March 11, 2022

The Dorothy & Bill Cohen Honors College Weekly Update

By Savannah Gann

Graphic featuring a photo of WuShock with hands in the air and text that reads: "The Dorothy & Bill Cohen Honors College: The weekly update for March 11, 2022."

Events & Deadlines

Last Day to Apply to be a Peer Mentor for Summer Research Institute

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 is today, March 11th.

Final Days to 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 last Spring 2022 deadline is March 15th.

A white, hot pink, and bright purple graphic advertising "Intramural Softball 2nd Team!" On the white, left-hand side of the graphic, black text reads: "Active Academics: Honors in Intramurals. Organized by Cohen Honors College Student Council." On the right-hand side, the top half is bright pink with black text that reads: "Scan the QR code for information!" next to a bright neon green softball and a black and white QR code. Below the top half is a bright purple bottom half with black text that reads: "Join an intramural softball team with other honors students! Game times are Monday @7:30 PM. Register by March 17th. Games begin in late March. You can also contact us at erahrenholtz@shockers.wichita.edu or jlamborski@shockers.wichita.edu."

2nd Honors Intramural Softball Team Looking for Players

Due to popular demand, the Honors Student Council has started another team! Join the Flying Pandas in the open division to play slow-pitch softball. The team is forming now - click here if you're interested! Registration closes March 17th.

Volunteer for the 2022 Great Plains Honors Council Conference

Honors students are encouraged to volunteer for the 2022 Great Plains Honors Council Conference happening March 18th – 20th. This is a great opportunity to meet students/faculty/staff from WSU and other educational institutions! Sign up here.

A flyer advertising a volunteering event. The left side of the flyer is a hot pink color with yellow and white text that reads: "Join WHEAT in volunteering at the Kansas Humane Society. Help with housekeeping and enrichment, and meet some adorable animals up for adoption! Saturday, March 19th, 2022, 12pm. Scan to RSVP." A QR code is placed at the bottom-middle of the page. On the right side of the flyer are five pictures of various animals: (1) a small white dog and a yellow-blonde cat in black shirts with white satin neck ties, (2) a gray cat with it's head tilted to the side, (3) a golden-brown dog looking at the camera with big, open eyes, (4) a light brown rabbit on a white carpet with a blue wall behind it, and (5) a photo of a paw print in gray-white sand.

Join WHEAT at Kansas Humane Society

Looking for a study break? Join Honors students volunteering at the Kansas Humane Society on March 19th at noon. Please RSVP by clicking here or scanning the QR code.

Apply for Undergraduate Research Experience 

Undergraduate Research Experience is an incredible opportunity! Learn more at wichita.edu/URE. Students are encouraged to begin the application process now, as there are multiple steps to complete prior to submission. Applications are due March 23rd. Priority is given to current freshmen, sophomores, and underrepresented students in STEM.

Submit a Proposal for Idea Exchange at the National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Conference

Have you led change or created community in an Honors student organization? Have you taught an exciting Honors class? The Idea Exchange is a dynamic opportunity for National Collegiate Honors Council conference attendees to gather new ideas and information about Honors practices and opportunities in an energetic, fast-moving environment.

The goal of Idea Exchange is to engage in thoughtful discussions about new and emerging ideas about your station topic with conference attendees. Creative displays and handouts are highly encouraged to draw attendees to your station. This opportunity is available to both students and faculty.

For more information or to submit an Idea Exchange Proposal, visit https://www.nchchonors.org/events/nchc22/22opportunities. The deadline is March 31st.

Register for Fall Courses starting April 4th

Fall 2022 Registration for Honors students opens at 7 a.m. on April 4th. Follow the Honors College on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for information about course offerings.

If you'd like to meet with the Honors academic advisor Jessi Raburn, please email her at jessica.raburn@wichita.edu to schedule an appointment.

News & Information

A photograph of Honors alum Eddie Sandoval with his business partner Kyle Offutt and Wichita State University business professor and advisor Kate Kung-McIntyre.

Kudos! Honors Alum Eddie Sandoval Appeared on Shark Tank 

Congratulations to Honors alum Eddie Sandoval on his continued success with Pinole Blue and his team's pitch to the Shark Tank judges last month!

Started by 2017 WSU alums Eddie Sandoval and Kyle Offutt, Pinole Blue produces blue corn tortillas and other corn-centric food products. The business has a storefront at 242 N. Cleveland in Wichita. Its tortillas, drink mixes, and cookies are sold locally at Whole Foods. They also supply their blue corn tortillas to restaurants in both Wichita and Kansas City. Click here to read more about their journey.

Nominate an Individual for the Faculty Mentor Award!

This award sponsored by the college each year recognizes a faculty mentor to Honors students inside or outside of the classroom. Prior winners are not eligible for this award. Student members of the Honors community are invited to nominate a faculty mentor with a statement describing in detail what qualifies the faculty member for this award. These mentors could include faculty teaching Honors courses, teaching Honors option contract courses, or mentoring undergraduate research/applied learning.

Click here for the form. Please submit nominations by April 13th at 11:59 p.m. The Honors College Student Council will vote to make the final award decision.

An image featuring the backs of graduates with graduation caps on. Black text on the left-hand side reads: "We need your help! Volunteers needed for commencement. Saturday, May 14, 2022. Volunteer Shifts: 7:30-11:30a; 11:30-3:30p; 3:30-7:30p. For more details & to sign-up visit: wichita.edu/volunteerforcommencement."

Volunteer for Commencement

The Spring 2022 Commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 14th. Volunteers will be fed well and enjoy a great time with a fun group of people as they welcome guests and graduates to this memorable event. Visit wichita.edu/volunteerforcommencement for more information. The deadline to sign up is April 22nd.

WHEAT Biweekly Meetings

Join the Wichita Honors Events & Activities Team every other Thursday from 6 - 7 p.m. in the Honors College Seminar Room to plan events for the Honors community! The next meeting is on Thursday, March 24th. For more information, please email WHEAT President Emma Ahrenholtz at erarhenholtz@shockers.wichita.edu or join the Discord server with code SDCTHDxYbY.

Open Officer Positions in WHEAT 

Make an impact on the Honors community by becoming an officer for the Wichita Honors Events & Activities Team. Plan events, connect with students, volunteer, and build your leadership skills as the Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, or Secretary! Please email WHEAT President Emma Ahrenholtz at erahrenholtz@shockers.wichita.edu for more information.

Student Spotlight

Yellow grid graphic with photo of Riley Vandaveer in the middle. Text information around reads: "Name: Riley Vandaveer. Hometown: Olathe, KS. Major: Electrical Engineering. Minors: Mechanical Engineering and Homeland Security. Reason for Joining Honors: To join a community with great resources. Favorite Honors Benefit: Unique and challenging honors courses. Favorite Honors Classes: Calculus III and Differential Equations. Involvement on Campus: Track and Cross Country, St. Paul University Parish, Jazz band. Plans After Graduation: Work for Department of Defense."

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.