The Dorothy & Bill Cohen Honors College Weekly Update

Weekly Update Header, January 28


Events & Deadlines


Apply for a Cohen Enhancement Scholarship!

Cohen Enhancement Scholarships of up to $4,000 support current Honors students in activities such as study abroad, National Student Exchange, unpaid internships, travel to national conferences, undergraduate research, and service-learning.

Please visit the Honors Scholarships webpage for more information and the application. The Spring 2022 application deadlines are February 1st and March 15th.


Apply for the 2022 Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol

The Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol event is an opportunity for students to present their research experiences virtually to state lawmakers, Board of Regents members, and the WSU community from March 1st - 3rd.

Up to 40 students participate each year representing each of the state’s eight public four-year institutions. Projects from a broad range of disciplines are encouraged - especially those that relate to the state of Kansas and issues important to the State Legislature (e.g. education, health, agriculture, aviation, biotechnology, energy, transportation, manufacturing, environment, and social services). Up to five projects will be selected from each institution and students working on the same research project are encouraged to apply as a group.

Visit wichita.edu/undergradresearch for more information. Apply by Wednesday, February 2nd.


Faculty Invited to Submit Projects for Summer Research Experience

The WSU College of Engineering & the Cohen Honors College are funding up to 18 faculty-mentored undergraduate research experiences in STEM with stipends to students in Summer 2022 and/or Fall 2022 semesters. A portion of the funding is provided by the NSF Kansas Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (KS-LSAMP) program. Interested faculty should submit projects for consideration here (all fields required, one submission for each project) by February 9.

Student applications will be available in March. The NSF definition of STEM fields includes mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, computer and information sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences – psychology, economics, sociology, and political science.


Applications Open for the Outstanding Cohen Honors Student Award

The award recognizes a high-achieving senior leader who takes on challenges and demonstrates commitment to academic excellence in Honors. You are eligible if you are a graduating senior who has completed at least 90 credit hours by the end of the summer 2021 semester AND maintain active standing in Honors including a minimum 3.25 overall GPA.

Selection will be based on the following:

  • Involvement at WSU and within the Cohen Honors College
  • Leadership
  • Contribution and service to the surrounding community
  • Demonstrated success in Honors courses

Apply here. The application deadline is February 15th at 11:59 p.m.


Compete in Invent for the Planet!

Part of a light blue globe and white text saying "Invent for the Planet - The sun never sets on innovation - Wichita State University - John Bardo Center - Feb 18-20" on a navy background

Invent for the Planet (IFTP) is a competition that will be held from February 18-20 in the John Bardo Center on campus. For 48 hours, you will be solving real-world problems! At the same time, students from across the globe will be working on the same issues, which allows you to collaborate and learn from peers all over the world. Mentors will also be available.

You can form a team of 4-6 people OR you can be placed with other individuals to form a team. All teams will present their solutions to judges for a chance to win more than $500 in prizes. Meals and snacks will be provided. There are a limited number of spots, so click here to sign up now!


News & Information


Honors Seeking Summer Research Institute (SRI) in First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) Peer Mentors

SRI in FYRE will be hosted on the WSU main campus from June 5th – 9th. SRI Peer Mentors will assist with camp preparation during the months of April and May. They will serve as mentors, lead team building activities, help an incoming fellow Shocker transition into college life, participate in research alongside the campers, and assist the SRI team with other activities the week of the camp.

If you have an interest in research, enjoy helping students explore their interests in research, and are looking for a short-term paid position, please apply here. The deadline to apply is March 2nd.


Honors Option Agreement

You have the opportunity to submit an Honors Option Agreement to modify a non-Honors course into an Honors course! You would work with a faculty member to design the Honors criteria. Both the faculty and the student forms are located at www.wichita.edu/honorsforms. They must be submitted by the end of the third week of classes (next Friday, February 4). Please note, students in their first semester are encouraged to consider this in their second semester or later.


Enter the Deloitte Smart Factory Design Contest

An orange shipping container displays the words"The Smart Factory." Next the shipping container is the The Smart Factory's logo with orange leaves and a banner reading "Container Commission."

The Deloitte Smart Factory at Wichita State is sponsoring a storage container commission design contest for Wichita State students. It doesn’t matter if you’re an art student, a business student, or a graduate student — you just need to be a WSU student with a flair for design. Submissions must be submitted no later than 10:59 p.m. on February 13. More information can be found here.


Student Spotlight


Grid graphic with photo of Gladys Bayani Heitzman in the middle and information about her experience with the Cohen Honors College surrounding.


Submit Information for the Student Spotlight

We want to give a shoutout to AMAZING students like you! To be featured in weekly update and on social media, click here to complete the brief form.


General Information about Honors

Email honors@wichita.edu at any time with questions or concerns.

The Honors student lounge, kitchen, and printing areas in Shocker Hall are open 24/7 by keycard access for all Honors students. Speak with the Honors Student Assistant at the desk or email honorsassistant@wichita.edu if you have any trouble.

We want to hear from you! Submit your news to the weekly update.