Aug. 6, 2026 – Wichita State graduate student Cara Gerhardt has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Janice M. Riordan Endowed Doctoral Nursing Fellowship by the Ascension Via Christi-Wichita State University School of Nursing and WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement.
July 30, 2026 — Five Wichita State University faculty and staff members will be featured in a weeklong takeover of NPR's "The Academic Minute," sharing research on topics that include public health, artificial intelligence in education, advanced space manufacturing and particle physics.
July 20, 2026 — JetZero will open an engineering office in the John Bardo Center on Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus near the National Institute for Aviation Research.
July 20, 2026 — The National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University and Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems today announced a landmark strategic partnership designed to position Kansas as the nation’s leading hub for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, uncrewed aircraft system testing, advanced aerial mobility and autonomous flight development.
July 20, 2026 — Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and Orizon Aerostructures today announced a strategic alliance aimed at accelerating aerospace and defense manufacturing through integrated engineering, research and production capabilities.
June 15, 2026 — Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research officially opened its new Hub for Advanced Manufacturing and Research following a two-day grand opening event that brought together industry leaders, federal partners, Wichita State and NIAR employees, and the greater community.
May 19, 2026 - GoBabyGo, a program that modifies children’s cars so that children with disabilities can enjoy more mobility, celebrates its 10th anniversary at WSU this month. In early May, the program had its delivery day, the culmination of months of interdisciplinary work by students, staff and mentors to customize the cars at no cost to the six families.
May 15, 2026 - Wichita State’s College of Engineering and facilities such as the wind tunnels gave Luke Johnson many opportunities for applied learning. He will continue his education at WSU while pursuing a Master of Science in aerospace engineering and work at the National Institute for Aviation Research.
May 13, 2026 - Wichita State’s aerospace engineering program and the applied learning opportunities at the National Institute for Aviation Research convinced Sumran Faizan to attend Wichita State.
May 13, 2026 - Wichita State’s aerospace engineering program and its labs, wind tunnels and classrooms convinced Sam Schwarz to come to campus from Missouri. Once at WSU, his experiences in the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College made his experience more interesting and fulfilling.
May 13, 2026 - Alice Ukoha jumped into Wichita State’s applied learning opportunities in the community, on campus and while studying in Costa Rica. Her experiences boosted her degree in health science and into her next step.
April 29,2026— The reputation of WSU’s physician associate program brought Autymn Schreiner to Wichita after earning her undergraduate degree in Topeka. Her advice to future Shockers: “Lean into grit and determination throughout your time at WSU.”
April 29, 2026 — Missourian Gary Nealon leaned all the way into applied learning, tackling hands‑on healthcare projects and landing a new full-time role as an academic program socialist at a medical school.
April 29,2026— Riley McMillan’s advice to new Shockers: “If you have the ability to do so, say 'yes' to every opportunity that comes your way; you will not regret it.” She’s spent her time at Wichita State doing just that with a full menu of experiences, including cancer research, as a student ambassador and as a Shocker Navigator.
April 8, 2026 — A Wichita State PA student turned compassion into action by donating stem cells to a leukemia patient—showing what it truly means to give care beyond the classroom.
