Applied Learning Stories

A junior in health management, Khushi Choudhary, is currently working as a student assistant at the Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) at Wichita State University. The KSBDC provides support to help Wichita’s small business leaders reach their goals and drive economic growth.

Colton Farmer is currently a second-year student earning a bachelor’s degree in performing arts–acting. Through his applied learning experience, Colton is currently a member of the Wichita State Preforming Arts Company (WUPAC).

Elizabeth Small is a first-year master’s student in geology planning to graduate in the Spring of 2027. Through her applied learning experience, Elizabeth is working as an Applied Learning Student Assistant – Geological Collection Curation for the Geology Department at Wichita State University.

Isiah Tiongson gained hands-on experience as an engineering intern with Viega, a family-owned global leader in press technology and a manufacturer of plumbing and HVAC solutions. A mechanical engineering student at Wichita State University, he is set to graduate in December 2026.

Five Wichita State graphic design seniors partnered with Dzanc Publishing to design original paperback book covers, gaining hands-on experience in a professional publishing environment. Guided by Joshua Smith, Assistant Director of Graphic Design, the students collaborated directly with authors and the Dzanc team to develop visually distinctive concepts that reflect each book's voice and audience.

Madisyn “Mady” Sampson is a senior at Wichita State University completing her coursework online and graduating in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management. Through her applied learning experience, Mady served as the Clinical Coordinator and Instructor for the Surgical Technology Program at Crowder College’s Advanced Training & Workforce Center in Joplin, Missouri.

In December 2025, Tyler Bushnell graduated from the Barton School of Business, attaining a bachelor’s degree in information technology and management information systems. As an adult learner, he resumed his education after more than a decade as an airborne combat engineer for the U.S. Army. Since graduation, Bushnell has been a full-time software developer at POET. He began as a summer 2024 intern at POET, was later promoted to junior software developer, before earning his current full-time role. Reflecting on his career journey, Bushnell shares his return to education, finding new passions and changing careers.

When Marianna Fronciani Farina arrived at Wichita State University, she chose mechanical engineering for its flexibility, unsure exactly where it would lead. Four years later, that foundation, strengthened by hands-on software testing and quality assurance work at NetApp, led her to a full-time role in test engineering, proving that real-world experience can shape both skills and direction. Fronciani was an international student from Paraguay. She decided to pursue her education at WSU because her cousin had studied at the university through the “Comité Paraguay Kansas” program, which allows Paraguayans to study at universities in Kansas with in-state tuition. When she toured WSU, the John Bardo Center blew her away, and she decided to make Wichita her home.