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Merry Kirkpatrick stands in a field of yellow flowers with her 3 kids. One is a little baby girl in her arms. The other two are little boys. Her husband stands behind her. They are all wearing yellow themed clothes to match the flowers. There are some trees that line the blue sky.

Dec. 8, 2021— Merry Kirkpatrick learned how to balance family life and school while earning a degree in the early childhood unified program. She plans to continue working at WSU’s Childhood Development Center following graduation. Kirkpatrick is one of more than 1,100 students eligible for fall 2021 graduation.

Travis Yang

Dec. 7, 2021 — The College of Applied Studies at Wichita State University announced today that Travis Yang has been hired as the new director of varsity esports.

Caitlin Nolen, 23, plans to obtain a Masters in higher education student affairs at WSU.

December 6, 2021 — Caitlin Nolen, a first-generation student from Edmond, OK, found that getting connected on campus makes being a new student a lot less intimidating. Nolen is one of more than 1,100 students eligible for fall 2021 graduation.

Misty Weiss will start a full-time teaching position at the Child Development Center following graduation.

Dec. 3, 2021 — Misty Weiss found her fit as an elementary education major after working at Wichita State’s Child Development Center. Weiss is one of more than 1,100 students eligible for fall 2021 graduation.

Pedro Piña-Guerrero is sitting on some long limestone steps with his hands crossed and a smile on his face.

Nov. 24, 2021 – It was a bright and sunny afternoon in August 2021 when Pedro Piña-Guerrero received a call that would change his life: He had won the Adelante Scholarship to attend Wichita State University.

WSU students at Lockheed Martin

Nov. 10, 2021 -- Building on a 20-year history of collaboration, Lockheed Martin recently named Wichita State University and WSU Tech as a tier one collegiate partner institution, emphasizing collaboration with the institution as an Aeronautics Sector Emerging School to bolster the pipeline for future Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) careers.

Teachers and students

Nov. 8, 2021 -- In just four years since its inception, the Teacher Apprentice Program at Wichita State University’s College of Applied Studies has had a big impact on school districts and communities across Kansas.

NAIR WERX

Nov. 4, 2021 - A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce will help Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) purchase tools and supplies to support Flight Test Research Center and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at NIAR WERX.

Masks

Nov. 1, 2021 - Helped by six grants from Kansas Leadership Center, Wichita State University’s HEALTH Student Association is working to end the pandemic and support students with information and resources to keep them healthy. HEALTH distributed more than 6,000 free and reusable masks, some with “Shockers United” branding, some plain black and sequined masks for the inauguration of president Rick Muma. It assembled gift boxes for quarantining students with information on COVID-19 vaccines and testing and gifts such as Wichita State water bottles, stickers and lanyards.

The American Athletic Conference logo

Oct. 29, 2021 - The American Athletic Conference is investing in big cities and the state of Texas with its addition of six new members recently. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Florida Atlantic University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Texas, Rice University and University of Texas at San Antonio had their applications for membership approved last week.

Louisa Brunt

Oct. 11, 2021 - Louisa Brunt, from Manchester, England, transferred to Wichita State from Texas Tech University to golf and to earn her master’s degree in criminal justice. Brunt graduated from Texas Tech, where she earned Academic All-Big 12 honors three times, with a major in criminology and a minor in forensic science. Brunt expects her career path to take her into police work or the FBI.

Widener group graphic

Oct. 7, 2021 -- The Widener Global Leaders Program, a new, year-long, interdisciplinary program housed in the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, has compiled a dynamic and diverse group to serve on its industry advisory board.

JW Webster

Oct. 1, 2021 — Before he could even walk, JW Webster could do something only a handful of other people in the world could do: speak the Cherokee language. Today Webster is one of only 1,200 people who can fluently read, write and speak the indigenous language — which is ranked as one of the most difficult languages to learn. In August, Webster’s sacred knowledge became part of Wichita State University’s applied linguistics program through a new class, Elementary Cherokee I (LING 590).

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.

Dr. Jody Fiorini works with a client at the WISE Clinic.

Sept. 27, 2021 — A new Wichita State University mental health clinic is helping its clients take a positive and proactive approach to their mental health. The WSU Integrated Support and Empowerment (WISE) Clinic offers comprehensive counseling services to everyone in the Wichita community, and all services are free of charge.