WSU News - All Stories

Wichita State was picked third in the American Conference preseason poll announced this month. The Shockers open their season at 7 p.m. Friday, August 29 against Kennesaw State in the Shocker Volleyball Classic.

August 4, 2025 - Wichita loves nothing more than a good basketball reason to fill up Charles Koch Arena. This summer, the AfterShocks gave people six good reasons and fans responded in increasing numbers all the way to confetti and a championship trophy.

July 24, 2025 - While Shocker fans are used to cold winter nights at the Roundhouse, July basketball is now a habit with The Basketball Tournament. The AfterShocks, featuring former Shockers and other professionals, are three wins from the tournament’s $1 million prize. Because TBT hosting privilege is determined by attendance, the AfterShocks will play at Koch Arena as long as they win. Their next game is 8 p.m. Sunday on FS1.

June 18, 2025 — Hexcel Corp., a global leader in advanced composites technology, is expanding its long-standing partnership with Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research by establishing a Hexcel Application Center inside NIAR’s Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems.

June 12, 2025 — Wichita State’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) has received a patent for VISION, an AI-powered composite inspection robot designed to detect and repair damage on aircraft parts autonomously. Developed at NIAR’s Automation Research Center and recently installed at a U.S. Army facility, the system uses machine learning to analyze inspection images and speed up aircraft maintenance.

May 29, 2025 - Ridge Estes, from Bucklin, used his study time and his athletic time wisely during his Wichita State University career. He majored in exercise science with minors in health science and entrepreneurship and graduated earlier this month with a 3.473 grade-point average.

May 21, 2025 — Wichita State University and Dassault Systèmes have opened the Manufacturing Innovation Center, a cutting-edge research and design facility on WSU’s Innovation Campus. Developed in partnership with WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), the center is now available to industry collaborators seeking to explore virtual twin technology, 3D design solutions and advanced automation in real-world environments.

May 15, 2025 - Earlier this month, “Gene Stephenson Park” was added to Eck Stadium, home of Tyler Field, at a ceremony and unveiling. On Friday, his jersey No. 10 will be recognized on the stadium’s Wall of Honor in left field.

May 9, 2025 — Lisa Oldham, a proud two-time Wichita State grad, has dedicated her academic and professional journey to advocating for healing and justice in underserved communities. Fueled by resilience and a deep connection to Indigenous culture, she aims to serve others through work in corrections, mental health and substance use recovery.

May 8, 2025 — Natasha Seneviratne found her place at Wichita State through family ties, supportive scholarships and hands-on experiences that helped her grow into a confident engineer.

May 8, 2025 — Yumi Kikuchi first came to Wichita State University as part of an exchange program and decided she wanted to pursue her graduate studies at the College of Innovation and Design. Her advice to other students? “Take chances. Life is an experiment, and college is the perfect time to explore, get involved and discover what truly excites you.”

May 7, 2025 — Lee Frank will attend the University of Kansas Law School of Law school after completing Wichita State University’s Legal Education Accelerated Degree. Her internship with a law firm got her started on her career with experience working alongside attorneys and attending trials.

May 7, 2025 — Braden Webb, a Gore Scholar, capitalized on Wichita State’s strong engineering program and his passion for transportation issues. He worked at NIAR WERX, studied in London and interned for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in Washington, D.C.

May 5, 2025 - Ella Anciaux stayed home to play basketball for the Shockers and major in exercise science. While compiling a cumulative grade-point average of 3.85, she earned American Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference honors twice and a spot on the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.

May 5, 2025 — Hannah Copeland found her calling through years of involvement in WSU’s orchestra programs and youth music clinics. Her most rewarding experience has been student teaching in Wichita Public Schools, and she’s thrilled to continue that journey as the new orchestra teacher at Curtis Middle School.