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Valeria Esparza sits in front of the Wichita State University sign. She is wearing a grey sweater and black turtleneck and is sitting on a brick ledge. There is some shrubbery below the sign.

Dec. 8, 2021— Valeria Esparza’s dream was to attend college as a first-generation student. She is now guaranteed a position to teach elementary education as her future job following graduation. Esparza is one of more than 1,100 students eligible for fall 2021 graduation.

Madeline Shonka (left) created an app called CoVstat to help patients with chronic illnesses. Devon Creasman (right) created ICT Box which brings local artisan goods to your doorstep.

November 29, 2021 – Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CEI) has granted two students the Women for Women's Innovation Award — one who wants to use an app to help those with chronic illnesses, the other who wants to support local businesses by creating Wichita artisan gift boxes.

Aunjnae White, a first-generation student, posing with her degree in psychology.

Nov. 22, 2021 – New beginnings are usually an adjustment, and it can be a leap of faith if you are the first to go to college in your family.

Shocker Nation graphic

Sept. 30, 2021 -- Enrollment for fall 2021 at Wichita State University and WSU Tech is showing strong growth despite a decline in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of thousands of local jobs.

Michael Golomb

March 25, 2021 -- The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has launched its Entrepreneur in Residence program and named Michael Golomb, founder and CEO of FanVestor, as its newest resident. This distinction will last through the spring 2021 semester. Each Entrepreneur in Residence will provide essential collaboration and outside industry knowledge to Barton School students, faculty and the Wichita community.

Brittany Wojciechowski

March 24, 2021 — Brittany Wojciechowski, a Wichita State University Ph.D. student in aerospace engineering, has been awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF), which is worth more than $120,000.

Erin Jacobson and Gavin Dick

March 1, 2021 — Seniors from the Maize Virtual Preparatory School and Mother of Divine Grace Distance Learning School have been chosen for the Professor Fran Jabara Scholarship in Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University.

February 23, 2021 — Seniors from the Maize Virtual Preparatory School and Mother of Divine Grace Distance Learning School have been chosen for the Professor Fran Jabara Scholarship in Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University.

Angelique Banh and Michele Valadez

Feb. 23, 2021 — Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CEI) has granted two students the Women for Women's Innovation Award — one who wants to create an app to help drivers in the event of a car crash, the other who wants to open a boutique for sustainable clothing.

Jade Mursch at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Feb. 22, 2021 – When we last spoke to Wichita State alumna and 2020 graduate Jade Mursch, her internship had been paused due to COVID-19. After being on hold for a month, Mursch’s internship was ultimately cut short. After months of uncertainty, Mursch secured a new full-time role.

Campus

December 1, 2020 - Wichita State’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion is organizing “Tenacious Men,” a program designed to provide mentoring and STEM education for underrepresent students in Wichita Public Schools.

Morgan Bretches

November 16, 2020 - Morgan Bretches, from Wellington, recently was offered a position as laboratory assistant at Mayo Clinic, where she will investigate the meningeal lymphatic system and the brain. Morgan is one of more than 1,200 students eligible for fall 2020 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what is next for the grad.

Jessica Gulaskey

Nov. 3, 2020 — Jessica Gulaskey is one of thousands of first-generation students at Wichita State. The Wichita native will be taking over the university’s Instagram account on Thursday, Nov. 5, to share her experiences as a first-gen student.

Lily Guillen

Nov. 3, 2020 — Lily Guillen, a graduate student in studio art, is one of thousands of first-generation students at Wichita State University. She will be taking over the university’s Instagram account on Wednesday, Nov. 4, to share her experiences as a first-gen student.

Dr. Linda Rhone

Oct. 30, 2020 — When Dr. Linda Rhone walked across the Wichita State University campus as a freshman in the 1970s, she had no idea that she would one day add a Ph.D. to the end of her name and serve the university as director of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS).