Wichita State honoring 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 through acts of service

Wichita State University will mark the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 with meaningful acts of service across the city. 

Media interested in attending any of the events can reach out to Lainie Mazzullo-Hart, director of communication, for more details: lainie.mazzullo@wichita.edu.

The day begins with Wichita's annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony, followed by community-impact projects throughout the day. Volunteers can participate in activities, honoring those affected by the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

All events and volunteer opportunities take place on Friday, Sept. 11:

  • 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony: 8-10 a.m. and 10 a.m. to noon at Veterans Memorial Park, 339 Veterans Parkway — Volunteers will assist with setting up the site for Wichita’s annual commemoration ceremony, welcoming visitors and assisting staff throughout the morning. 
  • United Way GIV Warehouse: 9-11:30 a.m. at 432 N. Washington in Wichita — Join fellow Shockers to sort, count and organize donated items for distribution to community members in need. 
  • Make fleece blankets: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room 240 of the Rhatigan Student Center — Volunteers, including students from Maize High School, will assemble fleece blankets to donate to local nonprofit organizations. 
    • Wichita State students will be making blankets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in room 240 of the Rhatigan Student Center. One- and two-hour shifts are available. 
    • Maize South High School students will be on campus to make blankets from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the Woolsey Hall ballroom. 
  • Dental hygiene kits: 12:30-1:30 p.m. in room 216 of the Rhatigan Student Center — Volunteers will assemble dental hygiene kits that will be distributed through the Wichita State Dental Hygiene Clinic.  
  • Urban League of Kansas: 1-3 p.m. at 2418 E. Ninth Street North in Wichita — Volunteers will assist with building shelving and completing other projects that support the organization’s operations. 
  • Fairmount Park cleanup: 1:30-3:30 p.m. — Help pick up litter and debris at Fairmount Park near campus. Volunteers will meet at the north entrance of the Rhatigan Student Center and walk to the park together.  
  • Simply Hygiene: 3-4:30 p.m. in room 216 of the Rhatigan Student Center — Volunteers will assemble feminine hygiene kits to provide essential hygiene items to those in need. 
  • Touch-a-Truck: 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Wichita State Child Development Center, 3026 E. 21st Street North — Support the family-friendly event by helping with setup and assisting faculty and staff throughout the evening. 

Through these projects, volunteers can transform a day of remembrance into a day of action, strengthening the community and honoring the spirit of service and unity that emerged in the wake of Sept. 11.

For more information or to register for a volunteer opportunity, visit the links above. 


About Wichita State University

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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