Sarah Varner spends her days interning at the Walter H. Beech Wind Tunnel at Wichita State University. For an aerospace engineering major, that time is one example of how the university’s applied learning opportunities are vital to starting a career. 

“Wichita State is unique in how many excellent opportunities engineering students have to get experience working while they pursue their degree,” she said. “It's helpful to get relevant experience on one's resume while in college.” 

Every degree at WSU offers applied learning or research opportunities. The salary Varner earns helps her navigate studies, work and financial necessities. 

“It has certainly reduced stress for me budget-wise, especially when there's plenty of other things that are stressful enough about college,” she said. 

The Beech Wind Tunnel, which conducted its first test in 1948, is managed by WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research.  

Varner, a senior from Andover, performs many duties: operating the wind tunnel, data reduction, CATIA design work and wind tunnel model buildup. She and co-workers help with customer model changes, software/instrumentation installation, and flow visualization procedures. When not operating the wind tunnel, she works on CAD projects, assists with data analysis and reduction and helps with tunnel upkeep and maintenance. 

“It truly takes a village to keep the wind tunnel and the customer tests running smoothly,” she said. “My aerospace engineering classes have prepared me well for this role. Classes like Aerodynamics I and II, Flight Dynamics and Control and others have been very applicable to my work experience here.” 

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Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (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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