Andres Saenz Jr. fell in love with Wichita State University when he attended basketball games with a neighbor. Since he’s been a student here, he’s found a sense of belonging through an empowering campus community.  

Andres is one of more than 2,400 students eligible for spring 2024 graduation. Learn more about his time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.  

Bachelor of Arts in music with a minor in communication 

Wichita 

Wichita State was always my dream school since I was a kid. My neighbor was a season-ticket holder and took us to all the basketball games and fell in love with the university. My senior year when I was college searching, I saw that Wichita State had an outstanding music program, and that made me set on coming here. 

My biggest challenge as a student was overcoming imposter syndrome and gaining confidence in myself. As a first-generation Latino student, I felt out of place in the spaces I entered in my first couple of years. As the years went on in my college career, I was mentored by older and experienced colleagues that helped me realize that I am where I'm supposed to be. Now, I enter every room with confidence and my head held high knowing that "no one can't tell me nothing,” as my fraternity advisor would say. 

My favorite off-campus location in Wichita is definitely the Old Town Warren. The plaza where it's located has an awesome aesthetic and it brings back good memories from when I used to work there. 

"La Tormenta" (Translation: “The Storm”) 

After graduation, I want to continue my studies of digital marketing and communication at the graduate level. 

As cliche as it sounds: “Just do it.” Introduce yourself to that person, go on that trip with school, go to that club meeting you have always wanted to go to. You won't get another undergrad experience again. 

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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