For WSU News and WSU Today content older than July 2018, search the WSU News Archive.

WSU News Archive   Return to WSU News Home

Shocker Volleyball kicks off its 2025 campaign Friday night at Koch Arena.

Wichita State was picked third in the American Conference preseason poll announced this month. The Shockers open their season at 7 p.m. Friday, August 29 against Kennesaw State in the Shocker Volleyball Classic.

Gabey Norris

Aug. 7, 2025 - Gabey Norris grew up watching her father work as a K-9 unit officer for Saline County in central Kansas. That upbringing sparked her interest in law enforcement and led her to Wichita State University. Norris, a sophomore majoring in forensic science, sees many opportunities in law enforcement after exploring the profession through paid applied learning at the Midwest Criminal Justice Institute at Wichita State.

Rashard Kelly

August 4, 2025 - 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.

Overhead photo of campus with a flag pole with the United States, Kansas and Wichita flags in the foreground and the campus in the background

July 31, 2025 Wichita State University is one of the recipients of a renewed $20 million grant as part of the AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML), of which WSU is a founding member.

James Wright

July 29, 2025 - 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.

Brandy Henrickson

July 29, 2025 — Brandy 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.

AfterShocks fans

July 24, 2025 - While Shocker fans are used to cold winter nights at the Roundhouse, July basketball is now a habit with The Basketball Tournament. The AfterShocks, featuring former Shockers and other professionals, are three wins from the tournament’s $1 million prize. Because TBT hosting privilege is determined by attendance, the AfterShocks will play at Koch Arena as long as they win. Their next game is 8 p.m. Sunday on FS1.

Carter Duff stands next to a sign that reads Wichita-Sedgwick county Law Enforcement Training Center

July 18, 2025 — Wichita State student Carter Duff gained hands-on experience in federal law enforcement through a paid Homeland Security Investigations internship, part of the university’s applied learning program with the Midwest Criminal Justice Institute. The experience gave him career clarity, reinforced his classroom learning, and solidified his goal of working in federal law enforcement.

Janett Lerma-Reyes

July 10, 2025 — Wichita State sophomore Janett Lerma-Reyes is gaining hands-on experience and newfound confidence through a paid internship at Shuttlewagon, where she's applying engineering skills to real-world manufacturing challenges. The internship has not only sharpened her technical abilities but also affirmed her place in the industry and allowed her to support her family and well-being.

Spring 2025 grad

July 8, 2025 — More than 2,400 students were eligible to graduate from Wichita State University in the spring. See the full list.

Karaline Scott

June 26, 2025 — Electrical engineering major Karaline Scott is getting an early start on her career path. The Wichita State sophomore is spending her summer at Professional Engineering Consultants, where she’s getting paid to work alongside industry professionals and experiencing how engineering concepts translate to real-world impact.

Vamsidhar Patlolla

June 9, 2025 — Shocker Composites, founded by Wichita State alum Vamsidhar Patlolla, transforms carbon fiber waste into high-performance, sustainable materials using a recycling method he developed during his graduate research. With support from Wichita State’s NIAR and Innovation Campus, the company is scaling up its impact and demonstrating how university-backed startups can drive real-world innovation and sustainability.

Ridge Estes

May 29, 2025 - Ridge Estes, from Bucklin, used his study time and his athletic time wisely during his Wichita State University career. He majored in exercise science with minors in health science and entrepreneurship and graduated earlier this month with a 3.473 grade-point average.

Gene Stephenson Park

May 15, 2025 - Earlier this month, “Gene Stephenson Park” was added to Eck Stadium, home of Tyler Field, at a ceremony and unveiling. On Friday, his jersey No. 10 will be recognized on the stadium’s Wall of Honor in left field.

Wichita State grads celebrate at commencement ceremonies

May 14, 2025 — More than 2,400 students are eligible to participate in Wichita State University’s 127th spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17 in Charles Koch Arena.