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NASA's Tim Fisher

June 23, 2021 - In 1977, a Wichitan watched Star Wars at the Mall theater on East Harry. He returned again and again that summer to watch the lightsaber battles, Jedi Knights and X-wing starfighters. “I’m an original Star Wars guy,” Tim Fisher said. “I was just mesmerized. It sparked that ‘What is possible? What can we do?’” Decades later, Fisher is one of the people helping answer those questions for the United States and the entire world in space. He is chief engineer for NASA’s Gateway program, part of the agency’s quest to return to the Moon and explore Mars.

Cybersecurity applied learning

June 22, 2021 - Joe Jabara doesn’t call his class Hacking 101, but his students do learn how to develop effective attacks on computer systems. The course is actually called Applied Computing Intermediate Design Project, and this past spring its students carried out phishing attempts against a targeted group of Wichita State University faculty, staff and students.

Students standing in front of a decorated porch

May 13, 2021 – Students enrolled in Integrated Marketing Communication Campaigns with Dr. Lisa Parcell have been working with Alce Su Voz, Riverfest and the Kansas Nonprofit Chamber to develop full marketing communication campaigns.

Tammie Huynh wants to work in the fashion or music industry. She currently works as a marketing intern with Strategic Communications.

May 6, 2021 — Tammie Huynh wants to work in the fashion or music industry. She currently works as a marketing intern with Strategic Communications.

Kathy Phan, a native Wichitan, wanted to find a university that was affordable for her, Wichita State provided that proximity to her family.

May 6, 2021 -- Kathy Phan, a native Wichitan, wanted to find a university that was affordable for her, Wichita State provided that proximity to her family. During her time at Wichita State, she’s been involved in several organizations including Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority Inc., Asian Student Conference and an ambassador for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Sierra Gladman came to Wichita State to learn graphic design in a beneficial and local environment.

May 4, 2021 — Sierra Gladman came to Wichita State to learn graphic design in a beneficial and local environment. She wants to help a company grow using her graphic design skills.

Andrea Grisanti wants to pursue a career in graphic design.

May 4, 2021 — Andrea Grisanti is graduating with a bachelors of Fine Arts in graphic design

Tom Gentile

May 3, 2021 - The W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University has launched its Executive-in-Residence program. This program will provide Barton School students, faculty and the Wichita community with vital perspectives and knowledge from industry leaders. Tom Gentile, president and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, will serve as the program’s first resident for the Fall 2021 semester.

Wichita State computing

April 7, 2021 - In February, Novacoast announced plans to open a 24/7 security operations center in the Epic Center in downtown Wichita. Novacoast, according to media reports, will hire around 60 employees immediately for positions such as sales, analysts and cybersecurity engineers.“Having a robust computer science department and applied computing department is a good source of interns and future employees to Novacoast,” said Joe Jabara, director of Wichita State’s Hub for Cybersecurity Education and Awareness. “The university’s emphasis on cybersecurity really helped lure them to Wichita.”

In 2014, John A. See donated $1 million to provide prizes to Wichita State faculty and students conducting outstanding research.

March 16, 2021 — Wichita State University faculty and student researchers have been awarded the 2021 John A. See Innovation Award.

Pile of shoes

March 10, 2021 – A class project in Kara McCluskey’s environmental and engineering technology class this semester set out to tackle an immense issue: The fact that each year in America, 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away, taking an average of 30 to 40 years for just one pair to decompose.

Boeing 737

March 10, 2021 — Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research has received delivery of two Boeing 737 aircraft for modification. The aircraft are part of a year-long project with Virginia-based Dynamic Aviation to modify three 737 aircraft for a special-mission program.

3D printed objects

March 5, 2021 – Students and faculty at the Wichita State Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic have teamed up with the College of Engineering to help a 9-year-old child communicate effectively.

Dr. Larisa Genin

March 3, 2021 - Dr. Larisa Genin wants the W. Frank Barton School of Business to be the best business school in the nation. The plan to reach that status starts with creativity, an entrepreneurial mindset and teamwork. “I’m really hoping that anything we do in the Barton School of Business would revolve around three words – innovation, engagement and impact,” she said. She hands out black and yellow rubber bracelets with the words “Happiness” and “Joy” stamped on as a reminder of her philosophy to emphasize a positive mindset and celebrate achievements.

Student Wellness Center

Feb. 17, 2021 - In the fall, Wichita State University public health sciences students took on the questions and uncertainty of helping with COVID-19 testing at the Student Wellness Center. Most are considering a career in health care. The volunteer time offered an applied learning opportunity working with the public during a pandemic and added to their understanding of public health.