Change Starts Somewhere

Real quick - this isn’t an ad, just something I am passionate about and want to invite you to check out.

Too many people would love to contribute their time, talent, or treasure to their community, but have no idea how to get started.

There is a new initiative in town called the Army of Normal Folks that plans to make this as easy as possible for you to find a way to help our city.

Tomorrow is the launch at Somewhere Works. Consider this your personal invite. Come listen to legend Rudy Love Jr and learn more about what it looks like to get involved. RSVP here. I’ll be there, come say hi!

Can’t make it? Check out some of the vetted volunteer opportunities here or just reply to this email and I can connect you!

Together with Meritrust Credit Union

Thinking about buying a home this spring?

Before you start scrolling Zillow at midnight, get pre-approved.

Getting pre-approved with Meritrust Credit Union helps you:

• Know exactly what you can afford

• Move quickly when you find “the one”

• Shop with confidence instead of guessing

It’s a simple first step that makes everything else easier.

FREE MONEY FOR FRESHMAN

Before we get started, I just want to make a quick PSA. Since most high school kids would rather use TikTok than email, if you are a parent, grandparent, friend, uncle, teacher, or anything else - pass the message along that if any kid is even remotely interested in going to Wichita State University, they should apply by March 1st.

Any student that applies for admission by that date will be automatically considered for a freshman merit or university academic scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year. Thousands of potential dollars sitting there just waiting for them to apply.

The Evolution of Wichita State

The Evolution of Wichita State University (2011–2025)

I started my college career at Wichita State in June of 2011 (technically I took some dual-credit / AP classes through Butler, but my real college career was at WSU) with a summer English class and working at NIAR thanks to a high school friend of mine’s uncle. Just trying to figure out what it meant to be out on my own.

I graduated in May of 2015 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

I was there during the heyday of the Final Four run under Gregg Marshall and drove to Atlanta with some of my best friends and now wife Candace (front row baby).

I lived in the old Fairmount Towers at Hillside and 21st (RIP), on the scholarship floor (just to be clear…academic scholarship, they bundled up athletes and nerds), but down the hall from some of the big names from those legendary Shocker years.

I competed on Baja SAE (this video is a time capsule to how I spent a lot of my time) and just missed getting to fully enjoy the then-brand-new engineering building in all its glory that opened the fall after I graduated.

Somewhere between now and then, Wichita State quietly transformed itself.

When I drive by campus almost daily, I don’t just see upgrades. I see an entirely different university.

Killing the Golf Course

Let’s start with the decision that changed everything. Wichita State took its 120-acre, 18-hole public golf course… and shut it down.

Golfers were not thrilled. That course had history, tradition and memories from decades of operation.

I am not a golfer by any means, but I did shank a few balls on the ole Braeburn course.

In its place rose what is now one of the most forward-thinking university developments in the Midwest: the Innovation Campus.

Wichita State University didn’t just build new academic buildings. It built a new model.

Public-private partnerships with industry embedded directly on campus. Applied learning baked into the experience. Some of that previously existed through NIAR, but this was on a different level.

Today, students work alongside business, industry, and government agencies before they ever graduate. That changes everything from résumé strength to research opportunities to post-college job placement.

And the student experience is completely upgraded:

• New residence halls

• Braeburn Square with a number of great restaurants like Social Tap, Fuzzy’s, Pizza Shuttle, and more

• A food truck plaza

• An on-campus YMCA

• Study spaces that feel more like startup offices than lecture hall overflow

This wasn’t just expansion of the campus, it was reinvention of the university’s identity. And I’m just a little jealous.

If you want to learn even more about the Innovation Campus, check out President Muma’s book Student Centered, Innovation Driven.

Residence Halls

Let’s talk about dorms.

When I lived in Fairmount Towers (South Tower - 3rd Floor FTW), it was fine. I mean I didn’t know any different. I shared a room with my best friend Andy and we shared a bathroom with another two dudes. Cafeteria was fine. Did a lot of studying down there and played a lot of ping pong.

Today?

Each of Wichita State’s residence halls is modern and all less than about a dozen years old. They feel more like hotels or urban apartments than “old-school dorms.”

• Shocker Hall - Open to only first-year students and located in the heart of Shocker Nation. Home to student, faculty, and staff cafeteria, the Shocker Dining Hall

• The Suites - The Suites opened in Fall 2019 and features suite-style facilities with private bedrooms for new students to live in.

• The Flats - The Flats is our upperclassman apartment complex for students who have lived on campus with us before. 

This completely changes residential culture. Especially when Wichita State has historically been known as a “commuter school” where people live off campus and come to campus then leave again.

The RSC Glow-Up

About 12 years ago, the “Rhatigan Renewal” project transformed the RSC.

The Rhatigan Student Center was never bad. We spent a ton of time there eating Chick Fil A and Pizza Hut breadsticks. But the Renewal made it way more welcoming and way more comfortable.

Natural light. Expanded spaces. A south entrance that makes it feel like a real front door. A parking garage that says, “Yes, this is a major university campus.” That’s right, a parking garage that people BEGGED for when I was in school.

And let’s not ignore the food options:

• Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Sushi-Do, Starbucks, Freddy’s

It’s more inviting, more functional, and more modern. Somewhere you want to take your out of town friend to.

If you graduated before the renovation, you wouldn’t recognize it.

Academic Programs That Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago

Here’s what might surprise people most.

Ten years ago, Wichita State didn’t even have a media arts program.

Zero students.

And today there are more than 450 students are studying media arts including animation, filmmaking, game design, audio production, acting for digital arts, and collaborative design.

Shocker Studios in south Wichita has become a creative hub.

That’s a complete category creation in a decade.

The same goes for the Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP), which helps paras and school employees become licensed teachers faster through work-while-you-learn pathways. (check for scholarship opportunities with this program too if you apply by 4/1/2026!)

Wichita State is stepping up to meet the needs of Kansas, not just willy nilly picking majors to fluff up the offering.

Woolsey Hall

Woolsey Hall deserves its own section. It is an absolutely gorgeous building both inside and out and it has become a magnet.

Meetings. Events. Business collaborations. Community gatherings.

It has reactivated engagement between the Wichita business community and the university in a way that feels intentional while providing an incredible space for students

Study there once and you’ll understand why it feels like a secondary student center on the east side of campus.

A Bigger Athletic Stage

When Wichita State transitioned from the Missouri Valley Conference to the American Athletic Conference, it wasn’t just a scheduling change.

It was a brand shift. We got sick of beating up on the ole MVC folks, although sometimes during struggles it would be nice to get a few more dubs, but competition is good for us.

Now Shocker teams are regularly competing in:

• DFW, Charlotte, Houston, Tampa, San Antonio, Philadelphia

That means Wichita State’s name appears in major metropolitan sports markets consistently. This helps spread the good name of Wichita State across the country.

Still no football yet, but we can still hold out hope for that one.

This Isn’t the Same University

A big reason I wanted to write this is simple:

1. I drive by almost daily and I’m continually impressed.

2. I don’t think people realize how much has changed.

This is not the Wichita State you or I went to. This is a forward-thinking, innovation-driven university that has reimagined its campus in under 15 years.

And it’s still changing. It truly does seem like there is something new going up each time I drive by.

Don’t Leave Free Money on the Table

Like I said above, don’t make the mistake.

Any student that applies for admission by that date will be automatically considered for a freshman merit or university academic scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year. Thousands of potential dollars sitting there just waiting for them to apply.

This is part of a paid partnership with Wichita State, but I truly do love my alma mater if you can’t tell.

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!

🍽️ Wichita Life Dinner Club 🍽️

Making new friends as an adult can be weirdly tough. So… we’re making it easier.

Here’s how it works:

🍽️ Take a quick quiz about your personality, interests, and food preferences.

✨ Get matched with five other Wichitans who fit your vibe (food preferences, budget, life stage, etc.).

📍 Your table of six meets for dinner on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6:30 PM — the exact restaurant is revealed that morning.

🥂 After dinner, all groups are invited to a casual after-meetup to keep the conversation going.

👉 Take the quiz & grab your seat ›

If you’ve been wanting to meet new people in town, this might be the easiest (and most fun) way to do it.

Spots are almost full — I’d grab yours today.