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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.

Wichita State students pose with Alyssa in her Elsa costume made as part of the Walkin' & Rollin' program.

Oct. 29, 2021 – Most children love trying on costumes this time of year, but for children with special needs, finding the right costume can be a challenge.

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.

Gianluca Gabriele

July 6, 2021 - Gianluca Gabriele, 17, is an incoming freshman who plans to major in biomedical engineering at Wichita State University. Rowing is his passion, and he will spend the summer under consideration for both the 2024 summer Paralympic and Olympic training teams for the United States. When he returns to Wichita State later this summer, he will join the Shockers crew team.

F16

June 30, 2021 -- The U.S. Air Force is launching a new program with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) to make a digital replica of the F-16 Fighting Falcon in an effort to improve the sustainment and modernization of F-16s operating around the world.

Wichita State University engineering students present Ford Hall with a bicycle they modified to meet his needs.

June 7, 2021 — Five-year-old Ford Hall has had to overcome more in his short life than most do in a lifetime. That’s because immediately after he was born, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The doctors informed his mother he would probably never be able to walk. “It was that conversation with that doctor that really lit a fire in us,” said Cori Hall, Ford’s mother.

Lydia Melles and Lucy Hoang, Wichita State University computer science major students, work on an autonomous robot that uses ultraviolet C-lights (UVC) to fight COVID-19 at the McConnell Air Force Base Innovation Lab.  The two senior students partnered with the McConnell Innovation Lab as part of their is part of their senior design class.

May 12, 2021 — Two Wichita State University seniors have partnered with the McConnell Air Force Base Innovation Lab to help fight COVID-19 – by using robotics. Computer science majors Lucy Hoang and Lydia Melles are creating an autonomous robot that uses ultraviolet C-lights (UVC) to clean grocery stores.

Matthew Ferguson

May 4, 2021 – Matthew Ferguson, a native Wichitan, chose to attend Wichita State to be close to his family and discover his passions. He is one of more than 3,500 students eligible for spring 2021 graduation.

Anisia Brumley smiling

May 14, 2021 — Anisia Brumley, a native Wichitan, is a Wichita Northeast Magnet High School alumna. She chose to attend Wichita State because as a first-generation student, Wichita State provided her with a sense of comfort and familiarity.

W. Frank Barton School of Business Institute for the Study of Economic Growth Adam Thierer Technology Policy: A Case for Optimism and Freedom to Innovate Benjamin J. and Bettie M. Gibson Breeding Lectureship 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 14

April 8, 2021 — As part of the Benjamin J. and Bettie M. Gibson Breeding Lectureship, Institute for the Study of Economic Growth at the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University will present Adam Thierer at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 14.

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.

Make48 logo

March 17, 2021 -- With the help of Koch Industries, Make48 is bringing its 48-hour collaborative inventor and maker challenge to Wichita. Wichita State University’s GoCreate, A Koch Collaborative will host the event scheduled for June 24-26.