During my college search, Wichita State did not make the shortlist. I was convinced it was too close to home and that I already had my mind made up. However, during the fall of my junior year of high school, I received an invitation to the Shocker Honors Scholar Reception on campus. I weighed the pros and cons of attending the reception and decided that a free meal and some college swag never hurt anyone. My mom encouraged me to attend the optional campus tour before the event, and I begrudgingly obliged.

After that first group visit, I fell in love with campus. The resources and opportunities available to all students, specifically students in the College of Engineering were unlike any other school I had visited. While at the reception, we learned about different opportunities available for scholarships which sparked an idea for a scholarship essay that I would later use in my Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI) application.

After that visit, I realized maybe my mind was not so made up after all. As I anxiously awaited the application opening and closing dates for priority admission, the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational, and the Wallace Invitational Scholarship for Engineering (WISE) I weighed the pros and cons of WSU compared to other schools. No other college in the surrounding area compared to the on-campus opportunities, unique applied learning experiences, the supportive faculty and staff resources, and the student life that exists at WSU. After months of writing and rewriting my applications, filled with excitement and nervousness for the future, I submitted my DSI and WISE applications with high hopes for the competitions that November.

When competition day for WISE finally rolled around, I was prepared to do all the things I had been told by adults and friends - be yourself, don’t be afraid to brag about your accomplishments, and make new friends. However, that still didn't completely calm my nerves. Within the first few minutes of arriving at the WISE competition, I connected with other aspiring female engineers. Women in STEM know how to band together. This was where I met my roommate for freshman year and so many other amazing engineering majors who would all be returning to compete the following day for DSI.  

Arriving on campus for DSI was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking, but my mom reminded me I had nothing to lose. I went into the competition knowing there were many talented and deserving competitors and only a handful of awards, but I was prepared to give it my all and try my best. Little did I know in less than three months I would be named a 2024 Gore Scholar and Wallace Scholar. Through these experiences, I truly learned that WSU was my home away from home and that it’s not about how far away from home you are, but how at home you feel on campus.   

If my experience has not urged you to reopen your DSI or WISE application, listen to your mentors and family encouraging you to apply. You do have what it takes to be the next Gore Scholar at Wichita State University. Take this opportunity as a chance to propel your academic future by practicing your interview skills and networking with other prospective students and faculty on campus. You truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I hope to see you on campus in November. Go Shocks!