Bigger Scholarships. More Awards Than Ever Before.

Photo by Matt Crow/Wichita State Admissions

For a university that has been around for more than 130 years, I’m excited about the stride we’re hitting at this moment. At the heart of all-time enrollment records, hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure investments and a re-invigorated focus on student success, we’ve made affordability paramount for our students and families. As part of our continued commitment to college accessibility and return on investment, I’m excited to share that this year’s high school seniors will have more scholarship opportunities at Wichita State than ever before.

Every fall, hundreds of high school seniors come to campus to compete in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI), one of the region’s most prestigious scholarship events. It’s a decades-long tradition that brings together outstanding students ready to connect with peers and compete for life‑changing awards. While the scholarship opportunities are the initial attraction for many students, I've worked closely with this event for long enough now to know there's another, more subtle benefit that's just as meaningful - high-achieving high school seniors making impactful connections with one another through activities and experiences. Those students who choose to compete in our November 2026 competition will now have access to the biggest scholarship dollars yet:

• (NEW) Richard D. Smith Scholarship - $80,000 award over four years, the largest annual scholarship at Wichita State open to all majors.
• Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships - three $64,000 awards over four years open to all majors.
• James Scholarship - $40,000 award over four years for Fine Arts or Liberal Arts & Sciences majors.
• Parkinson Scholarship - up to $34,000 over four years, open to all majors and geared towards a first-generation student.
• Passage 2 Success Scholarships - $8,000–$20,000 over four years for first‑generation students who participate in the Passage 2 Success program open to all majors.

Alongside these major awards, DSI finalists and semifinalists receive scholarship packages for their achievements meaning hundreds of thousands of dollars are awarded each year through this program.

Additional New Scholarships

The day before DSI, the Barton School of Business hosts the Allen, Gibbs & Houlik (AGH) Scholarship Competition - a separate event specifically for business majors. Two new scholarships have been added to this competition:

• Ross Tidemann Scholarship - $50,000 over four years for students declaring a business major, with consideration for applicants who have work experience.
• Najim Scholarship - $40,000 over four years for Kansas high school graduates majoring in the Barton School who demonstrate strong community engagement.

Of note but not new, business majors also compete for the $50,000 Clay Barton Scholarship. Plus, entrepreneurship majors have a chance to win two $36,400 Jabara Scholarships. These additions mean business‑focused students now have more targeted opportunities than ever before. Business students are eligible to and encouraged to compete in both AGH and DSI to maximize chances of earning awards.

Not to Mention

Many other scholarships will still exist for other majors. Our College of Engineering awards TEN Wallace Scholarships valued at $30,500 each and our Cohen Honors College offers the McGregor Scholarship at $26,000. These awards and competitions have resulted in hundreds of successful Shockers over the years too.

Why These Opportunities Matter

Even if you’re still exploring post-graduation options, I strongly encourage all eligible students to apply for our scholarship competitions. I’ve simply lost track of the number of times I’ve heard from students and families about how DSI – whether they won an award or not – sealed their decision to attend Wichita State. It’s a scholarship competition with a path toward getting a jumpstart on what could be your most important social network to date, by building connections to a community that could be your college home. We’re proud to announce this expanded scholarship lineup and are eager for students to know participating in DSI – and the additional competitions – is ready to reward students with our biggest scholarship packages yet.