WSU Today: Feb. 25, 2019

 

Upcoming myPerformance evaluation due dates for USS and non-teaching UP

Performance evaluations Feb.-March 2019

Managers – Due Thursday, Feb. 28
Manager Reviews
for myPerformance Annual Evaluations from March 2018 through March 2019. Managers should log in to myPerformance in myWSU to provide comments and select ratings for competencies by Feb. 28.

Employees (USS and non-Teaching UP) – Due Thursday, March 7
USS and non-teaching UP Employee Signatures for myPerformance evaluations from March 2018 through March 2019. Employees should log in to myPerformance in myWSU to submit electronic signatures by March 7.

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Managers – Due Thursday, March 14
Manager signatures
for myPerformance evaluations from March 2018 through March 2019. The ability to submit manager signatures will be available as soon as the employee has signed and submitted their signature. Managers should log in to myPerformance in myWSU to submit electronic signatures by March 14.

Planning for myPerformance evaluations from March 2019 through March 2020 is available to complete on Feb. 1, 2019. (To access the current review period’s evaluations, look for “2019-2020 Annual” in the list of evaluation titles.) This will allow managers to potentially meet with their direct reports for the current (2018-19) end-of-review as well as the next cycle’s (2019-20) planning meeting at the same time, if desired. Managers should add expectations for the review period including competencies and goals in myPerformance, then meet with their employees to provide copies and review planning. Planning should be completed by Sunday, March 31.

For more information (including quick reference guides, training available, and open labs) go to www.wichita.edu/myPerformance.


KPERS 457 workshops and seminars

KPERS 457 workshops

To help you manage your finances and prepare for retirement, KPERS 457 is providing no-cost seminars. ͷ seminars will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at KDOT Metro, Hillside Office – Training Center, 3200 E 45th St N. All employees of WSU, including those in non-benefits eligible positions, are eligible to begin or continue their retirement savings through a KPERS 457 plan.

To register, email your name with the date, location and time you’d like to attend to kpers457@kpers.org. Call or email with any questions at 1-800-232-0024. The sessions available for below:

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Controlling Your Financial Future – 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

  • For employees with more than 5 years until retirement
  • 5 hours

Your journey to retirement is unique. But to get on the right path, everyone should answer 3 questions:

  1. Where are you today?
  2. Where do you want to go?
  3. How do you plan to get there?

This interactive workshop will help you answer these questions, while learning ways to:

  1. Improve your financial future.
  2. More effectively manage your finances.
  3. Prioritize your financial goals.

Fundamentals of Investing – 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

  • For all employees
  • 30 minutes

Asset allocation and diversification help you find the best balance of risk and potential return when investing for retirement. But one size doesn’t fit all. We’ll look at how to keep your investment portfolio on track. We’ll also talk about the options available through KPERS 457 to help you build a diversified portfolio across different asset classes.

 

Managing Your Retirement Income – 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

  • For employees within 3 years of retirement
  • 5 hours

How you spend money in retirement is as important as how you save it.

This workshop can help you create a well-planned, worry-free, spend-down strategy with tools and resources to achieve your vision of retirement success.

 

Are You Saving Enough? – 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

  • For all employees
  • 30 minutes

Important Note: KPERS 457 retirement counselors only work for KPERS 457 participants and do not make a commission. They’re motivated to provide service and education, not to sell.

Your contribution rate can have the biggest impact on your retirement income. Are you saving enough?

A retirement specialist will discuss:

  1. How to know how much you need to save.
  2. How to come up with the money to save.
  3. How to get started saving or increase your savings.

Nearing Retirement – 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

  • For employees within 3 years of retirement
  • 45 minutes

You’re ready…but are your finances?

A retirement specialist will discuss:

  1. Steps to consider with your KPERS 457 before retirement.
  2. Income replacement and income needs in retirement.
  3. Options for continuing benefits from KPERS 457 in retirement.

Website Experience – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

  • For all employees
  • Joint session with Roth 457 Option
  • 30 minutes

Join us for a demonstration of your KPERS 457 online account experience. We’ll explore the user-friendly features designed to make it easier for you to enroll in the plan, set up a login, find information, track progress and make changes to how you save and invest.

 

Roth 457 Option – 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27

  • For all State of Kansas employees
  • Joint session with Website Experience
  • 30 minutes

The Roth 457 will allow additional after-tax contributions to the plan

A retirement counselor will discuss:

  1. What a Roth 457 is.
  2. What rules apply with Roth 457.
  3. How to get started with Roth 457.

Open discussion planned for Wednesday, Feb. 27

Open Discussions on Feb. 19 and 27, 2019

All students, faculty and staff are invited to an open discussion about campus resources for sexual violence from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in 264 RSC.

Speakers will include representatives from the Counseling and Testing Center, Office of Institutional Equality and Compliance, ͷ Area Sexual Assault Center, WSU Police and Student Health Services. A question and answer period will follow. For more information contact the Student Advocate at student.advocate@wichita.edu.


10 minutes with… Rick Muma, ͷ

Rick Muma

Rick Muma

The following story was written by Kirk Seminoff, associate editor or the ͷ Business Journal.

Whether it's treating HIV and cancer patients, or leading a university, Rick Muma knows the importance of perspective.

"When we’re dealing with issues in higher education, everybody feels like they’re the most important thing," Muma says. "But no one’s hurting over them, no one’s dying from any of those kinds of issues."

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Muma, 56, has made a steady climb at ͷ throughout his 23 years on the hill. Most recently, he was Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Management two years ago, then became the university's chief academic officer as Provost last year.

President John Bardo was hospitalized for a chronic lung condition in November, and Bardo named Muma acting president Jan. 2. He leads the university through a busy time, most notably a March referendum that asks students to raise their own fees to pay for a new School of Business building and other campus improvements.

Associate editor Kirk Seminoff sat with Muma recently for his thoughts on his new role and the qualities he brings to it.

You have said that being a provost of a university pales in comparison to taking care of terminally ill patients as a physician’s assistant, but what qualities of a PA have you brought to the role of provost and now acting president?

One of the things is, when you’re learning to practice medicine, is you learn how to listen and take information from individuals and diagnose the situation. So that’s very relevant to what I do every day in terms of meeting with different colleagues, my dean colleagues and various people across the university. It’s problem solving, diagnosing the situation, coming to some sort of conclusion. All of those are very relevant.

Many of those who work with you describe you as a good listener and someone who’s genuinely interested in them as students, staff members or university supporters. From where did you learn to be that type of person?

One of the things I found most gratifying about taking care of patients is hearing their stories and the interest they bring to the patient-clinician encounter. A lot of times, people don’t have an opportunity to tell their story until they get into a situation where they’re struggling. I just think that’s fascinating and what made patient care so interesting. That also translates to everybody has a story as a student, everybody has a story as a faculty member, everybody has a story as an administrator, and I like hearing them. It makes for a better relationship and a much more richer experience. And I can also better understand where they’re coming from and see where they are in the situation.

Do you consider yourself a shy person, an outgoing person, somewhere in the middle? And is that part of being a good listener?

I’ve been told and I believe this, more reserved than most people. You’ll see me listening for a while before I bring anything forward because I think it’s important to have context and full understanding. Some people may say I’m a more reserved person, but I don’t think people who get to know me would think that, really. My colleagues who I’ve worked with for a really long time know a different side of me. I don’t think of myself as shy, but some people might think that because they confuse being reserved and being more thoughtful to being shy.

How does your leadership style differ from Dr. Bardo’s?

Dr. Bardo is a very visionary individual. He’s really transformed the university. He’s a transformational president. I also can be visionary, but I know from experience and being a manager and an administrator that you also have to execute. So I’m probably more focused a lot of times, certainly looking at vision and where we need to go, but how are we going to make that happen? It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s yet another thing to move through the processes with students and faculty and it’s all very complex and you have to get them on board with whatever the issue might be.

The “Shock the Future” referendum that students will vote on March 4-6 would, if passed, add $6 per credit hour to students’ fees and help finance projects such as classroom and laboratory renovations, plus a new Barton School of Business building. What kind of reactions have you personally received from students who could be adding to their cost of attending college?

As you can imagine, it’s mixed. Anytime we’re asking a student to increase their fees, no one’s going to say, "Oh yeah, sign me up." I’d say that there’s going to be a number of students who are just not going to vote for it because they’re concerned about the increase in tuition and fees and I totally get that. I understand that. I hate that we have to do that, but there’s really no other way to make these improvements because the state’s not investing in those kinds of things.

But when I do have a student who is sort of on the fence and they want to hear more about it, then they can understand the need for this and the whole notion of rising tides affect all ships. Even though you may not be a business student, you might take a class in the new business building. You might never go into Henrion Hall, but your best friend’s a fine arts major and you hate the fact they’re studying in a building that has no air conditioning. So once we explain that a little bit more and also bring up the fact that students previous to them considered this same kind of thing when the (Rhatigan Student Center) was decided to be renovated. ... Now look how nice that is for them.

So getting both sides of it. We’re doing as many outreach efforts and town halls … to talk to students and we’re encouraging faculty to do the same thing. The more we talk about it, the more people understand why this is important. They don’t like it, I don’t like it either, to be quite honest. I would like for the state to help us to do these kinds of things.

What would be the next step if it fails?

We have basically two major initiatives in the overall referendum, business school and other parts in the core of the institution. If this doesn’t pass, those projects on the core part of the campus are not going to be able to move forward in an expeditious kind of a way. We have access to some resources, minimal resources, for repair and rehabilitation that we can use for some of these projects maybe, because that all has to fit into the guidelines of the state.

The business building needs to be built. We have donors who have given $30 million to build that building. There's an interest in the business community to get that facility built. If it doesn’t pass, we’ll have to take that referendum just to the business students to raise their fees, which would be a significant amount more than what we’re proposing now.

When I was given this to execute on, there’s a vision, right, and then you've got to make sure you work on how this is going to happen. I just wasn't comfortable taking a referendum to the student body just for a business school building when there’s so many needs on this side of campus.

The university’s Innovation Campus is entering its sixth year. Are you happy with its progress and where do you see it going in its next six years?

I think all of us who have been involved in that work are really surprised that it’s taken off like it has in terms of different industry partners that have located here or are working with us on other kinds of research projects because of it. From that perspective, I think that’s been good, there’s a lot of support for it in the community.

We’ve had some controversies surrounding our housing and some other things on that part of campus, but I think that’s going to be expected when you start thinking about public-private partnerships. People aren’t used to that. I’ve been at two other institutions (and it’s) very common to have public-private investment together on a university campus, both in an urban kind of setting and a small-town kind of setting. So I’m kind of used to that.

Obviously to this community, this is new to them, so we’re working through some of those issues. What I think will help move things forward is to have much more transparency, have an open, honest conversation built on trust and integrity. That’s been my main message with the faculty — make sure everyone has an opportunity to come forward. I think we’re going to continue to see investment from the private sector. The industry wants to be a partner with us. They want us to be fully engaged with their needs and how we train students so when they graduate they’re ready to work or (get) the minimal kind of training. That’s all good for industry but it’s also very good for the students.

I think for the most part people understand it and that it’s a good move for the institution. One of the things I talk about when I go talk to the Legislature and the Governor is we’re Kansas’ only urban public research university, and urban public research universities do something different. One of the things they do is provide access to the people in this community and that’s a major focus of ours. We have the most diverse student body of any of the regent schools. That’s really important to make sure we’re serving this community, but we’re also helping industry solve some of their most pressing issues. And marrying those together I think really helps drive the economy, helps with jobs, and ultimately helps students.

---------

RICK MUMA

Title: Provost, professor and acting president, ͷ

Age: 56

Education: Bachelors, University of Texas Medical Branch; masters, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; doctorate, University of Missouri.

Experience: University of Texas Medical Branch, 1988-94; ͷ, 1994-99; Saint Louis University, 1999-2000; ͷ State, 2001-present.

Family: Spouse, Rick Case; children, Drew, 29; Collin, 26.


SPTE forms are due today (Monday, Feb. 25)

SPTE Request Form

Student Perception of Teaching Effectiveness (SPTE) Request forms are due to the Social Science Research Lab by today ( Monday, Feb. 25). If you do not have a form, you can download a fillable pdf request form at  located on our website.  You can also get additional SPTE information on our website at .  

You can email the electronic version to sandra.ranney@wichita.edu; mail paper form to campus box 107 or hand carry the form to 429 Lindquist Hall. 


Faculty Senate meets today (Monday, Feb. 25)

Faculty Senate meeting Feb. 25, 2019

The Faculty Senate will meet from 3:30-5 p.m. today (Monday, Feb. 25) in 126 Clinton Hall. The main agenda item will be a discussion on updating the policy for Chronic Low Performance and Dismissal for Cause. There also will be an update on the Student Early Alert System (SEAS) and a new initiative from Academic Affairs to support faculty fellowships linked to the Strategic Plan.

See agenda and minutes


Save the date - URCAF 2019

Undergraduate Research

The annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum (URCAF) will be held on Friday, April 19, in the Rhatigan Student Center. The forum provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students at ͷ State to present their scholarly and creative activity to a faculty, student and community audience, while competing for cash awards. Abstract submissions are due by Friday, April 5. For more information, go to .


Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) squad leaders wanted

Summer Leadership Institute

Are you interested in leadership development of yourself and your students? We are calling for 5 squad leaders to mentor students at the 2019 Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) this year. The 5 day event will take place on from May 20-24, 2019. We will host a few meetings leading up to the event to discuss logistics and preparations for the week. This week is time spent developing yourself as well as mentoring our students through their leadership journey! You’ll be part of community building and leadership exploration both during the institute as well as when we return to campus!  

If you are interested, please fill out the .  

For any questions, contact Kennedy Rogers at kennedy.rogers@wichita.edu or 978-7402.


Construction starting on Eck Stadium performance facility; parking will be partially blocked

Construction fence by Eck Stadium

Starting Wednesday, Feb. 27, a construction fence will block a portion of the parking lot west of Eck Stadium as WSU Athletics prepares to break ground on the new Eck Stadium Performance Facility Project.

The fence will block about 50 spots in the area shown above and will be in place through the end of October. The ticket office will also be moved to near the south entrance of Eck Stadium by the Ring of Honor.

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We appreciate the campus community’s patience during this time and are excited for the improvements this project will provide for our student-athletes.

The renovation includes a new 10,000-square foot performance facility that will feature a strength and conditioning center, locker room, media room, player lounge and offices for coaches and staff.

For any questions, please contact the ticket office at 978-FANS (3267).


Campus Rec Health Fair coming Feb. 27

Campus Rec Health Fair Feb. 27, 2019

Join us as we host an educational and interactive health fair in the upstairs gymnasium at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the Heskett Center gymnasium. Plan to join hundreds of your fellow Shockers as you receive medical screenings and wellness tips from more than 50 vendor booths from ͷ State departments and the community. For more information visit . 


Psychology Department Colloquium planned for tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 26)

Ryan Schroeder

Ryan Schroeder

The presenter for the first Psychology Department Colloquium this spring will feature Ryan Schroeder from 3:30-4:30 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 26) in 265 RSC. He will present “Injured or Exaggerated? Identification of Feigned and Invalid Cognitive Impairment.”

Schroeder is a Board Certified Neuropsychologist and Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department at the University of Kansas School of Medicine - ͷ.

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He currently conducts research on invalid cognitive test performances and malingering of cognitive functioning. He has worked on multiple funded research projects and in 2018, he was awarded the Early Career Award from the National Academy of Neuropsychology.

We hope you will invite your students and your colleagues to attend Schroeder’s colloquium.


Accessibility training for faculty – graduate student version!

Accessibility Training Feb. 27, 2019

Whether you are a GTA or have a personal interest in accessible teaching, this session is for you! Plan on attending accessibility training for faculty – graduate student version from noon-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in 142 RSC. Lunch will be provided to the first 15 students.

Did you know that all WSU instructors are required to take accessibility training each year? This in-person version of the instructor accessibility training will cover terms, policies, law, accessible digital documents, accessible face-to-face teaching, and accessibility training for students.

GTAs who choose this version of the training will meet their WSU academic year accessibility training requirement. The presenter will be Carolyn Speer, Instructional Design & Access.


Upcoming events at University Libraries

Library events

Upcoming events at the University Libraries include "Citations: How Do I Write Papers in APA Style?," various Scopus Webinars throughout March 1-8, "Dear Diary: How Can I Find Diary Entries, Journals, and Letters?," "Copyright Concepts for Entrepreneurs," “Research: How Do I Write a Literature Review?,” and "More Endnote: What Else Can I Do with It?"

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"Citations: How Do I Write Papers in APA Style?" from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in 217 Ablah Library. .

           "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 10-11 a.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. .

           "Dear Diary: How Can I Find Diaries, Journals, and Letters?" from noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. .

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 2-3 p.m. Friday, March 1, in 217 Ablah Library. .

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 11 a.m.-noon Monday, March 4, in 217 Ablah Library. .

           "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 1-2 p.m. Monday, March 4, in 217 Ablah Library. .

            "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. .

          "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. .

          “Copyright Concepts for Entrepreneurs” from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, in 217 Ablah Library. .

         “Research: How Do I Write a Literature Review?” from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, in 217 Ablah Library. .

            "Scopus Webinar: The Basics" from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in 217 Ablah Library. .

            "Scopus Webinar: Beyond the Basics" from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in 217 Ablah Library. .

           "More Endnote: What Else Can I Do with It?" from noon-1 p.m. Friday, March 8, in 217 Ablah Library. .

For more information and event registration, go to . Students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.


Office hours = Student hours

SEM Tip Feb. 25, 2019

Students often don’t ask for help when they need it because they don’t understand how, or know where to go. One way to help them feel more empowered to ask for help is to reconsider the term “office hours.”

As faculty and staff, we understand those hours are when faculty members and instructors set time aside in their office to help students. But to students, many of whom are first-generation, it may be interpreted as hours that instructors are in their offices working and should not be bothered.

You can help students feel more confident in asking for help in classes by explaining that “office” hours really mean “student” hours. Share this resource with students if they are uncertain about how to communicate with faculty.


WSU College of Engineering awards $28,000 each to Wallace Scholarship recipients

ͷ’s College of Engineering has named the latest group of high school seniors to be awarded Wallace Scholarships worth $342,000.

The 2019 Wallace Scholars were announced Friday, Feb. 22, at a ceremony in the Experiential Engineering Building. Wallace Scholarship recipients will receive $28,000 each to attend ͷ State for four years.

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Wallace Scholars are a community of more than 40 engineering students, representing every class and nearly every major in the College of Engineering. Wallace Scholars are involved on the WSU campus and within the ͷ community to promote engineering, math, science and community service.

Selection for the Wallace Scholarship is based on recipients’ high school GPA, ACT score and performance at the annual Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE), which was held in November and drew 233 students from 14 states.

The Wallace Scholarship is made possible through the Dwane and Velma Wallace Endowment, created in 1976, which supports scholarships for engineering students and provides funds for the College of Engineering. Since 1980, the endowment has benefited more than 360 engineering majors at WSU.

The 2019 Wallace Scholars include:

  • Ashley Bland, Muriel Williams Battle High School, Columbia, Missouri, biomedical engineering
  • Cameron Cropper, Topeka West High School, Topeka, aerospace engineering
  • Alexander DeWerff, homeschool, ͷ, aerospace engineering
  • Logan Mauch, Western Plains High School, Ness City, Kansas, aerospace engineering
  • Josh McConnell, Summit Christian Academy, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, aerospace engineering
  • Amanda Mudra, ͷ Collegiate School, ͷ, aerospace engineering
  • Trent Oberlander, Raymore-Peculiar High School, Raymore, Missouri, aerospace engineering
  • Jessica Orchard, Northeast Magnet High School, ͷ, mechanical engineering
  • Richard Oswalt, Central Christian High School, Hutchinson, Kansas, undecided engineering
  • Connor Rockey, Goddard Senior High School, ͷ, aerospace engineering
  • Sabrina Saathoff, Northeast Magnet High School, ͷ, undecided engineering
  • Esmeralda Sanchez-Torres, ͷ North High School, ͷ, aerospace engineering
  • Kyle Walter, homeschool, ͷ, biomedical engineering
  • Kourtney Zwiener, Andover Central High School, ͷ, computer science

Wallace scholar biographies

Ashley Bland
Columbia, Missouri
Muriel Williams Battle High School
Biomedical engineering

Ashley is a member of National Honor Society, National Society of Black Engineers and is a valuable mentor to high school freshmen under the Link Leader program at her high school. She is also a very frequent volunteer at her local Humane Society and Food Bank. In her free time, Ashley enjoys being a team captain for her basketball team and throwing shot put and discus for her high school. At one time, she even held the school record for girls’ javelin, an accomplishment Ashley is proud of. At her high school, she will be graduating sixth in a class of 326, with her 3.98 GPA and 32 ACT score to show for her work ethic.

Cameron Cropper
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka West High School
Aerospace engineering

Cameron is a member of his school's baseball team, the Scholars Bowl team and participates in Math Club. He also participates in Robotics Club at the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers, where he has earned a certification for programming and handling an industrial robot. Cameron is a Kansas Honor Scholar and has been on the academic honor roll in every semester during his high school career. In his free time, Cameron works part-time at a Sonic Drive-In and also enjoys playing pool and table tennis.

Alexander DeWerff

ͷ

Heritage Academy Homeschool

Aerospace engineering

Alexander has always been homeschooled and is the oldest of four siblings. He participated in the Kansas BEST Robotics competition for three years. During his senior year, he was a leader on his team and helped them win first place at state and second place at regionals. Alexander has performed in many musicals and stage productions, played piano in numerous festivals and recitals, volunteered with a local ESL program, and participated in his local AWANA club for the past nine years. He enjoys reading a good book, playing the piano, throwing yo-yos and learning Latin.

Logan Mauch
Ness City, Kansas
Western Plains High School
Aerospace engineering

Logan is the student body president at Western Plains High School. He is the captain of the school’s varsity scholars bowl team. He also participates in forensics, basketball, track, KAYS, band and robotics. Logan is passionate about math and computers. He loves to watch physics documentaries as well as play pool and video games.

Josh McConnell
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Summit Christian Academy
Aerospace engineering

Josh McConnell is the second oldest of six kids. He is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is the National Honor Society president at his high school. He has played varsity football for four years and was a national finalist for private school player of the year. He also made the all-state football team as a junior and senior. Along with football, Josh also enjoys playing the piano. He enjoys serving his church in many ways including playing the piano in the youth worship band. He has been an International Buddy, a math tutor and part of the Junior/Senior Ensemble at his high school. In his free time, Josh enjoys playing sports, reading Harry Potter and hanging out with family and friends.

Amanda Mudra
ͷ
ͷ Collegiate School
Aerospace engineering

Amanda is a three year Kansas All-State musician and participated in both the 1234A band as the first chair French horn and the orchestra and is a four-year district musician as well. She has performed at Carnegie Hall as a member of an international band in the Honor Performance Series and been a part of another international band that performed at the Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary. She is the 2nd chair French horn in the ͷ Youth Symphony Orchestra and participates in her school's jazz band as a trumpet player. Amanda is also a captain of her school's cheer team and partakes in both cross country and track. In her free time, Amanda enjoys sketching and building lots of Lego sets. 

Trent Oberlander
Raymore, Missouri
Raymore-Peculiar High School
Aerospace engineering

Trent is involved in his school's Student Leadership Team, National Honor Society, Technology Student Association, Wind Symphony and swim team. He was named Outstanding Senator at Missouri Boys State for his role as Majority Floor Leader in the Senate, Student of the Month by the Sunshine Optimist Club, All-Conference and All-State Honorable Mention for two years, and has nine varsity letters across academia and athletics. He is second chair tenor saxophone in the Raymore-Peculiar High School's Wind Symphony and also plays the flute. When not trying to learn something new, Trent enjoys working out, playing and attempting the composition of music, and playing strategy games.

Jessica Orchard
ͷ
Northeast Magnet High School
Mechanical engineering

Jessica Orchard has been the president of her school’s Christian Club for two years and is a member of the National Honor Society. At her school’s magnet project fair, she has won first place in the science magnet portion two times and second place in the art magnet portion once. Outside of school, Jessica is involved in her church, where she sings for her youth group’s worship team and is a part of the Students as Leaders Team. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, playing the piano and singing.

Richard Oswalt
Hutchinson, Kansas
Central Christian High School
Undecided Engineering

Richie has played football, basketball and track each year in his high school career. Richie was recently recognized as one of the top eight-man football players in the state of Kansas, and has been selected to participate in the eight man all-star game later in the year. He has been president of his class twice. He also placed first at the Academic Olympics in both pre-calculus and chemistry. He has volunteered over 100 hours of his time helping at organizations such as the food bank and youth programs. Richie enjoys playing sports, lifting weights and spending time with friends.

Connor Rockey
ͷ
Goddard Senior High School
Aerospace engineering

Connor is an alto saxophonist and was the section leader for the saxophones during the 2018 marching band season. He is also fourth chair in the Kansas All-State Band. He is a member of Tri-M and National Honor Society and participates in the Science Club at Goddard High School. He helped with Goddard’s entry for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition. His role was to model and print a 3D-printable case for the project. He enjoys practicing his saxophone and playing any kind of game with his friends and family.

Sabrina Saathoff
ͷ
Northeast Magnet High School
Undecided engineering

Sabrina is the vice president of Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is also involved in National Honor Society, Student Council and Christian Club. She has been a percussionist for District Band and All-State Orchestra. Sabrina is currently an intern at High Touch Technologies and is a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Esmeralda Sanchez-Torres
ͷ
ͷ North High School
Aerospace engineering

Esmeralda is a member of ͷ High School North’s National Honor Society and has been a recipient of Honor Roll since her freshman year. Aside from academics, she has been a part of the choir department for four years and is currently one of the 24 Madrigals. Esmeralda was also selected for the 2019 All-City choir. She was a member of North High’s Varsity Scholars bowl team since her junior year. She was also a proud participant of the Gilder Lehrman Saturday Academy for four years. In her free time, Esmeralda enjoy playing board games, reading, baking pastries, exercising at the gym, gardening and walking her dog Coco.

Kyle Walter
ͷ
Walter Academy Homeschool
Biomedical engineering

Kyle is the oldest of three brothers and a small business owner in ͷ. He is a licensed UAV pilot and founded the drone photography company Gemini Sky LLC with his twin brother last summer. Kyle is a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo and enjoys volunteering to teach classes at the YMCA. He has competed in BEST Robotics with the ͷ Homeschool Warriors and went to regionals last year. His hobbies include biking, working out, model building, gaming and growing his company.

Kourtney Zwiener
ͷ
Andover Central High School
Computer science

Kourtney is the daughter of Drs. Kevin and Kassie Zwiener, born and raised in ͷ. She is involved with Marching Band, which she has had the pleasure of being a section leader for two years, Symphonic Band, Pep Band, Scholar's Bowl, National Honors Society, and Tri-M Music Honors Society. Last summer, she was given the amazing opportunity to attend the Bob Dole Youth Civic Leadership Institute at the University of Kansas. Whenever there is time to spare, she prefers to spend it spoiling her dog, playing video games or watching movies (preferably Marvel).


New Randy Regier sculpture ‘The Celestial Mechanic’ installed outside Ahlberg Hall

Randy Regier sculpture "The Celestial Mechanic"

On Thursday, Feb. 21, Randy Regier installed his new sculpture "The Celestial Mechanic" outside Ahlberg Hall at ͷ. The sculpture is one of three upcoming new additions to the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection this spring.

Join us at the site for the dedication ceremony followed by a reception and artist talk at the Ulrich Museum of Art on Tuesday, April 2.

  • 3:30 P.M. – Reveal and Remarks
  • 4:00 P.M. – Reception on North lawn of Ahlberg Hall
  • 5:30 P.M. – Artist Talk at the Ulrich Museum of Art

 

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Regier has a BFA in sculpture from Kansas State University and an MFA in studio arts from Maine College of Art. He is represented in numerous museums and private collections nationwide including the Emprise Bank Collection, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, and the Spencer Museum of Art. Public commissions include Salina Arts Commission, the ͷ Public Library Foundation and most recently “Open Spaces,” an international sculpture biennial installed in parks and urban spaces throughout Kansas City, Missouri.


Student artists compete for cash prizes at the Emerging Artists show

Emerging Artists show March 2, 2019

Fifteen students from the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries at ͷ State will compete for a total of $1,750 in cash prizes at the second annual Emerging Artists show. A public reception will be held from 7–9 p.m. Saturday, March 2, in McKnight Art Center at WSU. Prizes will be announced at 7:30 p.m.

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Emerging Artists is presented by the Art & Design Advocates, the patron group supporting ADCI. The Advocates create opportunities for WSU art and design students, including fundraising to support student travel, project costs and equipment purchases.

Sculptor Constance Ernatt is 2019 Emerging Artists juror. She will award three prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250. Celebrity Cruises is the award sponsor.

“We chose to partner with the Art & Design Advocates after last year’s great showcasing of WSU’s stellar art talent,” said Angel C. Gomez, Celebrity associate vice president of guest sales and service. “We have no better way of telling our local artists to stay local, and applaud them for their work, than by investing money into their talented work.”

Most of the work in the Emerging Artists show will be available for purchase from the artists.

Students were selected to participate based on faculty nominations, and works represent all four ADCI programs including art education, graphic design and studio art. Two art history students will serve as co-curators, and students are responsible for pricing and selling their own work.


Waffles and onesies coming Thursday, March 7

Waffles and onesies March 7, 2019

The Office of Student Success: First-Year Programs will host its mid-term pajama party from 9-11:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7.  Please encourage your students to put on their onesies and join us for a waffle breakfast, bowling, billiards and board games in Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes.  For more information contact the First-Year Programs at 978-5420.


37th Annual Exposure Photography Competition

Exposure Photography Competition Spring 2019

Submissions are being sought for the Exposure Photography Competition.

The 37th Annual Exposure Photography Competition accepts submissions from students of all backgrounds. The competition is judged by local photographers, and cash prizes are awarded in three categories.

Exposure will be on display Monday, March 18 to Friday, March 29, and submissions must be received by Friday, March 8. The Cadman Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Rhatigan Student Center and serves as student-centered space focused on education and exposing the WSU community to the arts. For rules and regulation forms, visit wichita.edu/CadmanGallery.