Cooper J. McWilliams left Bonner Springs to study film at Wichita State. His talent led him to several applied learning experiences in the film industry and eventually a full-time career at NIAR. 

Cooper is one of more than 1,200 students eligible for fall 2025 graduation. Learn more about his time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad.

Bachelor of Applied Arts in filmmaking

Bonner Springs, Kansas

Bonner Springs High School

Kansas City Kansas Community College

I wanted to be a firefighter.

Yes, I have had several scholarships including: Transfer 2YR Merit Scholarship ($1,500 per semester). PTK All KS Academic Team Scholarship ($500 per semester), Miller Trust Fine Arts Scholarship ($1,063 per semester), SAE J. Capt. Jack Ellison scholarship ($226 per semester). Fred Valentine Fine Arts Scholarship ($955 per semester), Momentum Fund ($1,500 per semester). These scholarships allowed me to fully focus on my coursework by easing the financial burden of attending WSU.

I picked WSU because of it's affordable in-state tuition and generous transfer scholarships, which made it a practical choice. Also, its up-and-coming film program felt like the perfect place to grow as a filmmaker. Also, it's not too far from my hometown.

Many of my applied learning experiences at WSU came from the numerous opportunities to work on a variety of film sets. The equipment at Shocker Studios created a practical, hands-on learning environment that closely mirrors real-world production. Another valuable experience was participating in the Tallgrass Film Association’s TAKE 36 competition as a director of photography. Shocker Studios organized three teams to create short films within 36 hours, which were then submitted for review. We had one film make the top 10.

My advice to other WSU students is to take full advantage of every opportunity and resource available on campus. Get involved in the areas that spark your interest. Whether that’s joining a student organization, participating in Greek life, or exploring creative projects. Make the most of your time at Wichita State so you can look back with pride and appreciation for all the experiences that shaped your journey.

I plan on working full time at WSU's National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) as a content producer once I graduate.

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 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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