Solomey’s project selected by NASA NIAC Phase II
The NASA NIAC Phase-2 selection recently included Nick Solomey’s project at ͷ State University. The project is approved for a two-year $500,000 study.
According to Solomey, this new grant will allow us to continue the work, but now instead of just doing simulations studies we will:
- a) Build a test detector in the lab and test it with cosmic rays and sources (this lab prototype will become part of a future cube sat space test mission or maybe a short stay on ISS that would need another grant once it works well in the lab).
- b) Do a design study for cost, time and trajectory with the Advanced Concept office at MSFC with our WSU AE part of the group working together.
- c) A science mission study, how much data is needed to do a first attempt at enough data to do the various science goals.
This will take at least the full two years and the $500,000 of the grant. A good outcome of this grant work would be a future near earth orbit test mission.
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Q&A with Airbus intern Khyati Mahavadia
Khyati Mahavadia is intrigued by the mystery of flight.
“To fly, you have to out-smart nature,” she said. “Since childhood, I’ve always looked at airplanes and it just fascinates me. I see my whole life working with airplanes.”
She chose ͷ as the place to start her career in aviation and is a stress intern at Airbus working on the A380 and A320 Wing while working on her master’s degree.
Sculpture dedication: Elyn Zimmerman, Font
The Ulrich Museum of Art will add a new sculpture by Elyn Zimmerman to its renowned Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection today (Tuesday, April 23). The sculpture is one of three new pieces entering the collection in the spring of 2019.
The reveal and remarks will be held at 3:30 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. reception at Shocker Hall Plaza. An artist talk will be presented at 5:30 p.m. at the Ulrich Museum of Art.
ܾ’s Font comes out of the artist’s decades-long fascination with stone as a material and the forms of ancient structures familiar to us through the work of archaeologists. Font evokes ancient sacred forms from a number of cultures around the world and was most directly inspired by an ancient Egyptian altar that featured a round stone sunk into a table. In ܾ’s interpretation, the round stone of the original altar is replaced by a polished black granite disk over whose edge water flows hypnotically. At WSU, the piece is sited so as to encourage interaction with passersby and will provide a meditative oasis in the midst of a bustling campus.
Elyn Zimmerman holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Fine Art from UCLA. Born in Philadelphia, she has lived in New York City since 1977. Since the late 1970s, Zimmerman has executed numerous temporary site-specific outdoor sculptural installations for major museums all over the world. Her permanent outdoor sculpture installations are marked by their use of stone and water, as well as their reference to the natural landscape.
ܾ’s work is held in the permanent collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the British Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, as well as several corporate collections.
WSU men's and women's tennis offers free tennis clinics
The WSU men's and women's tennis programs will offer free tennis clinics for WSU faculty, staff and Innovation Campus employees at the Coleman Tennis Complex this spring.
The free Wednesday clinics will resume from noon-1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, April 24) and run indefinitely as long as there is interest.
These clinics are for all ability levels, from beginner to experienced. Even if you've never played tennis, give it a try. Rackets will be provided if you let Nick Taylor know ahead of time. RSVP to nicholas.taylor@wichita.edu.
World Trade Council event: Kansas Agriculture & Global Trade: Issues & Strategies
The World Trade Council will feature Kansas Agriculture & Global Trade on Thursday, April 25, at the ͷ Marriott Hotel, 9100 Corporate Hills Drive. A networking reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Introductions start at 7:50 a.m., with presentation and Q&A at 8 p.m.
Panelists are Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam; Pat Binger, vice president, International, Cargill Protein Group; Usha Haley, W. Frank Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business, and chair, World Trade Council of ͷ; and Kenlon Johannes, CEO, Kansas Soybean Association / Commission.
World Trade Council event and ticket information
‘Improving Strategies Through Storytelling’ presentation
GoCreate, WSU Strategic Initiatives and the U.S. Small Business Administration will present a workshop “Improving Strategies Through Storytelling” by Whitney Proctor, from noon-1:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in the Experiential Engineering Building.
Registration required, but no fee charged. .
Proctor is an experienced business development and HR consultant with a passion for connecting people to what matters to them. She is an advocate for businesses in Kansas and hopes to one day see the Greater ͷ Area listed as the #1 place to work in the country. She thinks that we can get there by telling a story that matters and being consistent to live out that story every day in our organizations.
Ward Jewell receives WSU Foundation Faculty Fundraising Award
Professor of Electrical Engineering Ward Jewell (center above) recently received the WSU Foundation Faculty Fundraising Award. The award was established to recognize WSU faculty or staff members who have played a key role in cultivating and securing a major gift for WSU. The award was established in 2012 by the WSU Foundation Board of Directors and is announced each year at the spring meeting of the WSU Foundation National Advisory Council.
Jewell was nominated by Dr. Zaruba and selected by the WSU Foundation NAC committee.
Following is a summary of College of Engineering Dean Dennis Livesay’s introductory remarks:
“Dr. Ward Jewell joined ͷ in August 1987 as an assistant professor. When Ward came to WSU, we only had an undergraduate program in electrical engineering. Ward led the development of our graduate program, and he graduated his first Ph.D. student in 1992, which was also the program’s first graduate. Since then, Ward has graduated 17 Ph.D. students and 80 MS students who are employed all over the world practicing and teaching electric power and energy engineering.
Ward has brought in more than $4 million in research funding. In 2000, he joined researchers from 12 other universities to create an industry-university collaborative research center—Power System Engineering Research Center (PSERC). This was initially funded by National Science Foundation and is currently supported by 35 industrial members.
Ward’s work has been recognized by the College of Engineering Wallace Excellence in Research Award, which he has received twice.
Ward is also a caring citizen. He has been active in both his professional and local community. His professional interactions are numerous, but I will focus on his community efforts, which include: volunteer bicycle maintenance and repair instructor for ͷ Children’s Home, music instructor at Alpha Montessori School, baseball coach, and many more. Ward truly cares about people, and he does everything he can to help them.
Finally, in terms of development and industry engagement, Ward has—once again—excelled. The power program depends heavily on his efforts. His industry connections provide internship opportunities for our students and full-time jobs for our graduates. Additionally, he was instrumental in securing a $250K gift form Westar Energy to upgrade and modernize the Power Systems Teaching Laboratory, and he is currently working closely with Evergy to build an advanced power system lab with solar and wind generation facilities.
Ward is the quintessential teacher/scholar, and he will forever be the model that I hold in front of young faculty as what they should aspire to. Ward is truly deserving of this recognition. Congratulations, Ward!"
Sixteen teams to advance to Shocker New Venture Competition Trade Show
The Center for Entrepreneurship’s Shocker New Venture Competition (SNVC) is underway and will award start-up capital to aid competitors in the launch of their new ventures.
The Trade Show will take place from 2-6 p.m. Friday, April 26, at Charles Koch Arena, where these teams will set up displays and pitch their business concepts to more than 100 business leaders. The public is welcome and encouraged to come out and witness this next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.
Sponsors of this year’s competition include Foulston Siefkin, High Touch Technologies, IMA Financial Group, INTRUST Bank, Lubrication Engineers, NetWork Kansas, Riverside Health Foundation, Jeff & Kelley DeGraffenreid.
This week wrapped up the judging of the 10-page business plan round. The result is the movement of 16 teams into the trade show round of the competition. Selection was based upon market viability, the likelihood to launch and financial projections.
The 16 teams advancing to the Trade Show are:
- Bionic6
- Boost Hoop
- DUO Health
- ERC
- HandiLift
- Liberty Limbs Prosthetics
- Nuria
- PARROT
- Phantom Technologies
- Safety Headphones
- Senior Design Spirit
- Shiver
- Smart Warehouse Advanced Technologies
- TableTop
- Team Ascenseur
- TechHead
The six teams with the most “investments” by the judges will advance to the final round which takes place on May 3. The final round will take place from 1-4 p.m. in 107 Devlin Hall. An awards ceremony will follow at 5 p.m. in Devlin Hall. The public is encouraged to attend the final round presentations and the award ceremony.
Here’s this week’s university update
At last Thursday's Weekly Briefing, the university update included information about the YMCA, SBIR road trip and Graduate dean search.
YMCA
With construction of the new campus YMCA well underway, we’re happy to start today’s briefing by announcing that WSU students are taking advantage of their memberships, through thousands of visits, to the Y’s nine ͷ-area locations.
In fact, the YMCA saw more than 29,000 visits from WSU students in January 2019—and roughly 25,000 visits per month since our partnership started. In addition, around 5,000 family members of WSU students use the family membership option each month.
We want to remind students that their memberships are good through the summer and to encourage them, and their families, to continue enjoying all of the fun and fitness resources this partnership provides. And as part of our commitment to community health and wellness, we look forward to welcoming the entire community to the brand-new YMCA on the Innovation Campus in January 2020.
SBIR Road Trip – May 21
As a catalyst for technology-based innovation, ͷ State will host the Kansas stop of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National SBIR Road Tour in Kansas City, Kan. on May 21.
The event is part of a 16-stop tour connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early stage funding – the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Also known as America’s Seed Fund, these programs focus on next generation research & development.
These programs provide over $3 billion in early stage funding to small businesses each year in technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity and defense. The programs also execute over 5,000 new awards annually, which allow innovators to advance new technologies and have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.\
In 2018 alone, 22 Kansas businesses received a total of more than $6 million for projects with agencies such as the National Science Foundation, NASA and Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Health and Energy.
We recognize the vital importance of this funding, and this event, and are glad to support the SBIR Road Tour for the benefit of our local, state and regional economy–and for the world-changing innovation it helps foster.
Small technology firms, innovators, scientists and researchers seeking more information on the SBIR Road Tour, including a schedule of stops and participating agencies, should visit .
Graduate dean candidates
With the Graduate School dean search underway, we’re happy to announce that the university is scheduled to host three candidates on April 24-25, April 29-30 and May 6-7. We look forward to having them on campus, and we’ll release more information when it becomes available.
ͷ State Theatre film project showing this week
ͷ Theatre students and faculty members produced a feature-length film, “A Long Story Short,” as part of the WSU Theatre season this year. The movie is written and directed by Director of Media Arts at WSU, Bret Jones.
The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, in The Welsbacher Theatre, Hughes Metropolitan Complex. For tickets, call 978-3233 or click on .
“A Long Story Short” is a mystery / suspense film following a small town book club who find messages crying out for help written in library books. The group decides to investigate to see if it’s a hoax, or if there is someone out there needing saving.
Jones penned the script last year planning it for the production season. “The idea for the story had been running around in my mind for a while,” Jones said, “and it just seemed like a natural fit with our WSU Theatre film / theatre season.”
Although Jones’ background and focus is in theatre, in recent years he has turned his attention to film as another medium for his students to study. He has written and directed a 16-episode web series, “The Opposite of People,” which starred ͷ State University Theatre students, as well as other film projects, “After Midnight,” “Redux,” “Dramedy,” and last year’s “Sidekicks!”
“There is a big difference in acting on stage and in front of a camera,” Jones said. “I wanted to explore film as a possibility for students. The 21st century actor is one who performs in a multitude of mediums: film, television, commercials, theatre, voice-overs, and the Internet.
The theatre faculty wants to expose our students to different areas of performance to help prepare them for the profession. That’s the purpose for producing these films, educate our students.”
In addition to WSU School of Performing Arts students being involved in the project, WSU Media Arts students focusing on filmmaking provided technical support for the film. “This has been one of best filmmaking experiences we’ve had,” Jones said. “It was great to get Media Arts and Theatre students together collaborating on a film project.
“A Long Story Short” cast and crew: WSU Theatre students—Sydney Alder, Trevor Brauser, Beth Roth, TJ Wade, Madysen Baker, and Allison Miller. Producers: Austin Steffens and Robert Thomas. Production Sound Mixer: Sydney Jordan. Director of Photography: Max Frish. Gaffer: James Marlowe. First Assistant Camera: Quinlan Roth. Grips: Michael Flores, Dylan Legleiter, and Luke Ewertz. Editor: Laban Massey. Music Composer: Devin Harbin.
Army ROTC program to begin at ͷ State this fall
ͷ has partnered with the Kansas National Guard and Cadet Command Army ROTC to begin offering a Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.
The program, housed under WSU’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, will begin in fall 2019, creating a path to college for the nearly 2,500 students already involved in Junior ROTC programs at ͷ-area middle and high schools.
Students going through WSU’s Army ROTC program will select a major of their choosing and will minor in military science.
KMUW: Celebrating 70 years of broadcasting on April 26
KMUW, ͷ’s NPR station, is celebrating 70 years. KMUW began broadcasting from the campus of ͷ on April 26, 1949, as the first 10-watt noncommercial FM station in the United States. We've come a long way since our days as a student-run station.
We are proud to be licensed by ͷ and strive to honor our WSU roots by providing student interns experience with our award-winning news department through the KMUW News Lab program.
In honor of this milestone anniversary, we are celebrating with a limited-edition tote bag, featuring KMUW logos from throughout the decades.
Summer 2019 Financial Aid Application information
Plan on taking classes this summer? The Summer 2019 Financial Aid Application is available for completion.
Here’s what you need to do. Enroll in Summer 2019 classes.
- Complete the Summer Aid Application* in your , under the myFinances tab, under Financial Aid Links.
- Find out all about summer courses at ͷ State here.
*Please allow up to three (3) weeks for processing.
Remember, we’re here to help:
finaid@wichita.edu
316-978-3430 / 1-855-WSU-1STP (24-hour support)
203 Jardine Hall
8 a.m.-6 p.m. (M-T), 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (W-F)
Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) Symposium coming April 26
Come support students at the opening remarks and poster session from 9 a.m.-noon. Submit your “People’s Choice” vote for best poster. Judges will review posters and listen to presenters. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners at the closing general session from 1-1:30 p.m.
For more detail on the event visit .
Women in Tech: More Than a Talk
The conference, Women in Tech: More Than a Talk, aims to inspire, engage, and empower women in all stages of their career. Join us for an evening of micro-talks from local female leaders presenting on a variety of topics, covering STEM and beyond from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at The WAVE, the newest downtown event venue, on 2nd and Saint Francis. There also will be networking opportunities within the context of a supportive community.
The WSU Institute of Innovation has partnered with ShiftICT for this event, and a Master’s of Innovation Design grad is the keynote speaker.
The cost is $15, which includes two drink tickets and tacos from The WAVE. Register at .
Campus Credit Union invites members and interested persons to lunch
Take a break and enjoy a free hot dog at Campus Credit Union, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. We are located next to the WSU Police Station and Wilkins Stadium, across the road from the new YMCA construction, as a thank you to all our members and a warm welcome to anyone who wishes to join. Available while supplies last.
WSU students can use YMCA memberships during the summer
While ͷ State students await the opening of the new Steve Clark YMCA / Student Wellness Center on campus, they are already making extensive use of the nine other Greater ͷ YMCAs.
WSU students account for an average of about 25,000 visits to area YMCAs each month.
ͷ State’s YMCA, under construction at the corner of Mike Oatman Drive and Mid Campus Drive, is roughly nine months from completion. When finished in 2020, the YMCA will offer features, many connecting technology to fitness routines, unique to the building.
Aerospace Engineering students compete in NASA student launch
ͷ State’s College of Engineering recently sent a team of four aerospace engineering seniors to Huntsville, Alabama. where they successfully competed in the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Student Launch Initiative (SLI). Participants design, build, and launch a rocket to complete a simulated inter-planetary mission.
The WSU team’s 37-lb., 10-ft. tall, rocket is reusable and includes an active drag system for altitude control. Additionally, the rocket carries an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that autonomously orients itself for takeoff, and delivers a simulated navigation beacon to a designated location. Everything worked as the team planned in Huntsville for the competition, and included students Bryan Cline, Skylar Dean, Jonathan Bowerman, and Mike Foster.
“Just getting invited to NASA’s SLI is hard, teams from all over the U.S. vie to participate and only the best go,” said Scott Miller, chair of the Aerospace Engineering Department. “Completing all the work and meeting technical milestones is extremely challenging.”
Since August, the team completed three NASA design reviews, seven launches, and reached almost 300 3rd-12th grade students via educational outreach events, Miller said.
The team was assisted by Steve Klausmeyer and Jonathan Mowery, both WSU aerospace engineering alumni, as well as the faculty, providing advice, help, and funding. According to Miller, the team of four accomplished more than other universities did with teams of more than 20 students.
Find out more at .
SI and MGC announce ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 26
Student Involvement (SI), in conjunction with the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Multicultural Greek Council Quad at 11 a.m. Friday, April 26, on the RSC east patio. The rain location will be the RSC east atrium.
The idea for an MGC Quad was first discussed in spring 2013. The Multicultural Greek Council, Student Involvement and university entities were in support of this idea, however, it took several years to bring the quad to fruition. Over a six-year period, the quad went through several redesigns, and monies were secured to pay for the landscaping, pillars and banners incorporated into the space.
The location of the quad, at the crossroads of the Rhatigan Student Center, Clinton Hall, Neff Hall and the Geology Building, was chosen by the MGC Council and Facilities Planning. Feedback from students within the MGC Council was gathered on the landscaping, pillars and banners.
The purpose of the quad is to provide our culturally based and National Pan-Hellenic Council Greek chapters a visible space on campus. These chapters traditionally do not have chapter facilities. Providing them a space on campus increases their visibility and affords them a gathering space.
The quad currently hosts active chapters on campus. As more culturally based and National Pan-Hellenic Council Greek chapters are brought to ͷ State, banners will be added to represent these groups.
The chapters currently on campus include, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc., Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc., Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority Inc., Chi Sigma Tau Fraternity Inc.
Two more chapters will be added to the quad over the next year; they include Lambda Pi Upsilon Sorority, Latinas Poderosas Unidas Inc. and Mu Delta Alpha.
A special thanks to those who donated to the project, including Sean and Melissa Conley, WSU Student Affairs and WSU Panhellenic Council.
For more information about this event or the MGC Quad, go to or call 978-3022.
Shocker Store’s Spring Patio Sale coming next week
Save the date for the Shocker Store’s Spring Patio Sale! From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, and Wednesday, May 1, on the RSC north patio, you will find great deals on Shocker gear for all the Shockers in your life!
Sale on professional wear at Shocker Store in RSC
The Shocker Store has a sale this week for the Shocker fans that want to support their team in their business dress! All men’s and women’s professional wear is 20% off through Saturday, April 27, in RSC store only.
Nominations open for Shocker Sports HOF
ͷ State Athletics is accepting public nominations for the 2020 Pizza Hut Shocker
Sports Hall of Fame induction, Associate AD for Strategic Communications announced this week.
Former student-athletes are not eligible for induction until nine years after their
initial enrollment at ͷ. This year's class must have an initial
enrollment of Fall, 2011, or before.
Submit nominations, along with support materials to Tami Cutler, associate AD / Strategic
Communications, Charles Koch Arena, 1845 Fairmount, ͷ, Kansas, 67260-0018, or
email tcutler@goshockers.com.
Check out the Home in Harmony Tour ‘Vintage Venue’
Join Tim and Gail Buchanan as they open their lovely new home for the 48th Homes in Harmony Tour from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at 1875 N. 159th Street East. Tickets are $15.
Proceeds are used to provide scholarships to music students at WSU and Friends University, and to make a generous contribution to the annual Kodaly Institute held at WSU in the summers. During the event, WSU School of Music professors Julie Bees and Leonid Shukaev will perform piano and cello selections at the home tour from 3-4 p.m., and Judith Fear (former WSU piano instructor) will perform piano selections from 4-4:30 p.m.