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.
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.
Committee named for Barton School of Business dean search
The Office of Academic Affairs announces the search committee for the Dean of the Barton School of Business dean search. For a full list of the search committee and the job description, please go to Business Dean Search.
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, and to submit information for the next edition.
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.
Ulrich Museum of Art seeks presenters for PechaKucha-style presentations highlighting campuswide research
FUN / Future Now at the Ulrich is a series of PeckaKucha-style presentations featuring campuswide research -- three Fridays, four presentations, seven minutes each. There are spots available for all three spring dates:
Friday, February 1, 4-5 p.m. with reception / deadline for submission Friday, Jan. 11
Friday, March 1, 4-5 p.m. with reception / deadline for submission Friday, Feb. 8
Friday, April 26, 4-5 p.m. with reception / deadline for submission Friday, March 29
We simply ask that an email proposal be sent to Jana.Durfee@wichita.edu with the following information:
Name / Title / Department / Research Topic / Preferred Date
This program is an extension Solving for X – a series of exhibitions organized by the Ulrich Museum of Art in collaboration with university scholars across campus. The objective is to explore the potential for the Museum, as a WSU public access point for the community, to make accessible the fascinating and essential research taking place on campus.
Hubbard Hall stairwells closing for construction
Stairwells in Hubbard Hall will be closed temporarily in January because of window replacement work. Only one stairwell will be closed at a time. Contractors started on the west stairwell this week, with the east and north stairwell beginning later in December and January.
During construction, each stairwell will be blocked from both the exterior and interior entrances. Students and staff should avoid the stairwells during the work; however, in case of emergency, the stairwells will be accessible.
LaunchPrep applications open soon
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 open today (Wednesday, Jan. 2). Find out more information at www.launchprepict.com.