Manuel Salamanca shaped his Wichita State experience through hands-on aerospace engineering work, including NASA Jumpstart, student aircraft manufacturing and competitive design-build projects. A first-generation and military-affiliated student, he will serve on active duty with the U.S. Air Force after graduation before pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering.
Manuel is one of more than 2,400 students eligible for spring 2026 graduation. Learn more about his time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.
What degree will you be earning in May?
Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering
What is your hometown?
Topeka, Kansas
What schools did you attend before coming to Wichita State?
- Shawnee Heights High School
- Barton Community College
- Allen Community College
- Cloud County Community College
When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a paleontologist and study dinosaurs. This was before learning about general relativity in high school and becoming fond of astrophysics. I later fell in love with design and engineering challenges in the aerospace industry and chose to study aerospace engineering.
What made you choose Wichita State University?
I chose Wichita State University because I wanted to get away from home but not be too far away. I had heard a lot of praise about the aerospace department in Wichita. I was based out of McConnell Air Force Base, so it appeared to be a perfect match. It also was a bigger city than where I came from, and the city has grown on me since I have lived here.
Did you receive any scholarships to attend Wichita State?
For the first two years at WSU, I utilized the Air National Guard state tuition assistance to pay for the cost of tuition and class fees. For my last two years, I was the recipient of the James & Catherine Buck Charitable Trust Current Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering, which provided adequate funding to pay for my schooling. I was also a resident assistant for three years, which covered my housing and meals to fund the rest of my living costs. It was a blessing to be provided with these opportunities, and I only knew about this scholarship through a mutual connection in the College of Engineering, which I am very thankful for. It gave me a new insight that WSU has a wide range of opportunities, but the campus is small enough that those new connections you make still matter and are worth something.
What applied learning experiences did you participate in during your time here?
At WSU I have had the chance to work in the NASA Jumpstart Program, where I was a student assistant for the Aerospace Senior Design class and helped groups manufacture their planes. I did this for three years, and it proved to be very beneficial to my senior design group and me. Starting in August 2025, I was given the chance to work at FirePoint Innovations on campus and learn about some of the cutting-edge technology for the U.S. Army and its research objectives. I was also able to participate in the AIAA Design, Build, Fly competition and really put the skills I learned in class to the test by helping in the design and building of an RC aircraft with the AIAA club on campus.
What advice would you give other Wichita State students?
My advice would be to network and TRY NEW CHALLENGES, even when everyone says not to do it. I do not regret trying new challenges and overextending myself because I continued to surprise myself with what I was capable of and how I was able to make time out of seemingly none. Be sure to meet new people and communicate with them often, as you never know when a new opportunity will arise. There were so many times people asked, "How do you do all that you do?" The real answer? An incredible support system of friends, family, professors, professionals, mentors and many others. Build that network and recognize that no new challenge should be met alone.
What are your plans after graduation?
In the fall of 2024, I was informed that in April 2026 I would be elevated to active-duty status in the Air Force, requiring full-time work along with being a full-time student. I intend to be in active-duty status for a year to fulfill my military and personal obligations before deciding whether I want to stay in the Air Force. Starting fall 2026, I will be pursuing my master's degree at the University of Colorado-Boulder in aerospace engineering with a focus on satellite navigation and remote sensing. I intend to do most of the program online and will fulfill my dream of getting a graduate degree in the field I love.
Fun question: You suddenly find yourself in the middle of a dance battle. What's the first move you're gonna hit 'em with?
The Carlton, while also keeping a serious face and not blinking
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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