August 2025

‘Student Centered, Innovation Driven’: Our story in print

Every university has a story. Ours is one of transformation, bold choices, shared vision and a relentless focus on opportunity. Over the past decade, Shocker Nation has reimagined what an urban public research university can be. We’ve strengthened our community connections and built a culture of innovation for the sake of the communities we serve.

That transformation didn’t happen overnight or in isolation. It took the insight and dedication of faculty and staff, the drive and resilience of our students, and the belief of our business and industry partners. It meant asking tough questions and finding the courage to take a different path forward.

This journey — and the people who made it possible — is at the heart of “Student Centered, Innovation Driven,” a new book published by the University Press of Kansas. While my name is on the cover, this isn’t just my story. It’s our story. It’s the story of a campus that chose to lean into change and to chart a course that would expand access and strengthen the Kansas economy.

‘Student Centered, Innovation Driven’ is available now

“Student Centered, Innovation Driven” is a story of how Wichita State University redefined higher education by putting students first, embracing innovation and driving real-world change.

In a time of increasing skepticism about the value of higher education, “Student Centered, Innovation Driven” makes a compelling case for what’s possible when universities prioritize access and collaboration. The book is both a chronicle of Wichita State’s rise and a model for other institutions looking to reinvent themselves from the inside out.

Purchase wherever books are sold. To learn more about the book and limited time discount code, go to wichita.edu/book.

University leadership hosts 2025 Fall Address

President Rick Muma with other university leadership held the 2025 Fall Address Aug. 13 in Miller Concert Hall at Duerksen Fine Arts Center.



Speakers discussed what’s coming up for the university and the campus community’s efforts that have led to tremendous progress on the university’s priorities:

• Helping families through access and affordability
• Supporting Kansas businesses with a talent pipeline that meets employer needs
• Increasing economic prosperity with higher education that benefits the Kansas economy

Wichita State shares class of spring 2025 graduates and honors students

Wichita State has released the list of the over 1,950 Shockers who graduated in spring 2025. View the list of Kansas graduates and the list of national and international graduates.

Overall, graduates completed a total of 2,122 degrees — 1,430 undergraduate degrees and certificates and 692 graduate degrees and certificates — with 336 honored as cum laude, 425 honored as magna cum laude and 108 honored as summa cum laude.

Additionally, you can see the names of the 3,710 students included in the spring 2025 semester Dean’s Honor Roll list. To be included on the honor roll, students must be a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours) and have at least a 3.5 grade point average on the 4.0 scale.

AfterShocks win TBT Championship in front of record number of fans

Wichita loves nothing more than a good basketball reason to fill up Charles Koch Arena. This summer, the AfterShocks gave people six good reasons, and fans responded in increasing numbers all the way to confetti and a championship trophy.

On Aug. 3, the AfterShocks won The Basketball Tournament with an 82-67 victory over Eberlein Drive in front of 9,029 revved-up fans. The team will divide the TBT prize of $1 million.

Attendance in Koch Arena helped the AfterShocks secure home games throughout TBT.

“I feel really lucky we were able to play in front of that crowd, especially in a basketball game in August,” guard Conner Frankamp told reporters. “They’re so loud, it’s amazing in there.”

Wichita Biomedical Campus marks massive milestone with beam signing event

Representatives from Wichita State University, the University of Kansas and the State of Kansas commemorated the placement of the final steel beam on Phase 1 of the Wichita Biomedical Campus Aug. 26.

In just six months, the Wichita Biomedical Campus went from a flat slab of concrete to the towering structure visible now in downtown Wichita. You can see that rapid transformation in the latest timelapse of the construction. You can also watch a continuous livestream of the construction site online.

Phase 1 of the location is a $222 million, 350,000-square-foot joint health sciences center, in downtown Wichita. Once complete, the Wichita Biomedical Campus will combine WSU’s College of Health Professions programs, WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology’s health care program, and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy.

Shocker Athletics returns for another season with renewed vigor and new facilities

• Shocker bowling enjoyed several highlights over the summer. The program opened its new locker room, offices and conference room in the Rhatigan Student Center. Sara Duque Jimenez won the all-events Gold medal at the U-21 Pan American Youth Championship, as well as Singles bronze, Trios silver and Team bronze in August in Guatemala City.
• Shocker volleyball opens its season Friday, Aug. 29 in the Shocker Volleyball Classic against Kennesaw State at 7 p.m. WSU plays Arkansas at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.
• On Sept. 20, Wichita State men’s basketball coach Paul Mills is hosting “Queens of the Court – Ladies Day with Shocker Men’s Basketball,” a behind-the-scenes look at the program with all sorts of basketball talk and activities. Register at goshockers.com or email Emily Hiebert at ehiebert@goshockers.com for information.
• Shocker cross country opens the season at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic in Hutchinson Friday, Aug. 29. The JK Gold Classic is Saturday, Sept. 6 at Clapp Cross Country Course.
• Construction on University Stadium (formerly Cessna Stadium) continued this summer with the addition of a nine-lane track and widening of the field to hold a regulation-sized artificial turf soccer field. The first phase of construction was complete in May in time for the KSHSAA State Track and Field Championship. That phase included bleacher seating, a pavilion building with ticketing, restrooms and concessions as well as a plaza and parking lot between the stadium and Devlin Hall.
• Shocker softball will use its new indoor practice facility this fall. Located adjacent to Wilkins Stadium, the building features a netted softball infield that is divisible into batting and pitching practice areas.
• Wichita State pitcher Brady Hamilton started the Cape Cod League’s All-Star game in July. First baseman MJ Sweeney earned Northwoods League All-Star honors.

For updates on more athletics at Wichita State and to buy tickets, visit goshockers.com.

Shane and Kianne Prill invest in Shocker Athletics and the community

In a powerful show of community investment and support for local youth, Shane and Kianne Prill have purchased 50 season tickets for the 2025-26 Shocker men's basketball season and are donating them to Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters. These tickets will allow hundreds of big and little matches — over 700 local youth and mentors — to experience the excitement of Shocker basketball at Charles Koch Arena throughout the 2025-26 season.

Rick and Barbara Hemphill amplify community spirit with season ticket donation

Building on the inspiring momentum sparked by Shane and Kianne Prill, Rick and Barbara Hemphill have made a heartfelt and impactful investment in both Shocker Athletics and the community. The Hemphill's have purchased an additional 50 season tickets for the 2025-26 Shocker men's basketball season and are donating them to community organizations including United Way affiliates, veterans and Stand Together, ensuring even more people will get to experience the thrill of Shocker basketball at Charles Koch Arena.

From classroom to career: WSU engineering student powers up her career through paid internship

Electrical engineering major Karaline Scott is getting an early start on her career path. The Wichita State sophomore spent her summer at Professional Engineering Consultants, where she got paid to work alongside industry professionals and experience how engineering concepts translate to real-world impact.

Scott, a sophomore electrical engineering major at Wichita State University, was part of PEC’s Power Engineering Team. Her days were filled with hands-on learning — from assisting in the design and revision of electrical wiring systems to gaining experience in AutoCAD and reading complex schematics.

Mechanical engineering student finds confidence, community with internship at Shuttlewagon

For Wichitan Janett Lerma-Reyes, a paid summer internship at Shuttlewagon has sharpened her technical skills and confirmed that she belongs in the world of manufacturing.

The mechanical engineering sophomore at Wichita State University spent 10 weeks as an operations intern at Shuttlewagon, a company based in Kansas City that designs and builds railcar movers, which are powerful vehicles used to move train cars in railyards, ports and industrial facilities.

Getting paid during her internship allowed her the ability to feel financially stable and maintain a work-life balance.

WSU senior takes next career step through paid internship with the ATF

Brandy Henrickson enjoys how using forensic science to solve a crime is like putting together the pieces in a puzzle to complete a picture.

“I learned that I could take what I loved about physics and engineering: the building, the testing, as well as the problem solving, and apply it to helping others by finding the answers,” she said.

High school classes motivated her to change her path from engineering to law enforcement. She continued that path with a paid internship through Wichita State University.

Henrickson, a senior majoring in forensic science, recently interned at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Wichita Field Office. Making money while she worked helped her focus her energies on school and the internship.

Wichita State student gains career clarity through Homeland Security internship

Carter Duff does not waste time. After transferring from Butler Community College, where he’d already earned 60 credits, Carter hit the ground running at Wichita State and secured a cybersecurity credential and hands-on experience with federal law enforcement.

This past spring, Carter interned with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), where his daily duties ranged from organizing case files to going on ride-alongs with special agents.

“Every day varied based on the tasks or objectives of the day,” Carter said. “A typical day could be anything from sorting case files to ride-alongs with special agents.”

WSU senior prepares for aviation workforce with NIAR internship

James Wright’s work in the Environmental Test Lab for the National Institute for Aviation Research includes measuring salt spray fallout, welding and CAD modeling.

Through each day of his paid internship, one benefit stands out – problem solving. Wright, a Wichita State University senior majoring in aerospace engineering, is from Joplin, Missouri, and works as a mechanical student assistant at NIAR.

“It’s a lot of problem solving,” he said. “I think that it’s vital to learn how to operate in this sort of environment while you’re at school, so that once you make it into the workforce you’re comfortable learning things the hard way and clawing your way up when you’re in a new and unfamiliar situation.”

Applied learning opportunity took WSU student Liam Crawford behind the scenes of NCAA basketball tournament

For Wichita State sport management student Liam Crawford, working behind the scenes at the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Wichita in March offered an opportunity to put classroom learning into practice.

As a Media Host Relations Assistant, Crawford supported visiting media outlets from across the country by managing credentials, helping with press conferences and interviews, distributing game statistics, and troubleshooting technology issues in real time. It was a fast-paced environment that offered hands-on insight into what it takes to coordinate a national sporting event.

“This is a sport management experience that you can’t get anywhere else,” Crawford said. “I am so grateful that I had a role in putting on such a great event for the City of Wichita.”

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