From across the globe in Morocco, Salma Echakar heard about Wichita State’s aerospace program and came to Kansas to pursue her degree. Her advice to future Shockers: “Time goes by quickly, so take advantage of every opportunity.” 

Salma is one of more than 2,400 students eligible for spring 2026 graduation. Learn more about her time at Wichita State and what's next for the grad. 

Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering 

Casablanca, Morocco 

Ibn-Rochd High School

I have always dreamed of being an architect, but I ended up doing aerospace engineering.

The aerospace engineering program.  

During my time at Wichita State, I participated in different forms of applied learning experiences such as tutoring, mentoring, internships and group projects that involved hands-on coursework related to my field. These experiences helped me bridge the gap between theory and real-world application, develop problem-solving skills and gain practical knowledge that prepared me for my future career.

I would encourage students to get involved early — either through internships, student organizations or networking opportunities. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, connect with professors and seek out resources on campus. Time goes by quickly, so take advantage of every opportunity to learn, grow and build meaningful connections.

After graduation, I plan to pursue a full-time position in my field where I can apply the skills and knowledge I gained at Wichita State. I am also open to continuing my education in the future through graduate studies to further develop my expertise and career opportunities. 

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- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 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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