other causes. Now the Wichita couple is enhancing that legacy with a $1 million gift to Wichita State University to give students of color opportunities they otherwise might not have.

Wichita State student

August 28, 2020 - Growing and diversifying the regional economy is a primary goal for Wichita State University. To assist with those efforts, Wichita State University President Dr. Jay Golden has created the President’s Innovation and Business Advisory Council. A selection of area business leaders will be invited to attend monthly council meetings to advise and support Wichita State leadership on a number of critical areas.

College students at a seminar

Aug. 27, 2020 - Wichita State University graduate Sarahi Aguilera considered herself shy for most of her life. Her status as an undocumented immigrant limited what she thought herself capable of saying or doing. That perception changed in 2017 when she traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of delegation of college students who talked to politicians about their stories and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Aguilera started volunteering with Sunflower Community Action in 2018 while a student at Seward County Community College. Later that year, she transferred to Wichita State and took a job as an immigrant justice organizer at Sunflower Community Action. In May, she graduated with a major in criminal justice and a psychology minor. She wants to attend law school and work in immigration law.

Screen shot of Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso

Kansas Jason Sudeikis writes and stars in the Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso,”  which begins streaming Friday (Aug. 14). In the show, Lasso is a fictional former Wichita State University football coach who moves to coach fictional British soccer club AFC Richmond in the Premier League. Lasso's former life as Shocker coach is featured in the first two episodes.

Eck Stadium

Aug. 5, 2020 - Wichita State Athletics will introduce mobile ticketing for the 2020-21 season for the sports of volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball. The move to mobile ticketing will provide greater convenience and a safer environment for fans. It will offer a contactless entry into athletic venues and the ability to transfer tickets electronically, eliminating physical touching concerns prevalent during this time. Mobile ticketing will also provide an added layer of security, guarding against the production of fraudulent and counterfeit tickets.

Two students on the WSU campus

July 7, 2020 -- Nearly 70 years after John and Colleen Wooley first met as students at the University of Wichita, they have established a legacy that will touch the lives of Wichita State University students for generations to come. The couple’s $2.2 million estate gift will provide more than $100,000 in scholarships each year for students with financial need.

Miro art at Wichita State

July 1, 2020 - Wichita State University’s 125th Anniversary (Quasquicentennial) celebration begins July 1. Together with the City of Wichita, Wichita State has built a strong and symbiotic partnership. It's a relationship that supplies the lifeblood of a thriving community and makes it possible to provide the most well-rounded education in the region.

Creators of

May 20, 2020 — Jay Price, director of the public history program at Wichita State University, decided to make a series of graphic novels to commemorate the trail."

May 18, 2020 — COVID-19 might have forced Wichita State’s Ulrich Museum of Art to close its doors, but the museum has found new avenues to shine and thrive: an ambitious public art project and building the Ulrich’s online presence into a teaching and learning resource.

Emerging Artist showcase

April 14, 2020 -- Emerging Artists is an annual showcase of work by many of the best students in the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries. The March 14 event was canceled due to the novel Coronavirus. The group held a virtual awards ceremony through Facebook to celebrate the students' accomplishments.

Shockers Up logo

March 31, 2020 -- As many Wichita State University students struggle with ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic, the WSU Foundation has created a new fund to help them overcome financial hardships and remain focused on their education.