Madison George has been committed to Student Ambassador Society and Shocker Navigators throughout her time at Wichita State.

Next year, Madison will teach chemistry at Maize South High School. Here is what’s next for this outstanding Shocker graduate!

Hometown

Valley Center, Kansas

Degree received

Bachelor of Arts in Education – Chemistry 6-12

Why did you choose Wichita State?

I chose Wichita State because of the people. As a high schooler, every person I spoke with that was associated with WSU was kind, welcoming, and made me feel like they cared about me both as a student and a person.

Which organizations were you involved in during your time at Wichita State?

During my time at Wichita State, I was involved in Student Ambassador Society and was a Shocker Navigator.

How did being involved in the Student Ambassador Society, Shocker Navigators and Admissions impact you?

Being involved in SAS and Shocker Navigators has allowed me to hopefully have a lasting impact on prospective students by serving as a resource for them. I loved getting to share my experience as a Shocker and provide advice to hopefully ease their nerves and ensure they have as smooth of a transition into college as possible. Through SAS I have found amazing mentors, both in fellow students and Admissions staff. By being part of the Shocker Navigators, I have made great friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.

Which Wichita State faculty or staff member impacted you the most during your time here?

The Wichita State staff member who has impacted me the most is Sloane Crawshaw, campus visit specialist in the Office of Admissions. Sloane’s hard-working attitude and dedication to Wichita State make her someone the Admissions Office is lucky to have. Her caring personality makes her a person that anyone is comfortable going to for anything they need. She has given me lots of advice, listened to me rant, and celebrated all my accomplishments and successes. She has made a lasting impact on me as a boss, a mentor and a friend that I will carry with me as I leave Wichita State. 

How are you feeling leading up to graduation?

Leading up to graduation, I’m having a mix of emotions. The past four years have been some of the best years filled with amazing friendships and memories. While I am sad to leave Wichita State, I am beyond excited to begin this next chapter in my life.

Which experience at Wichita State challenged you the most and what did you take away from that challenge?

During the second semester of my freshman year, COVID hit and completely changed my college experience. I was just then getting into a routine and starting to feel like I could do this whole “college thing” when suddenly everything was moved online, and I was back to square one of feeling like I had no idea what I was doing. Because my first three years of college were a strange time of uncertainty for everyone, I had to make a lot of adjustments to get to this point of graduating. Through these challenges, I learned how important it is to be able to adapt and make the best out of any situation.

What are your post-grad plans?

I will be teaching chemistry at Maize South High School next school year.

What advice would you give to incoming Wichita State students?

The biggest piece of advice I would give to incoming Wichita State students is to not be afraid to get outside of their comfort zone. College is a time to grow as a person and the most growth happens when you lean into discomfort.