New technology protecting wind turbines from lightning underway through WSU, Westar partnership
Wichita State's Billy Martin has created a technology that protects wind turbine blades from lightning. Now a partnership between WSU and Westar Energy is moving his technology forward.
Stephenson inducted into Hall of Fame
Gene Stephenson, the sole inductee of Wichita State's 2019 Pizza Hut Shocker Sports
Hall of Fame class, was inducted during halftime of the Wichita State men's basketball
game against Southern Miss on Dec. 15. He was also honored at a dinner Dec. 14 at
the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview.
The sold-out dinner, which included 500 guests, featured Stephenson along with keynote
speakers Eric Wedge and Joe Carter.
Former Shockers, including Phil Stephenson and Charlie O'Brien, also participated
in a roundtable to tell Shocker Baseball stories.
RH: Stephenson's game starts with a shake
Gene Stephenson scoffs at the idea he possesses a handshake technique. That would
imply an agenda behind a gesture he sees as simple and straight-forward.
"You shake hands with a guy and you let him know you're alive," he said. "You're glad
to meet this person. That's the way I do it."
The notion is more complicated for those on the receiving end of Stephenson's gesture,
a grip that entertained and terrorized college baseball for years. The word "crushing"
is often used, followed by "bear paws" and "meat hooks" by the victims.
This weekend, Stephenson joins the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame as the sole
member of the 2019 class. Stephenson will officially be inducted into the Hall of
Fame during halftime of the Wichita State men’s basketball game vs. Southern Miss.
The induction celebrates his 1989 College World Series title, seven trips to Omaha,
the 54 Shocker All-Americans and his 1,768-673-3 record over 36 seasons.
Holiday sale at the Shocker Store Braeburn Square location
On Saturday, Dec. 22, if you buy an item at the Shocker Store’s Braeburn Square location, you can take 50 percent off another item of equal or lesser value! The sale is valid all day, and they will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Weekly Briefing recap
Here are some of the items that were presented during the university update portion of last week's Weekly Briefing.
Meritrust and Spirit AeroSystems
We want to share a quick update on the campus expansion. On Monday, Dec. 10, Meritrust Credit Union opened its doors at Braeburn Square followed by a Wednesday dedication and ribbon cutting.
And over at Partnership Building 2, the Spirit AeroSystems sign is now installed, and Spirit is scheduled to make its move into the second floor of P2 early in the new year.
To Spirit and Meritrust, we want to say: “Welcome to Wichita State.”
We’re excited about partnerships like these and the important role they’ll play in making campus a destination for the entire community and in furthering WSU’s mission.
Shocker Sound Machine – upcoming performances
And, finally, if you missed Shocker Sound Machine’s debut performance during women’s basketball on Dec. 8, you still have several chances to catch this high-energy, fast-moving, loud-and-proud marching ensemble, including the Jan. 29 women’s game and at two men’s games on Jan. 30 and Feb. 28.
We’re pleased to offer this marching band experience that draws upon the talents of current and prospective students who enjoyed the excitement of their high school bands. Shocker Sound Machine will eventually be worked into the curriculum to help music education majors get experience they need to effectively teach marching band.
We look forward to seeing and hearing Shocker Sound Machine in full force starting in the 2019-2020 academic year.
Briefings resume in January
Finally, we want to remind you that university offices will be closed starting Dec, 21 and will reopen on Jan. 2, with briefings starting up again later in the month.
Looking back on this year’s briefings, we’re happy about the positive feedback we’ve received from the campus and community. This feedback has encouraged us to continue holding these briefings on a weekly basis after the break, although the format may be a little different. We’ll keep you updated about any changes.
We wish you a safe and happy holiday season, and we’ll see you in 2019.
WSUAA announces 64th class of Wichita State Alumni Award honorees
Since 1955, the Wichita State University Alumni Association has sponsored an alumni awards program to celebrate the accomplishments and service of Wichita State alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. This is the 64th class of award recipients: Freddy Simon ’49, Alumni Achievement Award; Cindy Carnahan ’73, Alumni Recognition Award; Rodney Miller, University Recognition Award; Rhonda K. Hicks ’95, Laura Cross Distinguished Service Award; and Kyle ’17 and Ricki ’09/16 Ellison, Young Alumni Award.
These Class of 2018 honorees will be the center of attention at a banquet ceremony slated for Thursday, April 18, 2019 at WSU’s Rhatigan Student Center Beggs Ballroom.
'Houses, forts, boats': kids build creations with WSU student's new product, Dinkum
If you're still looking at possible Christmas gifts for the kids, a WSU grad student has a product you can all enjoy. The product called Dinkum is made up of dozens of building pieces that can create structures both big and small.
James Balman studies Innovation Design at Wichita State and says it took several years to see this idea come to life. To make today's demonstration happen, he let his kids and their friends do the work.
See the complete story from KSN-TV 3
WSU Tech awarded $100,000 for new Metallica Scholars Initiative
WSU Tech will be able to better support students preparing to enter the workforce thanks to a $100,000 Metallica Scholars Initiative grant designated for student support. The initiative is funded by Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation (AWMH).
This major workforce education initiative provides direct support to community colleges to enhance their career and technical education programs. These programs provide skills and services to students who are looking to enter a traditional trade or other applied learning program. WSU Tech is one of 10 community colleges from across the country chosen through a competitive proposal process to receive $100,000 to support students training to enter the American workforce. These students will become the first cohort of Metallica Scholars.
“WSU Tech is honored to be chosen as a recipient of the Metallica Scholars Grant,” said WSU Tech President Sheree Utash. “We look forward to advancing ‘Women in Manufacturing’ with this funding in aviation sheetmetal, machining and welding. Building upon the success of WSU Tech’s Wichita Promise and Wichita Promise MOVE initiatives, WSU Tech is excited about the opportunity to engage women into pursuing career opportunities in the manufacturing industry.”
Partnering with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), a Washington, D.C.-based organization that represents the nation’s 1,103 community colleges, the Metallica Scholars awards are designed to provide support of relevant job skill training for community college students, reinvest in communities that supported Metallica during its recent United States tours, and leverage the influence of Metallica to elevate the importance of career and technical education.
Concussions: Lack of 'Return to Learn' training a problem in Kansas
Talk of concussion is more commonplace as organizations from the NFL to your local high school zero in on how to help victims get better. But there's a missing piece to this puzzle when we’re talking about our kids.
"Some of your really severe concussions might even cause kids to drop out of school for a semester," said Rich Bomgardner, program director of Athletic Training at Wichita State University.
See the story that aired recently on KAKE-TV 10
Game Day dining hours on Wednesday, Dec. 19
Chick-fil-A and Panda Express are open 2 hours before tip-off on game days in the Rhatigan Student Center. Visit from 5-7 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 19) to fuel up before the game. Go Shocks!
RSC closing early on Thursday, Dec. 20 – Winter Break hours
The RSC and all of its departments (including the Shocker Store) will close at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20. For a full list of hours of operation over Winter Break, go to RSC Winter Break hours.
Professor Ray Hull coauthors new book 'The Art of Influence'
Ray Hull
Wichita State Communication Sciences and Disorders Professor Ray Hull has coauthored a new book, “The Art of Influence,” with New York Times best-selling author Jim Stovall.
The “Art of Influence” is the fourth collaboration between Hull and Stovall in their personal development series, “Your Ultimate Guide,” intended to help readers gain business and personal success through effective communication. This book follows "The Art of Communication," "The Art of Presentation" and “The Art of Learning” in the series.
Quilt of Valor presented to member of staff, other heroes
On Monday, Dec. 10, Elliott School of Communication senior administrative assistant Bill Molash and other service members received the Quilt of Valor, a civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart award. Molash served as a member of the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and was stationed at various air bases overseas.
The other recipients who received the honorary Quilt of Valor were Kevin Benavides, a current communications student at Wichita State who served in an active duty combat role; James Thompson, former candidate who ran for Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, who served as a member of the Presidential Guard during the Gulf War; and Martin Garcia, who served in an active duty combat role in Afghanistan during the military campaign there.
The Quilts of Valor project traces its roots back to the Revolutionary War as a way for family members and fellow soldiers to cover wounded or deceased soldiers and loved ones on the battlefield, providing warmth and comfort. The quilts are marked with unique insignia, designed to highlight accomplishments and honorable traits of the soldiers, while also identifying their backgrounds and pieces of information about them.
Campus Post Office to provide limited hours during the holiday closedown
As in previous years, the Campus Post Office will provide only limited hours during the holiday closedown. No deliveries will be made to university departments, and departments may come to the Campus Post Office to collect incoming mail during the times listed on the chart here.
The Campus Post Office will not accept any bulk or automated mailings. The final day any mass mailings will be processed before the holiday closedown is Tuesday, Dec. 18.
No sales will take place at the service windows at the times shown, and any mail to be metered on a university account may also be brought to our office by 11 a.m. to be sent that day.
Additionally, no sales will take place at the service windows. This includes passports, USPS, UPS and FedEx services.
No passports will be processed during the holiday closedown and no stamp purchases will be provided through state accounts.
Campus Post Office Holiday Information
Wishing you a safe and happy holidays!
Campus Connection will take a break for the holidays. The next edition will be on Tuesday, Jan. 8.
Most offices at Wichita State will be closed from Friday, Dec. 21, through Tuesday, Jan. 1.