Wichita State University celebrates the heritage, culture, identities, and all backgrounds to promote inclusivity and uplift the communities we serve. We hold programs and events to honor our history and past, celebrate its present and future, and engage the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of all individuals, while raising awareness across campus.
Join the Celebration
Explore upcoming heritage and identity-based celebrations open to all who wish to learn, honor, and engage with different cultures and communities. Through these events, Student Engagement & Belonging provides opportunities for students to connect, build meaningful relationships, and foster a campus environment where every voice and experience is valued.
January
MLK Day of Service
Recognized in January
MLK Day of Service honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through acts of volunteerism and community engagement that strengthen and uplift others.
February
Black History Month
Recognized in February
Black History Month is an annual observance in the US celebrating the achievements of African Americans. It honors all Black people from all periods, including the enslaved individuals brought over from Africa in the early 17th century. The idea for this month was conceived by Carter G. Woodson, an American historian, author and journalist.
March
Women's History Month
Recognized in March
Women's History Month is an annual observance celebrating the achievements of women. It began as a week-long celebration in 1978 and was expanded to a month in 1987, thanks to the efforts of the National Women's History Project.
April
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month
Recognized in May. Celebrated in April at Wichita State.
Recognized as "Asian Pacific American Heritage Month," it began in 1977 as a smaller ten day celebration in May and transformed to a month-long observance in 1990 commemorating the resilience and legacy, traditions, and cultures of Asians, South Asians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Desi Americans across the United States.
Gaypril
PRIDE Month recognized in June. Celebrated in April at Wichita State.
Gaypril is a time to celebrate the visibility and resilience of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, as well as the ongoing movement toward equality. It is celebrated in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan, a series of protests that were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement.
June
Juneteenth
Recognized in June
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, honors the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they were free, two months after the end of the Civil War.
September
Latine Heritage Month
Recognized from Sept. 15-Oct. 15
Latine Heritage Month (also referred as National Hispanic Heritage Month), is celebrated annually throughout the United States from Sept. 15-Oct. 15. This month commemorates the diverse cultures and extensive histories of Hispanic and Latina/o/x communities.
October
LGBTQ+ History Month
Recognized in October
Started in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a high school teacher in Missouri, LGBTQ+ History Month is a time to revisit history, educate others about the past, and pay respect to the thousands of LGBTQ+ activists, who took time, energy, and even their lives to build a more just, equal, and accepting world.
November
Native American Heritage Month
Recognized in November
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, histories and contributions of Native Americans. This month raises awareness of about the unique challenges Native and Indigenous people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which they have worked progressively to conquer them.
Celebrating community at Wichita State
