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VISION machine

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.

Vamsidhar Patlolla

June 9, 2025 — Shocker Composites, founded by Wichita State alum Vamsidhar Patlolla, transforms carbon fiber waste into high-performance, sustainable materials using a recycling method he developed during his graduate research. With support from Wichita State’s NIAR and Innovation Campus, the company is scaling up its impact and demonstrating how university-backed startups can drive real-world innovation and sustainability.

Yumi Kikuchi in her graduation regalia

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.”

child with prosthetic bionic arm

Nov. 20, 2024 – Wichita State University has launched the Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine and Assistive Technology (IRMAT), an innovative collaboration focused on addressing disease and disability through applied research and technology. IRMAT will serve as a hub for cutting-edge, patient-driven research and development of transformative technologies to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

A line graph that shows Wichita State and WSU Tech's enrollment since 1895.

Oct. 2, 2024 — Combined enrollment by headcount across all Wichita State University locations for fall 2024 is 23,806, according to the annual data released today by the Kansas Board of Regents. This is the largest number of students ever choosing to enroll at Wichita State.

Kristyn Waits

Sept. 24, 2024 — Kristyn Waits, a Wichita State alumna, reflects on her journey from an undergraduate to graduate student.

NASA SUITS student

May 20, 2024 - Wichita State is one of 10 teams which advanced to the spring semester competition in the NASA SUITS challenge. The team travels to Test Week in Houston at the Johnson Space Center this week. The list of finalists includes the University of California Berkeley, University of Colorado, University of Michigan, Georgia Tech, Purdue University and others.

Wichita State's National Institute for Aviation Research has been awarded $10 million from NASA to study advanced materials for hypersonic applications.

May 14, 2024 — Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research will receive more than $10 million from NASA for research related to the development and implementation of advanced materials for hypersonic applications.

Sierra Marie Bonn with her Shocker regalia

April 30, 2024 Sierra Marie Bonn struggled to balance her work and education, but with the help of scholarships from the Miss Kansas Organization, she was able to earn an undergraduate and graduate degree from Wichita State University. She graduates with her Master of Innovation Design and following graduation, she will compete in the 2024 Miss Kansas Competition and continue working on the non-profit organization she founded while she was a student, Let’s Go Full STEAM Ahead.

Richard Sack and Nick Vasilescu

April 01, 2024 A professor and graduate student from Wichita State University have been awarded the 2024 John A. See Innovation Award.

Wichita State University engineering students

Jan. 8, 2024 - Wichita State University moved to No. 2 on the national list of industry-funded engineering and research and development, according to the latest data compiled by the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey.

WuShock Doc

Oct. 28, 2020 - Tyler Pennick, director of videography for Wichita State’s Office of Strategic Communications, created a documentary about WuShock in bronze. After two years of development, the documentary was accepted into the Tallgrass Film Festival and awarded for its success.

P2 building

Oct. 28, 2020 -- The National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University announces a new $13.5 million award from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center for continued applied research on emerging materials for high-speed missile applications.

Cyfive's mask

Oct. 5, 2020 — Alums Spencer Steinert, Jared Goering and Maggie Koops teamed up to address a challenge created by XPrize: to craft a face mask addressing the obstacles that deter people from wearing them and promote positive mask-wearing behavior.

Courtesy

July 23, 2020 — The Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, which receives funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, recently awarded Wichita State $250,000 to assist in creating a workforce development database focused on compiling a map of educational programs and resources that provide skills required for today’s advanced robotics and manufacturing careers.