April 2024

WSU empowers and invests in women's athletics programs

Women’s sports are starting to get the attention and recognition they’ve long deserved. At home in Wichita, we vigorously celebrate our women athletes in every sport. Just to name a few:

• Destiny Masters, a junior from El Dorado, ranks 11th nationally in the heptathlon with 5,749 points. She is also 19th in the high jump. Masters earned NCAA All-American honors in the pentathlon with 4,338 points during the indoor track and field season. She also earned second team all-American honors in the indoor high jump.
• Wichita State softball senior Addison Barnard continues her rise in the record books. Barnard, an outfielder from Beatrice, Nebraska, ranks 10th on the NCAA career list with 86 home runs. She ranks first in Shocker and American Athletic Conference history after adding 17 to her total so far this season. She is a health science major and a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.
• Softball graduate student CC Wong, an infielder from British Columbia, is one of the nation’s most successful stories from the transfer portal. She ranks fifth in the country with .455 batting average.
• Freshman bowler Sara Duque captured the national Intercollegiate Singles Championship earlier this month. Duque, who hails from Medellin, Colombia, is studying business administration.

Amidst these remarkable athletic accomplishments, it's imperative to acknowledge the pivotal moments ahead for our women's sports programs.

April podcast: Go Baby Go @ Wichita State

Join President Rick Muma when he talks to representatives from WSU's Go Baby Go. The Go Baby Go program modifies off-the-shelf ride-on toy cars for kids with disabilities at no cost to the family. Learn more about the collaborative interdisciplinary hands-on learning experience for WSU students and how their work benefits children with disabilities.

Click above to watch a video of the podcast. The podcast is also available on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Amazon Podcasts or Apple Podcasts (iTunes).

New Duerksen amphitheater mural will celebrate Wichita State’s Hispanic influences

A new mural planned for the Duerksen Fine Arts Center Amphitheater will highlight the influences and history of the Latine community for Wichita State and the city.

Colombian Muralist GLeo, who painted "El Sueño Original" in Wichita, started work on the Duerksen amphitheater mural in early April. A public unveiling is scheduled for May 3, and the Wichita community is invited to attend.

“It adds to the cultural vibrancy of the university,” President Rick Muma said. “We’re now an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution. Bringing art focused on the Latino population, of the university, the city and the state demonstrates that we value everybody on campus. That’s what I see this mural doing for the campus.” 

Badges at WSU support the workforce through targeted training opportunities

Wichita State University has offered the traditional educational pathways for over 125 years, typically ending at the point of graduation, but the need for learning continues throughout a person’s lifetime.



In a rapidly changing world, continuing education has never been more important. More and more jobs require skill-based certification of learning, which includes the attainment of validated durable and technical skills. To meet those needs, WSU was the first in Kansas to create badge courses for non-degree seeking students in 2015, after approval from the Kansas Board of Regents.

Wichita State partners with Heartspring to provide physical therapy and audiology services to the community

A new partnership between Heartspring and Wichita State University’s College of Health Professions will bring faculty and students on-site at Heartspring’s Pediatric Clinic to provide physical therapy and audiology services to the local community.



Heartspring provides interdisciplinary therapies that help children with neurodevelopmental differences realize their full potential in communication, social interactions, mobility and daily living.

The seventh cohort of Rudd Scholars includes 15 Kansas high schools who have chosen to attend Wichita State University.

• Annaliese Jorgenson - Hillsboro High School
• Jose Urbina-Renteria - Wichita North High School
• Alexander Baird - Campus High School
• Faith Ekart - Sterling High School
• Kylee Mohr - Great Bend High School
• Richard Gwyn Jr. - Wichita Southeast High School
• Vatedis Coleman - Wichita Southeast High School
• Isabelle Christensen - Southeast of Saline High School
• Kane Huston - Paola High School
• Maimoona Mohammad - Wichita Heights High School
• Mya Scott - Conway Springs High School
• Vivian Chau - Wichita East High School
• Israel Torres Ayala - Wichita Northeast Magnet High School
• Adam Bosworth - Wichita North High School
• Shiloh Goetzinger - Hugoton High School

Each Rudd Scholar will receive a full-ride scholarship, which includes tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and considerable networking and coaching support along the way. All Rudd Scholars are from Kansas and will attend Wichita State, Emporia State, Fort Hays State or Kansas State.

Softball gears up for championship play May 8-11, men's golf finishes 3rd in AAC Championship

Shocker athletics continues in the spring with post-season play beginning for some. See the latest from our NCAA teams:

• Softball - Senior Addison Barnard continues her rise in the record books. Barnard, an outfielder from Beatrice, Nebraska, ranks first in Shocker and American Athletic Conference history with 86 career home runs, 17 this season. She is a health science major and a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete. WSU plays its final home series of the season starting May 3 vs. Memphis before hosting the AAC Championship beginning May 8.
• Men’s golf - The Shockers finished third in the AAC Championship, its best result as a conference member. WSU shot a 2-over-par 842 at Pelican Golf Cub in Belleair, Florida. Michael Winslow tied for fourth individually with a 3-under-par 207.
• Track and field - Destiny Masters, a junior from El Dorado, ranks 11th nationally in the heptathlon with 5,749 points. She is also 16th in the high jump. For the men, high jumper Brady Palen and long jumper Josh Parrish both rank No. 8 nationally. The AAC Outdoor Championships begin May 10 in San Antonio with the WSU men looking to win the title for a third straight year.
• Baseball - The Shockers wrap up their home schedule with a series against Charlotte beginning May 10. The AAC Championship begins May 21 in Clearwater, Florida.
• Women’s tennis - Wichita State advanced to the quarterfinals of the AAC Championship before losing 4-3 to eventual champion Charlotte. The Shockers ended the season ranked No. 74 nationally.

For updates on all things athletics at Wichita State, visit goshockers.com.

WSU 2023 annual report highlights key areas of interest and growth for the university

Wichita State University is more than a campus where students learn and study. It’s a place to solve problems, to do research, to forge a pathway to a better tomorrow. It is a community where the dreamers, doers and Shockers of the future are encouraged to push boundaries, think critically and pursue their passions.

Provide your insights in Wichita State’s brand survey

As Wichita State University strives to reach our potential, your input is vitally important. Your insights help us identify the strengths and challenges in our institution so that, together, we can best serve our students and our community.



To this end, we’d like your feedback on what sets WSU apart and how we can further enrich our community. Your perspectives will help define who we are and steer our path forward. Through the Brand Perception Survey we can help ensure that every member of the Shocker family feels acknowledged and empowered. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to propelling Shocker Nation to excellence.

Mental Health Advocate highlight: School of Social Work

Suspenders4Hope, a program developed at Wichita State University, is highlighting different departments and individuals on campus who are advocates for mental health in hopes that their stories will inspire others to continue supporting one another in the community.

The WSU School of Social Work (SSW) is being recognized for its support of the mental health of students, faculty, staff and health care professionals.

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