Airbus continues finding Shocker talent
Airbus attended the Engineering and I.T. Career Fair this fall and found a multitude of qualified candidates. Adding to the mix of current Wichita State undergraduate and graduate students Airbus currently employs, the aerospace company hired five more through the career fair.
Read more about their experience finding Shocker talent at wichita.edu/airbus.
Provost Muma to serve as acting president while President Bardo recovers from surgery
President John Bardo is focusing on his recovery from November and December surgeries
for a lung condition. During this time, he has requested Provost Richard Muma serve
as acting president.
Dennis Mullin, chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, said: “We wish Dr. Bardo well
in his recovery. It is the Regents’ expectation that Wichita State continue to pursue
the strategy, vision, mission, and goals that have brought it success in recent years.”
Muma and Chief of Staff Andy Schlapp met with President Bardo on Tuesday. In that
meeting, the president emphasized sustaining momentum in enrollment, research, fundraising
and addressing workforce needs to build the regional economy.
Muma will work closely with members of the Executive Team, deans, constituent group
presidents and president’s staff to keep the university’s agenda on track.
Wichita State expands Lifelong Learning Program
As part of the university’s commitment to lifelong learning, Wichita State is continuing to expand its popular Lifelong Learning Program for senior citizens.
This initiative is part of WSU’s continuing effort to make college classes accessible to seniors throughout the community. Lifelong Learning classes differ from other classes in that they are held at retirement communities and senior centers around the area. Residents and members of the community 60 years of age or older can audit these classes without paying tuition.
WSU has scholarship money available to cover workshop fees for students enrolling prior to Feb. 14. After that date some workshop fees may apply. Although geared toward the senior citizen population, anyone less than 60 can enroll in the classes if they pay regular tuition and fees.
“More than 500 senior citizens participated in one or more of the 14 courses offered in 2018. Due to the success of the program and overwhelming interest in these classes, we have increased the number of course offerings and added new locations “said Kimberly Moore, director of WSU’s Office for Workforce, Professional and Community Education (WPCE). “We value our seniors and are excited to continue to provide them with high-quality, engaging and meaningful educational opportunities.”
YMCA achieves fundraising goal; honors volunteer and supporter Steve Clark
The Board of Directors for the Greater Wichita YMCA announced on Thursday, Dec. 20 that it achieved its fundraising goal to bring a YMCA to the Wichita State University campus, and the new facility will be named in honor of longtime volunteer and supporter Steve Clark.
“It’s a great day for all involved - the community, Wichita State, WSU students and the Y,” commented YMCA President and CEO Ronn McMahon. “We not only wrapped up our largest-ever fundraising effort, but also get to celebrate the amazing work of one of our greatest supporters.”
The Steve Clark YMCA and WSU Student Wellness Center will be located at 1980 Mid Campus Drive as part of the WSU Innovation Campus. The new Y is anticipated to impact 22,000 lives, including students, faculty, Innovation Campus employees, and local youth and families.
Site preparation has already begun, and the new facility is anticipated to open January 2020. In addition to YMCA health and recreation space, the building will house WSU student health and counseling services, and a Wesley Urgent Care Center.
SJCF Architecture is serving as architects on the project with Coonrod & Associates as the general contractor.
Steve Clark’s History and Impact
Steve Clark has a steadfast passion for the YMCA’s values that goes back five decades to his first Y fundraising efforts, selling Christmas trees in the 1970s. Since joining the Board of Directors in 1994, Clark has used his exemplary skills in real estate and investments to counsel the Y through growth from three full service facilities to its soon-to-be tenth location.
During his service, Clark has both chaired the Board of Directors during a critical phase of growth and helped raise millions of dollars to expand the Y’s mission. He co-chaired the recent record-breaking fundraising effort to bring a YMCA to WSU. Clark also led the Y’s second largest fundraising effort with the Every Kid Campaign in 2010-2012. This effort made the current Downtown YMCA and Farha Sport Center-Indoor Fields possible, as well as, expansions for the original Farha Sport Center-Indoor Courts, YMCA Camp Hyde, and both the South and Northwest YMCAs.
“The YMCA in Wichita would look very different without the efforts of Steve Clark. It is with great pride we add his name to one of our locations and recognize his years of hard work for the Y,” noted YMCA chairman David Shannon.
In addition to his service with the YMCA, Clark has been instrumental in a variety of efforts at Wichita State University including endowments for multiple scholarships and programs, as well as chairing key boards, councils and committees.
YMCA Capital Campaign
Upon announcing an Innovation Campus partnership with WSU in March 2017, the Y set a goal of raising $13.5 million for the construction of a new YMCA on the university campus.
Following a 12-month capital campaign effort chaired by Steve Clark and Ken Shannon, the Y has successfully raised $13.8 million.
“This was truly a community effort,” acknowledge McMahon. “It’s inspiring to see the passion of the many individuals and businesses who stand not only behind the Y’s commitment to strengthening our community but also stepped up to invest in the future of WSU students for generations to come.”
Major contributors to the capital campaign project include (in alphabetic order):
- Cargill
- Clark Family Partnership
- Coonrod & Associates – Randy Coonrod
- Cox Machine – Steve & Janis Cox
- Jim Farha & Todd Farha
- Fidelity Bank Foundation
- Goebel Family Star Lumber Charitable Trust
- Intrust Bank
- E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc.
- Ken & Jan Shannon
- Riverside Health Foundation
- Russ & Helen Meyer
- Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
Wesley Medical Center
Go to Student Wellness Center and YMCA for more information.
Faculty and staff news, winter 2018 / 2019
Academe welcomes news from WSU faculty and staff about research, teaching and service activities. This column recognizes grants, honors, awards, presentations and publications, new appointments, new faculty, sabbaticals, retirements and deaths of current and former colleagues. Go to Academe for faculty and staff news from September through December 2018.
CCHT announces January events of focused awareness
Per Presidential Proclamation, January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The WSU Center for Combating Human Trafficking (CCHT) invites you to join in on this month of focused awareness events that offers the opportunity to engage, educate, and inspire our community to combat abuse and exploitation. [Poster - attached] For more information and to stay up to date throughout January follow CCHT on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Located on the WSU campus, CCHT is a team of survivor-leaders and long-term multidisciplinary professionals who represent more than 140 years of combined personal, direct practice, advocacy and research expertise in the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Anti-Trafficking Movements. Together, they are committed to empowering the nation’s capacity to provide effective prevention, assessment, identification, intervention, restoration and aftercare / prosperity promoting responses to young people who are survivors of the streets.
As a not-for-profit functioning under the structure of WSU, CCHT is unique in that they work and provide training all over the country on their Lotus Anti-Trafficking ModelTM in addition to investing in the Wichita community by providing direct services and training opportunities locally.
January Human Trafficking Awareness events
Environmental Finance Center hosts Regional Asthma Summit Jan. 30-31
Asthma is a life-threatening chronic respiratory disease that affects the lives of 23 million Americans, including six million children. The CDC estimates that asthma costs the United States more than $80 billion each year in medical expenses, days missed from work or school, and deaths. In-home asthma care is proven to reduce symptom days and health care costs. Join health and housing professionals at the Midwest Regional Asthma Summit to focus on successes, opportunities and challenges facing home-based asthma interventions.
The WSU Environmental Finance Center (EFC) will host a two-day asthma summit on Wednesday, Jan. 30 and Thursday, Jan. 31 in Johnston, Iowa. Funded by EPA Region 7, this event targets health, health insurance, housing and environmental professionals in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Attendees will learn how sustainable financing for in-home asthma care can improve patient health and reduce the financial burden to payers (Medicaid, MCOs and insurers).
The summit keynote is Ruth Ann Norton, president & CEO of Green and Healthy Homes Initiative. Norton is a leading expert on healthy housing. She has authored more than 30 pieces of healthy housing legislation, and was awarded the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leader (2005) and a Weinberg Foundation Fellow (2003). The second day of the summit will be a one-day training for community health workers who access environmental asthma triggers via home visits.
Student discounts on registration are available. To learn more or register, go to www.wichita.edu/efc or contact Leslie Kimble at Leslie.Kimble@wichita.edu.
First-generation student never gave up on his dream
College graduation can be an emotional time, not only for students, but for the family who supported them along the way.
Wichitan Yesennia Vielmas is married to a man who, until recently, didn't think college was for him. But spurred on by his desire to make her and their daughter proud, David Bustos-Morales persevered. On Dec. 16, he graduated from Wichita State with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
Read from David in his own words what going to college and earning his degree meant to him.
LaunchPrep applications are open
LaunchPrep, a partnership between e2e Accelerator and Wichita State’s Center for Entrepreneurship, provides your early-stage company access to a select group of local successful entrepreneurs and mentors. Their one-on-one mentorship will enable you to get your venture off the ground.
Applications opened Wednesday, Jan. 2. Find out more information at www.launchprepict.com.
KMUW's reputation and production grows as it adds to its reporting staff
The Old Town home of KMUW (89.1 FM) is the visible sign of the station’s new life – in place to engage with its neighbors, full of reporters and decorated with local art.
The same goes for its on-air, on-line and in-person content. KMUW is building the resources and reputation to dive into Wichita and Kansas and use the world of public radio to deliver those messages.
Shocker Softball Dinner & Auction set for Jan. 12
Wichita State softball will host its Leadoff to Shocker Softball Dinner and Auction
Saturday, Jan. 12 in the Aetna Multi-Purpose Facility.
Doors open at 5 p.m. beginning with a cocktail hour and meet and greet, followed by
the dinner, silent auction and conclude with keynote speaker, Terri Moses.
Individual tickets are $40 ($15 tax deductible) and can be purchased online at GoShockers.com/Tickets
or by calling the WSU Ticket Office at 978-FANS.
KMUW’s Media Circus coming June 29
The fun and excitement of KMUW's Media Circus returns in June! Who is this year's NPR celebrity guest? Click the link below to find out and get your ticket at a discounted price.
RH: Athletic trainers on ice
There is little difference between athletes on ice and artists on ice when Cirque
du Soleil puts on a show.
It takes speed, agility, strength and practice. Athletic trainers are needed, whether
the performers are in uniform or costume.
Five members of Wichita State's athletic training staff talked with performance medicine
therapist Jaclyn Arduini of the training staff for "Crystal," the Cirque du Soleil
acrobatic show on ice that visited Wichita's Intrust Bank Arena in late October. Over
the course of the 90-minute visit they watched on-ice practice and learned how Cirque
operates on the road for eight-week stretches and runs of six or seven shows in four
days in one city.
Memories are all that remain at Fairmount Towers
All interior demolition is complete at Fairmount Towers, and most of the exterior walls have been removed. Work has commenced to take down the concrete interior structure.
In the next few weeks, the remaining parts of the towers will be torn down, materials sorted and removed from the site.
Demolition of the Fairmount Commons Building and Blake Hall will begin sometime early this year.