Hannah Copeland found her calling through years of involvement in WSU’s orchestra programs and youth music clinics. Her most rewarding experience has been student teaching in Wichita Public Schools, and she’s thrilled to continue that journey as the new orchestra teacher at Curtis Middle School.

Hannah is one of more than 2,100 students eligible for spring 2025 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad. 

Bachelor of Music Education

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita Northwest High School

It was always going to be Wichita State University for me. Growing up in Wichita orchestra programs, I was always in and out of WSU for Youth Symphony, orchestra festivals and clinics.  

My biggest challenge as a student was work-life balance. I was so stressed my junior year trying to juggle homework, classes, practicing, rehearsals, recital preparation, teaching private lessons and being president of the WSU American String Teachers Association that I had no time for myself. Learning to say no when I did not have the space to add more on my plate was the key to having a great senior year.

My applied learning experience has been student teaching. I am currently assisting and teaching general music classes at Lawrence Elementary School and orchestra at Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School full-time. It has been the most valuable and insightful part of my college experience getting to work with students all day every day.

Next year, I am excited to be the orchestra teacher at Curtis Middle School in the Wichita Public School District.

Make the most of your time in college while also making time for the people who matter to you in life. Keep those things that make you happy close. Don’t spread yourself thin trying to do everything. Commit yourself to a few things that you can be really proud of.

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 National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.

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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