"Long Echo," documentary images

"Long Echo" is a documentary marking the 50th anniversary of the Holiday Inn shooting in downtown Wichita. Derek Landwehr, a graduate student at Wichita State University, worked as director of photography on the film, which airs on Aug. 11 on KPTS.

Cara Gerhardt

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.

Dr. Nikki Keene Woods, Dr. Heidi VanRavenhorst-Bell, Dr. JaeHwan Byun, Dr. Waruna Seneviratne, and Dr. Nick Solomey

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.

Wichita State honors students in Paraguay.

July 29, 2026 — A Wichita State University summer study-abroad program took eight students to Asunción, Paraguay, for an immersive cultural experience that included visits to schools, universities and community organizations.

Innovation Campus

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.

Wichita State University campus

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.

Orizon

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.

Wichita State students post for a photo near the Carolina Bell ship in Charleston, South Carolina.

July 8, 2026 — A Wichita State University summer leadership course took 15 students from Kansas to South Carolina, where they utilized design thinking, contemporary research and scholarship to make a meaningful difference with local nonprofits.

HAMR building

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.

A science teacher does an experiment with middle school students.

June 11, 2026 — Wichita State University is expanding its Teacher Apprentice Program™ (TAP) to include new middle-school level math and science pathways aimed at addressing critical teacher shortages across Kansas.